Joseph Pilates, the creator of the Pilates method, was a beer drinker. Beer was delivered to him in barrels. Once empty, Joe saw an opportunity to play with the beer barrels and its metal rings. He used them to invent a new piece of exercise equipment. The Barrels, Ladder, Spine Corrector and Small Barrel are used in the practice of Pilates to support the flexion and extension of the spine with gravity.