Pilates Beyond The Trend

Pilates is having a moment, especially Reformer Pilates. Online, Pilates can be presented as one single thing, one look, one lifestyle, one type of person. Pilates, however, is a method designed to serve many different bodies and goals. The truth is, we don’t hear nearly as much about the thousands of people who benefit from Pilates quietly, without headlines, tabloids, Grammys, or highlight reels.

A recent article in The Cut explored how Reformer culture can get tangled up with aesthetics, fame, status, and a narrow idea of what fitness looks like. It’s a critique of a specific way Pilates is approached by some, in studios, in the media, and especially on social. Pilates shows up in a lot of different styles right now, which can make it hard to know what you're signing up for. We are here to help you find the version that feels best for you.

For those of us who have felt the positive impact of Pilates in our own bodies, who have faced real-life challenges and navigated them with this practice in our toolkit, and watched client after client do the same, we know this: Pilates meets you where you are and grows with you. You don’t have to look a certain way to feel welcome in this practice. You already belong here.

So the question isn't "Do I fit into this trend?" The question is "What can Pilates do for me, and what does supportive, skill-building teaching look like?"

Before you choose a class, a studio, or hop into (or reject) a trend, ask yourself:

What do you want your body to do for your life?

• Move with less pain (or fear of pain)?
• Feel strong and capable?
• Build balance, coordination, and control?
• Keep up with your sport, your job, your kids, your travel, and your hobbies?
• Stay agile as you age?

Pilates is a powerful tool for those goals because it teaches you how to move holistically, not as separate parts, but as a coordinated system.

How to get the most from your Pilates practice

Breath, centering, control, precision, concentration, and flow are essential to a Pilates practice. When those principles are taught well, you can learn to generate movement, for example, from your powerhouse so the rest of your body can do work without your joints and spine overtaking the load. "Move from the center" is a strategy that shows up in real life:

• when you want to feel steady on stairs, uneven ground, or slick sidewalks
• when you're turning, rotating, or changing direction quickly
• when your balance gets tested unexpectedly, catching yourself, stepping around something, or moving in a crowd
• when you want your strength to feel controlled, not chaotic

It's also why many people describe Pilates as the thing that makes everything else in their training work better.

Pilates strategies for real life

For life as a 49-year-old recreational aerialist

I'm a lifelong athlete and comprehensively certified Pilates teacher. I started circus arts in my early 40s and I'm now preparing for an aerial hoop (Lyra) duo performance at age 49. Aerial demands whole-body coordination, strength, and balance that must originate from my body's center, with total stability and control under torque, gravity, and in my case, in counterweight with my aerial partner. Pilates does not replace my other training. I lift weights (heavy ones), I do yoga, and cardio too.

Pilates gave me the most essential foundation that helps me practice and perform aerial movements safely and confidently. Here is the secret sauce that you can't unlearn when you get to know Pilates in your body: it carries into everything else you do, including weight lifting. It permeates your whole life, your whole body, in the best way. I lift, ski, spin on a Lyra, better because of Pilates. For me, moving without Pilates would be like trying to swim without water.

For a life lived well

That same foundation is exactly what Pilates can offer you, too, whatever your goal is. One of my favorite clients when I taught full-time was an 85-year-old, very tall gentleman. He was funny, curious, and game for the process. Some days, we practiced Classical Pilates fundamentals focusing on breath, alignment, and body awareness. Other days, we applied that learning to something very real: getting on and off the floor. Over time, his mobility improved. His confidence improved. And something else changed too: he started coming into the studio happier.

Moving to Move Well

If you work out consistently with any modality, your body will likely change, but it won’t change or become the same for everyone. If the aesthetic becomes the only reason you move, you lose the best parts of the practice:

• Learning how your body works, holistically
• Building skill over time
• Adapting intelligently
• Feeling confident and capable

Practicing Pilates requires presence, not about your body, but in your body. Focusing on the movement, the breath, the precision, leaves room to leave judgment behind and effectively be present in other important aspects of life.

At Pilates Anytime, our north star is helping people find movement within their range that feels good to them. To help you navigate the array of Pilates presented in the world, here are some tips if you're curious about trying Pilates, or you're suddenly wondering what style of class you have been taking.

How to find a great teacher (and a great class)

1) Follow the teachers, not just the studio brand

Look for teachers who show:

• Clear setup and alignment
• Options/modifications
• Coaching that explains why you are moving in a certain way, not just "burn" (yes, we also love a good burn)

2) Call the studio and ask questions like these

• "Which of your teachers would be good to start with as a true beginner?" (if that's your starting point)
• "Do you offer a Reformer intro?"
• "I'm looking to start with fundamentals and form. What's the best way to do that at your studio?"
• "Can I arrive a few minutes early to learn the equipment setup?"
• "Is there a required training for your teachers? What kind of Pilates do you teach? Is it Classical? Is it Contemporary?"

A quality studio will love these questions. Asking just a few questions will help you know if the space feels right to you and so you know what style of class you're signing up for.

I also recommend researching your teacher. Get to know them! How and where were they trained? What kind of training did they complete, and how much teaching experience do they have, keeping in mind your needs and goals? Just like you, teachers have many paths into Pilates. Knowing where they are in their teaching journey will help you know if you are a good match.

(For reference, the National Pilates Certification Program has released new eligibility requirements effective on January 1, 2027 for Comprehensive and Mat Certifications, which includes new information on program requirements that must be in-person versus virtual or pre-recorded. Eligibility is not required to teach Pilates, nor is a certification from the NPCP, but it’s a helpful guideline for both clients and teachers to know whether a certification program meets these standards.)

You can also learn more about the different lineages of Pilates teaching here.

3) Ask for referrals

Find one teacher you trust. You can start with our teachers here, many of whom teach live workshops and in-person sessions globally, and ask them:

• "Who do you recommend in my area?"
• "Is there a studio you trust for beginners?" (if you are beginning Pilates)

Ultimately, whatever brought you to Pilates, we're so happy you're here! Maybe it was a doctor's recommendation for back pain, or maybe it was a TikTok video that made it look fun. Any way you came to read this far into this article, this current wave of attention to Pilates is exciting, and Pilates is a deep, adaptable method, expansive enough to meet you where you are.

So if the aesthetic inspires you, enjoy it. Wear the socks, love the studio music and lighting, soak up the energy. And, you don't have to change who you are to belong in the practice. You can be a part of the moment and still make Pilates your own, especially when you take a little time to find great teaching and a class structure that truly supports you.

Take what serves you, the community, the motivation, the fun, and let your practice do what Pilates does best: help you feel stronger, more confident, and more at home in your body. Pilates is a tool designed to support your life. How you use it is entirely up to you.

Pilates Anytime is here to help you start smart: experienced teachers, fundamentals you can repeat, and programs designed for longevity.

[Try a guided Challenge for motivation, a Beginner Program for step-by-step learning, and build confidence moving through the foundations].

A Note for Pilates Teachers

The industry is changing, and your teaching matters more than ever. If you are an instructor reading The Cut article, you might have all kinds of feelings (please share in the comments). For some, you might realize you are feeling the pressure to "perform" and to prioritize complex choreography or a specific aesthetic to keep up with the trend. If you feel that way, it's good awareness!

We love a great outfit and high quality production. Great teaching is way beyond that. It's about the eye. It's about the cue that finally helps a client find their aha moment. It's about the modification that makes movement accessible to a body that didn't think it belonged.

Whether you are a newly certified instructor or a 20-year veteran, we are here to help you deepen your knowledge, refine your cues, and stay grounded in the method.

What you can do now:

• Teach the principles (breath, centering, control, precision, concentration, flow)
• Prioritize setup and safety: springs, alignment, and clear starting points
• Offer progressions and regressions without labels that might make clients feel judged
• Cue the why (What should they feel? What's the goal?)
• Protect the room: confidence, consent, and no shame

And a little pep talk for all of our teachers, you too are exactly where you need to be. If you're feeling underconfident in your training or unsure where you fit into the current Pilates world, we're here for you. We've built a deep library for teachers who want to keep refining their cues, class design, progressions, and fundamentals across Mat, Reformer, and more. Every professional needs a mentor, no matter how experienced. You can't know everything! Contact us if you would like some referrals where you can expand your teaching, your presence, and your unique contribution to Pilates. We need you. Pilates needs you.

[Explore Our PRO Resources for Pilates Teachers & Workshops]