People may have trouble pronouncing Pilates, but those who perform the 70-year exercise say it's easy to do, once you get it down.

Chris Knight started Pilates to strengthen her abdominal muscles.

"You're using muscles you don't normally use, and when you have kids, they're stretched out and you need to get them stretched back into place," Chris says.

Pilates works the abs, the gluts and the lower back and one instructor says, "It's fantastic for people who have had back injuries. We have clients here who have been suffering from back pain for 13 or 14 years, and they've said that Pilates is the first thing that's given them any relief."

Instructors also say that Pilates is perfect for people of all ages, because there's no strain on the body. And all you need is a ball, a mat and patience to master the exercises.

"We do everything from push ups and situp type exercies, to very, very difficult maneuvers that can take months to get down," Instructors say.

But the effort has paid off for these students, who say they're stronger, standing up straighter, and slimmer.

"I've lost 7 pounds in the last year and a half, and I attribute it to Pilates because I've always worked out, and this has helped me to trim down a lot," says one student.

Instructors say Pilates is also perfect for people wanting to start a workout program.

Of course, before beginning any exercise routine, you should contact your doctor.