With more and more people drifting towards a healthy lifestyle and perfect body, there has been a growing demand for various exercises and fitness centers all across the globe. It has been seen that a number of exercises and dance forms are becoming popular, which have become a part of everyday exercise routine for many. Similarly, a recent popular form of exercise, Pilates has been topping the charts as an exercise regime for people who are looking for a perfectly toned body. But before you get into those body conditioning moves, why not get a closer look at what Pilates is and how did it originate? Although people must be noticing this exercise form only recently, but it is interesting to know that Pilates originated in the 1920s. This was during the times when Joseph and Clara Pilates came up with their Body Conditioning Gym in New York. Origin of Pilates The exercise takes its name from Joseph Pilates who was a born in Germany and later emigrated to Britain and then to the United States of America. Joseph Pilates came up with an idea of a new approach to body conditioning and exercising. This took place in the early decades of the last century and later became a popular form of exercise for toning the body.