Developed by German-born Joseph Pilates in 1920, the Pilates exercise method is a system of slow and precise movements designed to develop inner core strength and increase flexibility and mobility. Most of the moves in Pilates are centered around stretching, balancing, and contracting one's muscles, and it is now frequently recommended as a therapeutic method for patients recovering from various physical injuries.

Joseph Pilates claimed to have gained his inspiration for the fitness method from the ancient arts of yoga, Zen meditative techniques, and documented physical exercises of the ancient Greek and Roman empires. The exercise regimen developed out of his desire to increase his overall strength, but not to damage his body in the process or place undue strain on his muscles, which can often happen with bodybuilders and weightlifters.

Dancers and athletes can benefit greatly from Pilates, since the regimen not only increases flexibility and tones the body, but it also helps to improve posture. Individuals with spinal trauma are often recommended to try Pilates by their chiropractor, and it is a safe exercise method for the elderly or for more fragile individuals suffering from osteoporosis.

Another theory behind Pilates is that the exercise method functions as a holistic system of well-being, benefiting both the mind and the body. It may be used to relieve stress and anxiety, and because it does not place undue strain on any one area of the body, it increases one's general sense of well-being.

A key Pilates teaching is that the center of the body's strength lies in the 'core', which is a centralized group of muscles and nerves around the torso and pelvis, and that one can gain strength by becoming aware of one's core alignment. Many Pilates exercises deal with breathing and developing an awareness of the core, instead of conducting repeated exercises that strain that area of the body.