The Pilates Method designed by Joseph Pilates in the 1920's is an exacting, rigorous series of exercises requiring strength, stamina and flexibility.  It was originally designed for dancers and sports professionals, but quickly became popular with the rich and famous in New York (see History of Pilates).  Few people have the highly developed "body awareness" of a professional athlete.  Feeling that Pilates was too good to remain the secret of a privileged elite, in the early 1990's Lynne Robinson and Gordon Thomson began to develop a series of exercises based firmly on the Method, that could be taught safely and well to small groups of non-professionals.  These exercises form a step-by-step approach--"building blocks" leading to the ultimate performance of Joseph Pilates' 34 classical exercises.  The result has been the resounding success of Body Control Pilates, the UK's most popular Pilates programme.  For more information, visit the Body Control Pilates® website at www.bodycontrol.co.uk.