Pilates was invented by Joseph Pilates in the early 1920s. Although the original vision was to help men and serious athletes, it is a great exercise regimen for anyone. Here are some of the reasons why :

1. Equipment is optional
Pilates can be done with no equipment. This makes it perfect for people just starting out who are reluctant to allot scads of money and space to something "unproven" in their eyes. But, you can add equipment later. This means it can grow with you. As you get better, it can get more varied and challenging. This helps keep it fresh.

2. It focuses on your core
The strength and stability of your core back and abdominal muscles impacts every single thing you do. These muscles are critical to sitting, standing and getting …show more content…
This helps improve your strength. It also improves flexibility. Flexibility is important for reducing the incidence of accidents and injuries. The combination of the two goes a long way towards improving your ability to get through life effectively and safely.

5. It increases coordination and balance
Strengthening your core muscles improves both coordination and balance. This muscle group is key to being able to orient properly and execute even the most basic of moves safely, such as walking. Especially if you are in any impaired, improving your core muscle group can do good things for not only your fitness, but your overall quality of life.

6. It fits easily into a busy life
Because you can do Pilates with little or no equipment, it can be done virtually anywhere. You can do it in a hotel room while traveling on business just as easily as you can do it at home. It also gets results in as little as fifteen minutes a session. This is great for people with busy lives who struggle to find time for a fitness regimen.

Pilates has been around for nearly a hundred years and is a tried and true program. Due in part to strengthening your core muscles and requiring no equipment, it is a great option for