Pilates are the rave with a lot of people. The Pilates method is used worldwide by all types of people from fitness friends and spa seekers, to performing artists and professional athletes. Pilates not only help you get in shape physically while focusing on the core or stomach muscles, but also by conditioning the body mentally and emotionally. It truly is a total body workout that has proven to be a great way of burning belly fat and developing firm abs! Let's take a look. Started by gymnast Joseph H. Pilates (pronounced: puh-lah-teez) over 75 years ago, this method is made up of a series of exercises that focus on your abdominal muscles, mainly the deepest layer of muscles in your abdomen. History has it that Joseph Pilates developed his method as rehabilitation for bed-bound patients during World War I at an English hospital when he was anurse.

He initially attached springs to the patients' mattresses so that they could use them in strength training, by pulling and pushing against them for resistance. The improved method traveled with its creator to New York, when Pilates moved in the 1920s. Soon, dancers from all over were tracking down Pilates to help them keep their flat stomach. Many well-known celebrities of the time, including choreographer George Balanchine along with dancer, teacher, and choreographer Martha Graham were part of the Pilates methods' earliest clientele.

As Joseph Pilates outreach and desire to help others grew, he developed the series of exercises for workouts on mats that wouldn't require any other equipment, this way everyone could enjoy improved bodies, physically and mentally. Top athletes of the NFL's San Francisco 49ers, and Hollywood stars like Sharon Stone, Julia Roberts, Madonna, hit the mats to get their "firm abs" doing Pilates.

The Pilates method combines exercises with breathing focus and mental concentration. The result is a combined mind - body fitness program that develops your body to its peak performance level, while giving the participant a series of great ab exercises.

The exercises boast multiple benefits. They help to sculpt a flat stomach, strengthen the abdominal muscles that in turn improve your coordination and balance. And they help your movement with other physical activities across the board as well as sharpen your emotional and mental state, resulting in improved balance and calmness.

Pilates also help other areas of the body. They stretch your entire frame, strengthening and improving your posture. Results reported by those active with the Pilates method show that these exercises help in the sculpting of long and lean toned muscles like those of a dancer. As a matter of fact, regardless of who you are; fitness fiend, Joe athlete or newbie at weight loss, Pilates are reported to be for nearly everyone; young and old, fit or not. The key ingredient or secret of success of Pilates is not in the exercises themselves, as you'll run across crunches and other common workouts. Surprisingly enough, the key focuses on your abdomen, the central core of your body. Hence why most all serious Pilates folks are sporting six pack abs!

Incorporating Pilates into your workout routine could be the best, quickest way to getting lean, firm abs.