# What the heck is Pilates? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 22, 2003, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-pilates/183565 "2003-06-22T10:37:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2003, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-pilates/183565/1 "2003-06-22T10:37:33Z")
I gather it is a trendy new fitness program of the rich & famous, but after looking at [www.pilates.com](http://www.pilates.com), I can’t figure out what is different about it. The equipment looks kind of klunky and old fashioned, with lots of ropes, pulleys and springs, like what you’d find in a YMCA circa 1910. Is there really anything revolutionary about it, or are the glitterati falling for a marketing schpiel aimed at the same gullible fools that made imported bottled water de rigeur for anyone who is anyone? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2003, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-pilates/183565/2 "2003-06-22T10:53:31Z")
Here, let me [fix that link for you.](http://www.pilates.com/cgi-bin/webicart/webicart.cgi?page=pages/index.html&cart_id=788200_1038770&refer_id=eureka) ---
**Author:** ![lauramarlane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a5b964/32.png) [@lauramarlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lauramarlane)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2003, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-pilates/183565/3 "2003-06-22T13:09:13Z")
I’ve been taking Pilates at my local Y for over a year now and I love it. It’s a slower paced workout that focuses on your back and abdominal muscles (the core muscles). My chairopractor recommended it initially and I have to say that it’s totally eliminated the lower back ache that I used to have, and made my back much stronger. The Y doesn’t have any Pilates equipment, so we just do the mat workout. My instructor says that is the most challenging type of Pilates. But it does work well for me and I enjoy it. ---
**Author:** ![Earthling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/90db22/32.png) [@Earthling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earthling)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2003, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-pilates/183565/4 "2003-06-22T18:15:15Z")
I just want to know how to pronounce it: Pie-Lates? Pie-Lay-Tees? Pih-Lah-Tees? Anything else? I went to the website and read from the man’s bio that he’s German, so I’d assume the pronunciation would be different from that of the ancient Roman governor. ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2003, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-pilates/183565/5 "2003-06-22T18:32:11Z")
I’ve always heard it pronounced Pih-lah-tays or Pih-lot-ees. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2003, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-pilates/183565/6 "2003-06-22T19:20:21Z")
Pilates was the Roman judge who condemned Jesus to death just by washing his hands. [sub]For the low, low price of _one bucket of water_ you, too, can condemn to death the central figure of a major world religion! Wow![/sub] What? … nevermind ---
**Author:** ![lauramarlane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a5b964/32.png) [@lauramarlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lauramarlane)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2003, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-pilates/183565/7 "2003-06-22T21:59:07Z")
**GMRyujin** , that’s the pronunciation I’ve always heard. So far, our ritualistic practice of these bizarre exercises hasn’t had any effect that I know of on the leaders of any major religions, but I’ll keep you guys posted on that. ---
**Author:** ![Burnt\_Sugar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee59a6/32.png) [@Burnt\_Sugar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Burnt_Sugar)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2003, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-heck-is-pilates/183565/8 "2003-06-23T00:47:25Z")
From looking at a book on Pilates (I’m guessing it was mat pilates, because there was no equipment.), it looks very very similar to the stretches I take my gymnasts through in their warm-up. Basically lengthening and warming up the muscles, it looks like to me.