For a long time, yoga was all the craze with young women, often being considered as a mechanism for peace. When COVID hit, fitness went digital, with countless home workouts gracing everyone who was stuck at home with something to get busy with. With all the fitness trends we’ve seen come and go over the years, one workout emerges as a true classic. Sure, Pilates has been around since the 1920s, but we can’t deny its resurgence as the new “it girl” workout. Celebrities from Jennifer Aniston and Kate Hudson to influencers like Kim Kardashian and Hailey Bieber swear by this workout. Even supermodels like Kendall Jenner and Bella Hadid are often seen walking out of their go-to Pilates studio in LA.
Pilates offers a fresh approach to fitness. It’s a low-impact exercise that utilizes a series of controlled movements that helps improve strength, posture, and flexibility. It also helps with core strength and mind-body connection.
More than its physical benefits, Pilates also has a way of improving one’s mental stability and focus. It builds a resilience to stress with its ability to calm the mind and increase serotonin and endorphins. As you’re put in a state of relaxation, you are more able to detach from your daily worries and think clearly.
Social connection is a crucial aspect of your overall wellness. Pilates is a great way to meet new friends. With the sense of community and camaraderie it offers, it can bring together like-minded people who share the same experiences and goals. With a community, you can foster a sense of mutual encouragement and motivation.
You see, Pilates sells itself just based on its benefits alone. But Pilates is more than a mere workout; it’s a lifestyle. And how does it sell as a lifestyle? There are many things that contribute to how Pilates became this age’s “it-girl” workout. With the subtle message that being into the practice communicates, it becomes an ethos you want to project yourself as. A pilates girl is soft, feminine, and strong. It symbolizes a woman who does not worry about pushing herself too much but is fixated on taking care of herself, with her toned physique and a sense of inner zen she radiates. In essence, women in Pilates romanticize a healthy lifestyle while embracing their femininity.