When we hear the word Pilates we think of a workout that has been designed for women.This is just not rue.  If we go back in the history of Pilates we learn right away that Joesph Pilates, a man, designed the Pilates method, in 1926.  Joseph Pilates has also written two books’ Return to Contrology' in 1945 and 'Your Health' in 1934.  As a gymnast, a boxer and a martial artist Joseph Pilates was a very fine athlete.  He also was a nurse in the internment camps in World War I.  While working in these camps Joesph Pilates gathered statistics that supported his ideas about health including exercise for the United States Army, Navy, and Marine Services.  The workout style was much like calisthenics.  It was and still is an abdominal based workout that develops postural muscles or backs stability, and also increases flexibilty.  This information alone supports the fact that a man designed Pilates, for men, as well as women.