Bending over backwards for physical perfection

If you've ever wondered how all those honed and toned celebrities keep their bodies in perfect condition, the answer lies in a form of exercise devised by a sickly German at the turn of the last century. Rebecca Haylings finds out more from a local practitioner.

In an age where we seem to be obsessed with what we should and should not feed our bodies, it is no surprise there is a multitude of bizarre and exhausting exercise classes available to enhance our wellbeing. Each class seems to complement a certain lifestyle - aerobics for the middle-aged mother wanting a quick fix, 'spinning' for the seriously stressed and ambitious, and yoga for anybody aspiring to Madonna's svelte and stretchy body.

Many come and go - whatever happened to gliding? Even step aerobics has been given the long-awaited elbow at my gym. Our quest for the perfect physique will see us trying anything that promises fast results.

At first glance Pilates seems to be high on the fad list. Most of us don't even know how to pronounce Pilates (pee-lartays, incidentally). And many of us have seen numerous references to this elusive modus operandi - Posh Spice and Liz Hurley are said to have flattened post-natal tummies within weeks with the help of Pilates. But what is this strange new exercise and what does it do?

Well, first of all it isn't new. Its inventor, Joseph Pilates, began teaching it in the 1920s. And secondly, it really can give you the form you've always craved.

Joseph Pilates was born in 1880 in Germany and turned to physical fitness when his own health took a downward turn. In his pursuit to rid himself of frailty, Joseph developed talents in diving, boxing and gymnastics. When he moved to New York Joseph set up his own studio, and his series of exercises attracted the city's most celebrated dancers, athletes and actors.

Joseph's unique exercises balanced strength with flexibility and, for many, it was their first experience of balancing mind with body. And that is exactly what Pilates does today. It is a demystified Yoga. Harmonisation for cynics. Most importantly, it is the key to total strength and core stability.

Local Pilates instructor Fran Wakefield teaches the traditional Body Control Pilates in the comfort of a beautiful converted barn in Tidmarsh. Fran has been teaching exercise for 20 years, but it wasn't until she started teaching Pilates that she really understood how the body works.

She says: "Pilates has always been around but it has been confined to the world of dancers. Now, the more basic exercises have been adapted by Body Control Pilates. More and more people are doing pilates because it works and because it is so effective - and if it is taught well it is easy to understand. Even physiotherapists have come to understand the importance of muscle balance and how the core muscles work."

But Fran also warned that not all Pilates teachers are highly qualified. "Be careful whose hands you put yourself in." she said. "One of the first things a teacher should ask is whether or not you have any back problems, and a good Pilates class should have a maximum of 12 pupils."

During my time in her studio Fran taught me how to lengthen my body and align my posture. Each exercise is about quality and not quantity, and every Pilates student must learn how to isolate single muscles and move mindfully. Weak core muscles are, according to Fran, the biggest culprit behind mysterious back problems.

Sounds easy? Wrong! This sort of precision takes time to master, and that is what gives Pilates the edge. It isn't about sweating and body-building, it is about achieving total strength and definition and applying it to every movement you make. "I had one woman who hadn't exercised for years and she couldn't believe the change in her body," says Fran.

I am definitely a believer, and Fran's extraordinary physique and posture were enough to persuade me even before I felt the benefits.

On the downside Pilates isn't cheap (a one-hour private lesson costs £40), but group lessons are available at just £10 - much more viable if you don't share Madonna or Liz Hurley's hefty income.

My advice? Just one session will have you walking taller but stick with it and you could really reap the benefits.

Contact Fran on 0118 984 3498/ 07767 420550 or link www.pilatesmethod.co.uk

Fact file

* Pilates was invented in the 1920s by German-born Joseph Pilates. He developed his unique movements through his knowledge of Yoga, Zen meditation, martial arts, gymnastics, diving and boxing.

* He invented his first Pilates machine while working as an orderly in an infirmary. He would rig strings above hospital beds to offer light resistance to patients.

* Jennifer Aniston, Kim Catrall, Courtney Cox, Jamie Lee Curtis, Rod Stewart, Patrick Swayze and Tina Turner are all Pilates devotees.

Rebecca's verdict

The machines in Fran's studio wouldn't look out of place in the chamber of horrors. During a one-hour session Fran instructed me to perform a variety of manoeuvres on each machine (which offers a gentle resistance) as she stood above me to scrutinise my posture.

Fran picked up that my body was much stronger on the right and as a result I was a little lopsided (I already knew this so was quite impressed she picked it up). Because of this my left side was doing far less work. And this is, apparently, the sort of thing that gets worse over time and causes back problems.

I really had to concentrate on the exercises. Fran made them look so easy but as I executed each move I was made to use my core muscles in my tummy and back to keep my spine straight and help build my left side.

At the end of the session I felt pleasantly at one with my body. My posture had improved and I felt taller. Unfortunately this didn't last after just one hour but, like anything, practice makes perfect and I am determined to stop being askew.