Having a bad back can be very painful and inconvenient. Having a flabby tummy or thighs can lower your confidence. And if you’re not very flexible, the gym or yoga classes do seem quite daunting, especially when seeing people posing in extremely difficult places. But do not fear! There is a form of exercise known as Pilates which uses gentle stretching and controlled breathing to build up core muscles in the back, pelvic and abdominal areas, improve posture and tone the body.