pilates fitness trend
Meinke Klein 2021

What do a mermaid, J-Lo and scrambled eggs have in common? The question would stump many, but possibly not the 24 million people viewing Reformer Pilates videos on TikTok, who might recognise all three as names of moves done in class. It once played second fiddle to the ancient and hugely popular practice of yoga, but a recent survey found that 70% of fitness enthusiasts in the UK would now choose Pilates instead. Online searches for the practice are up by 124% in the last year, putting it top of the fitness trend charts, above hot yoga, surfing, pole dancing and calisthenics. For those who have never scrambled eggs other than for breakfast, what's all the fuss about?

As any good instructor would say, let’s start with the basics. Pilates is a baby compared to yoga - which is believed to have been first practiced roughly 5,000 years ago. It was invented in the 1920s by the German gymnast-cum-circus-performer-cum-boxer-cum-carpenter Joseph Pilates, who developed his ‘mind and body’ exercise programme to aid injured dancers and soldiers in post-war Europe. After moving to the US, Pilates opened his first studio in New York (originally naming the method ‘contrology’) with his wife Clara, developing the basis of the practice that is still key to the exercise we know today. The focus is always on the core, with low-impact moves for the whole body to improve strength, posture and shape. His claim, which any serious Pilates fan will back up, was that, ‘In 10 sessions you'll feel the difference, in 20 sessions you'll see the difference, and in 30 sessions you'll have a whole new body.'

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Just ask Hailey Bieber, Ashley Graham or Naomi Campbell, who have all boasted about the results of their go-to exercise. At this year’s Met Gala, Normani framed her unfathomably toned abs in a cut-out Christian Siriano dress and declared, ‘It’s that Pilates’ to a gobsmacked interviewer. And it’s not just the girls: David Beckham revealed that a daily hour of practice got him into ‘the best shape I’ve been in years’.

‘I tried it all over the years, and it’s the one workout I found where you instantly feel and see a difference,’ says Jess Schuring, the founder of Heartcore, who currently has seven Pilates studios across London and is widely seen as the leader in the field. German-born Schuring discovered Pilates while working in LA as a designer and quickly fell in love with it. The classic, Joseph-inspired techniques drew her in but, after training as an instructor, she began incorporating more dynamic, conditioning-based elements ‘to see better results and keep people engaged through the classes’. Developing the Heartcore technique (deep-burning, energising and results-driven), she launched in London 15 years ago when Reformer classes (the bed-like frames with a sliding platform and series of pulleys and ropes) ‘barely existed’. But the business quickly grew and, today, classes are consistently fully booked.

In 10 sessions you'll feel the difference, in 20 sessions you'll see the difference, and in 30 sessions you'll have a whole new body.

Schuring is passionate about the mind-body connection, but aware that the main draw is most often the aesthetic impact. ‘Pilates is powerful for so many different reasons, but let’s be superficial for a second,’ she says. ‘The abs, the body… that’s the thing that does excite people.’ And I can attest to that. In my career as a beauty journalist I’ve trialled every exercise fad London has to offer - boxing, HIIT, spinning, barre, cross fit, rowing, Zumba… even ‘circus skills classes' that involved swinging from a trapeze - and nothing has ever come close to the honing, ab-shaping effects of Reformer Pilates. My legs never felt stronger, shoulders never more sculpted, bottom never sitting higher, than when I’m committing to regular classes.

The Celeb Fans
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celebrity pilates fans
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And this is translating to the high street. In the UK there are currently 4,476 Pilates and yoga studios, and that market is worth over £900m. At the top of the pyramid are exclusive clubs like Nobu Pilates, a beautifully designed space below the Nobu hotel in Marylebone, which (more than) ticks the 'aesthetically pleasing' box: think pale wood and soft lighting. Run by creative director Marsha Lindsay it claims to offer the 'fullest' Pilates experience in London. It sounds incredibly fancy - and it is. Even outside of luxury hotels, Reformer classes in particular are often very expensive. The average class in London will set you back around £30 a pop (though it can be less if you buy in pre-booked blocks).

Mat pilates, that requires little or no equipment, is helping to democratise the practice. Not only is it cheaper, it also helps removes the fear factor. ‘People can feel intimidated by the equipment, or maybe prefer to move in privacy,’ says Schuring, who pivoted her Heartcore classes online and onto mats during COVID and - after seeing the interest and results - is launching Reformer-free classes in-studio too. ‘It’s a nice way to get introduced to Pilates, but also open it up to more people.’ There are also home-only platforms such as Bryony Deery's app, 'Pilates by Bryony, which allows you to train on demand, with only a mat and some self-motivation required.

For those wanting the best of both worlds, at-home machines will soon offer a solution. The Pilates version of Peloton bikes are set to hit the UK early this year. One brand, Frame Fitness, offers chic, streamlined but 'studio grade' Reformers, complete with screens housing banks of videos and live classes.

Co-founder of the company, Canadian Melissa Bentivolgio, an instructor of 16 years, saw the growth of studio Pilates and foresaw the next natural step. ‘The landscape of digital fitness has exploded in the past five years with smart mirrors, Hydrow [an at-home rowing machine, which has just had a billion dollar valuation) and ,of course, Peloton, and I thought - why hasn’t Pilates transitioned?’ she says. ‘I knew it would pivot beautifully.’

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The cost, again, is considerable. A Frame Fitness machine, or a similar option from a competitor, start at around £3,500, with monthly membership on top. Bentivolgio recognises that this is costly, but she believes (and a sell-out of 500 pre-orders seem to prove) that the addictive nature of Pilates makes the investment worth it. ‘People start and don’t stop. You can do it at any age - into your 80s, beyond even. The efficacy of Pilates is addictive, both for the body and the brain.’

And the brain - particularly mindfulness and mental health - is something that everyone I speak to in this world feels strongly about. ‘People always talk about yoga having that mind-body connection, but Pilates has that, too - I think even more so,’ says Schuring.

Speaking, as someone who can find themselves zoning out in yoga, I find Pilates sits in that perfect sweet spot: it’s tough but not exhausting, moves are intense without being prolonged, and the sense of achievement is addictive. I might ache afterwards, but I also feel stretched and taller: ‘Physically stronger and emotionally lighter,’ as Schuring puts it. ‘It’s about prioritising health. And health isn’t singularly about your weight, or what’s in your blood results. It’s about feeling good, feeling empowered, having clarity and being the best version of yourself.’ And if that best version of yourself comes hand in hand with a six pack? Win-win I say.