What are pilates?!

What are pilates?

I was in Asia for a few years, then came back and saw all this advertisement for something called "pilates" (not pirates). It seems to be some sort of exercise. What is it and why did it become popular. I don't believe it's effective, because I saw nothing of the sort in Asia, yet the people there are much more healthy.

Tell me about this latest scam, please.

(Sigh). Just because you saw nothing of the sort in Asia doesn't mean Pilates is not effective. And IF they are more healthy in Asia, it has nothing to do with them not being exposed to Pilates. You need to learn some basics about cause and effect.

If you're still reading this, please be advised that Pilates is emphatically NOT a scam. What led you to this erroneous conclusion if you know nothing about it? Here we go again about cause and effect. Just because something is heavily advertised doesn't mean it's a scam. It may or may not be, but it isn't automatically one or the other.

I would NOT suggest you spend a nickel on Pilates, because your attitude is so 100% negative. No matter what Pilates does for you, you won't be satisfied. However, for the benefit of more open-minded readers, I will explain what Pilates is.

It was developed by Joseph Pilates during WWI in England. Pilates, a boxer/gymnast/writer/nurse (among other things) and Superior Being, adapted hospital beds with springs and pulleys to give interned soldiers some exercise. He later moved to New York City and helped rehab dancers, some of whom were world-class performers. He invented various apparatus which, he wrote, was designed to "strengthen and lengthen the muscles and ligaments." It does that, in addition to improving balance, flexibility, agility, breathing, and a mind/body/spirit connection. The benefits are 24/7, since Pilates' 'core awareness' system, applied to lifting groceries or getting up from a chair, uses the glutes/back/abs instead of just the extremities.

But I'm sure you will be much happier with tai chi, since It's Asian.