Unlike many fitness fads that have come and gone over the years, Pilates has been around since the 1920's and its popularity has grown enormously during that time.  A testimony to it's effectiveness.  It is a lifestyle rather than just a fitness class and does require a certain amount of dedication to really fully profit from the discipline.  This dedication will be rewarded by the improved quality of your physical and mental wellbeing so the time and patience is well worth it!  Having said that, you will feel some benefits even after your first class.  A lovely feeling of length and having worked but in a healthy way.
 
Pilates is based on the original method of Contrology created by Joseph Pilates.  Using a system based on Alignment, Breathing, Centering, co-ordination, concentration, flowing movement and stamina this system is one of the best all round full body workouts.
 
Using the Pilates method we can achieve the following:
 
Improve Posture
Strengthen the core (in other words the deep stabilising structure)
Realign & rebalance the body
Improve body and movement awareness 
Create a longer and leaner body
Help to eliminate compression throughout the skeletal structure
Help to release physical and mental tension and stress
Boost stamina
Improve mental focus
Build muscular strength
and of course improve our quality of respiration!
 
All of this leads to an improvement in common problems such as back-ache, shoulder tension, muscle and joint stiffness etc.  Athletes also find that regular practise at a more challenging level helps improve performance and prevent injury.  This can equally apply to those of us that wish to just go about our daily tasks feeling strong and pain free.