Inhaling deeply, I stretch my arms towards the cornflower blue sky and focus on breathing. I’m in a field on the Isle of Man taking part in a Pilates class, but this is no ordinary lesson in the exercise regime.Instead of sweating away with half a dozen people in a studio, I have joined almost 3,000 others – and as we collectively exhale and curl our arms to our knees, it’s quite a sight.What’s going on? The answer is I’m taking part in a world record attempt for the ‘largest standing roll-down exercise class ever’.And it is happening here at Knockaloe Farm, as this was where the German bodybuilder Joseph Pilates (1883-1967) developed his exercise regime while interned as a First World War ‘enemy alien’.Exactly a century on from the opening of the first Pilates studio in New York, where Joseph emigrated, the practice is coming home to where it began.Forget TT motorbike races – which attract thousands of spectators each June – the island’s latest trend is wellness with a keen awareness of its Pilates heritage. Holly Christian visited the Isle of Man to attempt to break the world record for the ‘largest standing roll-down exercise class ever’ It took place at Knockaloe Farm where Joseph Pilates (pictured) developed his exercise regime while interned as a First World War ‘enemy alien’Once the petrolheads depart, summer calm is restored and locals get back to the business of living well.It is easy to join them for a weekend getaway – the island is a 90-minute flight from London or 55 minutes from Manchester – and you leave feeling restored, whether opting for a high-end luxury spa or merely taking a mindful approach to the beautiful surroundings here.’There is something deeply restorative about being here,’ says Pippa Byrne, founder of the Natural Apothecary, a shop in the sleepy northern town of Ramsey where she blends her own range of herbal teas. ‘It’s easy to step away from the stresses of everyday life, take a deep breath and reconnect with nature.’She is absolutely right. The scenery alone is soothing – the wide-open spaces, the rolling hills, the sea views.Many Manx – the name for locals – have bought into what psychologists call ‘blue-green therapy’, the therapeutic benefits derived from natural green spaces and the blue of seawater.Saunas have sprung up beside the island’s pretty beaches and wild swimming in the bracing Irish Sea has taken off. ‘The meditation you feel being out on the water is unrivalled,’ says Liam Wiltshire, a surfer who owns Kishtey Cheh sauna by the beach at Port Erin. There are numerous Pilates studios dotted about the islandKishtey Cheh (which translates as ‘hot box’ in Manx Gaelic) is lovely, with panoramic windows so you can watch the sun set while you sweat.Liam’s business is at the heart of a beachside community buzz that has revived this Victorian holiday village. He says: ‘As well as the warmth and recovery sauna offers, it’s very much the social side that keeps me, and many others, coming.’Barely a weekend goes by without some sort of relaxation retreat or workshop.Sound baths, featuring chimes, gongs and singing bowls, are organised among the island’s glens. Yoga classes are conducted amid the woodland.During evenings, stargazing events are held as well as indoor meditation. A popular spot is the fragrant-smelling Manx Lavender farm where you learn how to distil essential lavender oil.Workshops are held to find out more about the soothing power of plants, run by The Manx Herbalist. Alternatively, head for a section of the Raad ny Foillan Coastal Path that loops for 102 miles around the island. It’s a joy being alone with the squawking birds and the sea.High-end relaxation options include Brightlife spa in the island’s far north. Expect hot tubs, saunas and holistic treatments as well as a wonderful veranda where guests can lounge with views of North Barrule hill, watching the breeze ripple through the long grass below. The island is easy to reach – only a 90-minute flight from London or 55 minutes from ManchesterMeanwhile, Ard Aalin in the island’s south is in a secluded former dairy offering yoga classes, half-day retreats and massage treatments using Neal’s Yard Remedies essential oils. And don’t forget Pilates. Numerous studios are dotted about the island.Back to the Guinness World Record attempt in July at Knockaloe Farm.It was organised by 34Moves magazine, a local publication promoting Pilates-based wellness. The participants (myself included) numbered 2,804, making it officially the biggest standing roll-down exercise class ever.Hurrah! Ruby Griffiths, co-founder of 34Moves, found the event ’emotional and inspiring’. It is impossible to disagree. If only Mr Pilates knew what he had set in motion all those years ago.