What Is Pilates Anymore? Clearing the Confusion Without Shaming the Movement

By Dr. Suz – Pilates Instructor, Rehab Specialist, Lover of Movement & Truth

Pilates has exploded.

Reformer, mat, clinical, athletic, hot, HIIT-ish, hybrid, chaotic-in-a-good-way… or sometimes just chaotic.

And with that rise has come confusion, gatekeeping, and a lot of online noise about what Pilates should or shouldn’t be.

So let’s clear the reformer, so to speak — and get honest about what Pilates is, what it’s not, where it shines, and where it sometimes strays off course.

Because I love Pilates. I teach it. I train people in it. But I also think we need to be allowed to talk about the grey area without shaming people out of movement altogether.

1. Classical Pilates vs. Contemporary Pilates: Yes, Both Can Exist

Classical Pilates is beautiful in its structure and precision. It’s grounded in the original work of Joseph Pilates, whose method had rhythm, sequencing, flow — and let’s not forget — was built on experimentation.

Joseph wasn’t a purist. He adapted, evolved, and problem-solved. Today’s Pilates instructors continue that legacy by applying science, inclusivity, and creativity.

Contemporary Pilates isn’t “less than.” It’s often more accessible, rehab-informed, and responsive to the realities of modern movement.

As long as the intent, control, and clarity are there — it’s Pilates.

2. Cadence Doesn’t Cancel Control

There’s a belief that if you use music, tempo, or breathing rhythms, it stops being Pilates.

But let’s be clear: musicality, tempo, and breath-led pacing can enhance control — not remove it. They support:

• Sensory timing

• Movement flow

• Nervous system regulation

  
  
  
  

Using a metronome or counting breath-to-movement ratios doesn’t dilute Pilates — it deepens awareness. It’s not about tempo for tempo’s sake — it’s about using rhythm to refine.

3. Kettlebells in a Sauna Aren’t Pilates (and That’s Okay)

Not everything done on a reformer is Pilates.

Not everything sweaty and bendy with a plank is “Pilates-inspired.”

That doesn’t mean those workouts are bad — but we need to stop calling everything “Pilates” just because it uses springs or gets you sweaty.

When branding overtakes method, clarity is lost. Call it fusion. Call it HIIT with props. Call it sweaty-core-circuit. Just don’t confuse it with a system designed for breath, flow, and functional control.

4. Pilates ≠ Rehab (Unless You’re Trained in It)

There’s a myth that Pilates is rehab. And while it’s used beautifully in rehab settings — being a Pilates instructor doesn’t make you a rehab specialist.

True rehab requires:

• Clinical reasoning

• Assessment and progression planning

• Understanding of pathophysiology and pain science

  
  
  
  

Pilates can support healing — but only when applied within someone’s scope. We don’t need to blur those lines to make the method sound smarter. It already is.

5. Group Classes Aren’t About Everyone Doing the Same Thing

A red flag in many group classes? Everyone is expected to do the same movement, same spring, same tempo — and if they can’t, they’re quietly told to go book privates.

Here’s the truth:

A great class has something for everyone.

Programming should offer:

• Entry points and progressions

• Permission to adapt

• Space for learning without shame

  
  
  
  

If someone has to leave the room to “work up to it,” that’s a programming issue — not a client issue.

6. The “You’re Doing It Wrong” Problem Online

Let’s talk about the shame spiral.

When instructors post content mocking what others are doing and saying “this isn’t real Pilates,” the message that lands is: You’re not doing it right. You don’t belong.

That’s the opposite of what movement should be.

Yes, we need standards.

Yes, we should care about the method.

But mocking movement creates fear, not progress.

Let’s raise the bar without pulling the rug out from under people trying to get there.

7. Pilates Doesn’t “Give You Long, Lean Muscles” — Genetics Do

Let’s retire the myth that Pilates creates long, lean muscles.

• Muscles don’t “lengthen” through Pilates.

• Lean-ness is a combo of genetics, diet, and other types of training.

• People who look long and lean often start that way, and are drawn to Pilates because it suits their aesthetic and movement style.

  
  
  
  

That doesn’t make Pilates exclusionary — it just means everyone is welcome, and everyone will look different doing it.

8. Burn ≠ Muscle Building

The burn is a sensation — not a signal that you’re building muscle.

In fact, burn often means form is slipping or you’re approaching fatigue without enough load to trigger growth.

Pilates can build endurance, mobility, and control — but it’s not designed to produce hypertrophy or bone density adaptations. That requires progressive overload and mechanical tension beyond what a reformer or mat can usually provide.

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9. What Pilates Is Good For

Let’s celebrate where Pilates absolutely shines:

• Re-educating movement patterns post-injury

• Strengthening deep stabilisers and intrinsic muscles

• Improving proprioception and body awareness

• Reconnecting to breath and core control

• Building movement confidence without overwhelm

• Supporting longevity and joint integrity

  
  
  
  

It’s foundational. It’s smart. It’s powerful when taught well. And it works best when it’s one part of a complete movement ecosystem — not the only tool in the toolbox.

10. Let’s Talk About the Private Class Mindset

Private sessions are valuable — but they shouldn’t be a workaround for poor group programming.

If instructors default to “maybe you should book privates” every time someone can’t do a teaser, they’re missing the point. Group Pilates should feel like:

• A space for everyone

• A place to grow, modify, and adapt

• A container where multiple movement experiences can coexist

  
  
  
  

Classes that don’t offer options aren’t elite — they’re inflexible.

11. It’s Okay to Innovate (With Integrity)

Pilates was always experimental. Joseph Pilates was not a doctrine-following guru. He created equipment, repurposed hospital beds, worked with boxers, dancers, and soldiers. He evolved.

Modern instructors can too — as long as we know what we’re changing, why we’re doing it, and who it serves.

Innovation is not the enemy of tradition. Mindless mimicry is.

12. Movement Shouldn’t Be a Minefield

There’s too much confusion — and too much fear of doing it wrong.

People scroll past Pilates content and feel judged. They feel excluded. They feel like they don’t have the right body, control, spring, or outfit.

That’s the real problem — not the fusion class or the breathing cadence.

Let’s critique systems, not people. Let’s make movement accessible, adaptable, and welcoming.

Because we don’t need more perfection. We need more practice.

13. The Real Message: Clarity Over Purity

Pilates is more than one lineage.

It’s more than one body type.

It’s more than one teaching style.

It can be refined, powerful, gentle, expressive, precise — and still inclusive.

Let’s protect its depth without policing its edges.

Let’s challenge misinformation without creating fear.

Let’s keep Pilates grounded, expansive, and human.

Not sure where to start? You don’t have to figure it out alone. Message me and let’s talk!

Written by Dr. Suz | AHA – Activity & Health for All

Pilates instructor. Rehab specialist. Defender of the confused. Champion of good movement. Advocate for nuance.