Pilates (pronounced pi-lah-tees) is a physical conditioning and spinal alignment technique designed to develop a strong, centred, muscularly balanced and flexible body with increased mental awareness.

Early last century, German gymnast and physical therapist Joseph Pilates combined the eastern disciplines of yoga and martial arts with western gymnastics, to develop his own physical body building program.

He developed the method into a complex conditioning program which is valuable for physical training, rehabilitation and injury prevention.