Pilates

American  

[pi-lah-teez] / pɪˈlɑ tiz /

noun

(used with a singular verb)

1. a system of physical conditioning involving low-impact exercises and stretches designed to strengthen muscles of the torso and often performed with specialized equipment.

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Pilates British  

/ pɪˈlɑːtiːz /

noun

1. a system of gentle exercise performed lying down that stretches and lengthens the muscles, designed to improve posture, flexibility, etc

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Etymology

Origin of Pilates

Named after Joseph Pilates (1883–1967), German fitness instructor

Example Sentences

Members of the Forth in Atlanta, meanwhile, can hang out by the rooftop pool and join in Pilates classes before enjoying a priority reservation at buzzy Il Premio.

From The Wall Street Journal

The organization also hosts various classes including yoga, breath work, mindful meditation, mat Pilates and step aerobics at their studio, the WalkGood Yard, in Arlington Heights.

From Los Angeles Times

Just as Pilates has a patron saint in Joseph Pilates, the field of somatics has the late Thomas Hanna, a philosopher and student of neurology who coined the term in 1976.

From The Wall Street Journal

The streets are dotted with saunas, Pilates studios and even a cross-country skiing fitness boutique.

From The Wall Street Journal

“It’s just someone who does . . . Pilates every day, or someone who’s working out every day. In those situations, it’s hard for me to be like, physically, when we’re in that moment, into it.”

From Salon