“Somehow, an exercise originally meant to help wounded soldiers caught on with Jennifer Aniston, then Oprah and then just about everybody else in America. But is Pilates really right for everyone? Here’s a closer look: Pilates (pronounced Puh-Lat-Eez) is a series of low-impact exercises meant to strengthen core muscles-namely, your abs and lower back. Individual Pilates exercises emphasize stretching and body movements and don’t require traditional weights. If your goal is to slim down, have firmer muscles, flatten your belly and reshape that entire torso area, then Pilates really can work wonders. In fact, it first caught on with dancers for exactly that reason. Also, if you’re looking to reduce stress and strengthen bones, Pilates is worth your time. But if you have a lot of weight to lose, Pilates alone won’t do the trick.” (11//27/06)