The most famous, and ubiquitous, piece of Pilates equipment is called "the Reformer". Joe Pilates originally called it the "Universal Reformer and Rejuvenation Bed". I've always loved that old-fashioned name -- and why NOT call it a rejuvenation bed? They had nerve pills for those pesky worn-out kidneys, so why not a rejuvenation and reformer bed for your spine?
Joe probably saw ads like this every day. He must have been so frustrated, knowing that he had the real secret to health and longevity. If only dey vud do mein wunderful program!
This marvelous ad was culled from god knows what old magazine by Lileks and blogged on Lint and holy (cow) he's funny. If you haven't read his book "Interior Desecrations" you should be immediately hog-tied. Or as he writes, "bounced down the stairs in a box of cymbals".
