Why is Pilates so good for you?

Many people - celebs included - swear by Pilates to help them stay in shape - but why is it so good for you?

Hollie Grant, Pilates Instructor, the Founder of Pilates PT and the creator of The Pilates PT Method, has given us the lowdown on the benefits of this exercise.

"Pilates is a training method that aims to create a strong, functional body by reducing muscle imbalances and increasing core strength," she explains. "Created by Joseph Pilates as a way of building strength in prisoners at war, it is incredibly powerful and I know anyone who doesn't need Pilates in their life.

"As the body gets stronger and our posture improves, we will also notice an increase in flexibility and mobility as well. There are so many benefits but I always explain to clients that Pilates brings your body back to where it should be. Modern life involves so much flexion; looking at phones, sitting at laptops, driving cars, and our bodies almost end up forgetting what they were designed to do. Pilates fixes that. It improves your posture, strengthens weak muscles and in turn these reduce back pain and weakness."

And the practice has plenty of celebrity fans too - here are some big stars who swear by Pilates.

Kate Hudson - the Almost Famous actress looks at least ten years younger thanks to her workout regime, which involves Pilates, running and yoga.

Amanda Seyfried - The Mamma Mia! star combines Pilates, running and 45-minute workouts to "promote those good vibes."

Cameron Diaz - the Charlie's Angel does Pilates every day, alongside lifting weights and cardio.

Hugh Grant - It's been almost a decade since Hugh announced to the world that he started doing Pilates in order to stay youthful. He once said the exercise had given him "muscles of steel".

David Beckham - The retired soccer star once said he does an hour of Pilates every day.

Other celebrity fans include Emma Roberts, Kendall Jenner, Hailey Bieber, Lucy Hale, and Reese Witherspoon.