Joseph H. Pilates created his training and conditioning method around the apparatus that he designed, often inspired by the needs of a particular client. Ultimately, he developed a system that addresses the needs of the entire body. Now referred to simply as Pilates, his teaching has spread around the world. Pilates mat work is being practiced (….) on 6 continents, but the core of his system – the "true Pilates" approach – is still centered on intensive use of the Apparatus. (…)

Reference:
"Romana on Pilates – the Legacy Edition" - DVD

Today people everywhere are becoming more aware of the important part that physical fitness plays in leading a happy and healthy life. And yet true fitness is becoming ever more difficult to attain. Our lifestyles have grown increasingly less active over the last century and thus the condition of our bodies has suffered greatly. We go to great lengths to correct this situation but these efforts are often met with little or no success. Indeed, sometimes we only succeed in damaging our bodies even more. Why is this so? Because we have lost the sense of natural balance and harmony in our lives.

According to Joseph H. Pilates, the problem is that people believe happiness can be attained "without that regular disciplined effort required to render our bodies fully mobile, strong and enduring, our bloodstreams pure and our mindstreams continuously refreshed".

The Pilates Method of Body Conditioning restores this natural balance. What's more, almost anyone can use the system with relative ease: the young, the elderly, the injured, professional athletes, dancers and other performing artists, and anyone else who desires better physical health but just can't seem to find the time to develop it. The Pilates Method gives you the body you want safely by leading you to a state of total, balanced fitness.

The exercises stimulate the circulatory system, oxygenating the blood, aiding lymphatic drainage and releasing endorphins which are responsible for the "feel-good" factor. The immune system is given a boost to provide greater resistance to disease and illness.

Joseph H. Pilates' method was the product of his lifelong observation of the human body and its natural functioning. He called his system "Contrology", which he defined as "the science and art of coordinated body-mind-spirit development through natural movements under strict control of the will.

"Contrology movements are designed to exercise to its full extension every single bundle in the 800 voluntary muscle-motors each of us has been given to alter ourselves. In fact, the very essence of the Contrology philosophy is that each brain cell is trained to cooperate with others."

The Method combines the best of Western and Eastern traditions, blending the mind and body and viewing them as a unity working in complete harmony with one another. The Eastern approach to exercise is a path to calmness, being centered and whole, with an emphasis on stretching and limberness. The Western approach emphasizes motion, muscle tone and strength. Joseph H. Pilates emphasized these two approaches in his Method.

Reference:
"The Pilates Method of Body Conditioning" by Sean P. Gallagher & Romana Kryzanowska