Pilates was developed in post-World War I Germany, where it was initially used by a nurse called Joseph H. Pilates to provide physiotherapy to bedridden casualties. The main focus of Pilates is the strengthening of the core torso muscles and training students to have full control over their limbs.
起源於德國的皮拉提斯，是在第一次世界大戰後，醫護人員約瑟夫・皮拉提斯專為躺在病床上的傷兵所設計的復健運動，主要在強化腹部核心肌群，以及訓練控制自己的肢體。