The wellness edit: Pilates – fad or fab?

Pilates has made a notable comeback as one of the hottest fitness trends, seen across media as influencers and celebs flaunt Pilates as essential to everyone’s day-to-day life. The sophisticated aesthetic of the Pilates lifestyle appears as an inviting approach to fitness, advertised as accessible with a feminine touch. However, this perception doesn’t detract from its effectiveness. Countless videos and testimonials praise Pilates for benefits like lengthening muscles, developing core strength, and toning the body in ways that traditional gym workouts might not offer. But how much of this is true and should we all try out Pilates?

Pilates offers a full-body workout that activates and strengthens muscles with minimal equipment

Although Pilates is sometimes portrayed as a luxury activity restricted to high-end studios and pricey reformer classes, the truth is, it can be much more accessible. Along with TikTok and Instagram, YouTube has thousands of certified instructors offering follow-along videos from beginner to advanced. Instructors such as Move With Nicole mirror the intensity of in-person classes, targeting specific areas of the body or the fundamentals of full-body Pilates. Additionally, many gyms now include Pilates classes in their membership packages or offer classes at discounted rates, making it far more budget-friendly than paying per session. Attending classes in person does have its perks. The presence of an instructor ensures correct form and personalised adjustments, which can be great for beginners, and a group setting can often be perfect for that extra bit of motivation.

Although influencers and creators often showcase the toughest sides of Pilates, it doesn’t always have to be this intense and extreme. Pilates for beginners often relies on bodyweight exercises, introducing foundational movements and building strength gradually. Through simple yet effective exercises like planks, hip bridges, and crunches, Pilates offers a full-body workout that activates and strengthens muscles with minimal equipment. This makes it a really achievable option for those of us who may find gym-based workouts daunting or who prefer a lower-impact approach.

The accessibility of Pilates may contribute to its current popularity as essentially anyone with a yoga mat and a bit of floor space can give it a try, and they’ll still benefit from improved strength and flexibility. However, it’s important to keep expectations realistic. While Pilates can offer incredible results, it’s unlikely to completely transform your life overnight as the media may suggest. It’s a practice that builds strength and mobility over time, with improvements most noticeable when practising consistently.

While Pilates might be trending for its lifestyle appeal, its real benefits lie in its accessibility, versatility, and effectiveness

I have attempted Pilates numerous times for a few years and in the past few months have committed to attending a class once or sometimes twice a week. It definitely isn’t an easy workout, and I appreciate the various difficulty levels, allowing me to work and improve each week. The obvious benefits are the ones I see specifically within the classes. I can stretch further, and my core is definitely stronger – evidently from the different movements that I don’t do in other areas of training.

But is Pilates for you? There is no doubt that Pilates can have great benefits for working on full body strength and flexibility, which can be especially helpful alongside other training. If you are a keen runner, play a team sport, or lift weights regularly, Pilates may be really helpful in supporting your body to reach optimum performance and also reduce the risk of injury. While Pilates might be trending for its lifestyle appeal, its real benefits lie in its accessibility, versatility, and effectiveness. Whether you’re looking for a low-impact entry into fitness, a core supplement to your regular training, or a sustainable way to improve flexibility, Pilates could be a valuable change to your current routine.