There is a dizzying array of fitness classes available at many gyms these days, including Pilates, a type of exercise which focuses on strengthening the core muscles of the body.
Pilates is named after German fitness instructor Joseph Pilates, who invented the system in the early 1900s. He originally called it Contrology. It became famous in America after Pilates moved to New York in the 1920s, when choreographer George Balanchine employed Pilates to rehabilitate injured dancers. Pilates exercises can be done on a mat, but there are also specialized machines, such as the reformer, a platform that uses springs, straps, and rollers to provide both resistance and support.