Pilates is all the buzz right now, with celebrities across industries sharing quick clips of their workouts on social media sites and even in the news.
Many people assume that this Pilates trend is the invention of a new type of exercise, but in reality, Pilates has been around for centuries.
Now that the public is picking up on just how effective and engaging Pilates classes can be, let’s explore how this centuries-old practice became a staple in celebrity culture and why you should give it a try as well.
The Origin of Pilates
The Pilates regimen of exercise is named after its founder, Joseph Hubertus Pilates, who was born in Germany in 1883. During World War I, he took it upon himself to assist prison camp’s inmates in physical rehabilitation.
For example, using their bed springs to improve mobility. From this starting point, he developed some of the foundational principles that later informed the Pilates exercise method.
Thanks to the increasing awareness of a holistic approach to health in Pilates’ time—and coupled with his work with injured war soldiers—he developed an exercise method that focused on building flexibility, strength, and movement through gentle but challenging repetitions.
Being dissatisfied with the medical apparatuses available to him at that time, he developed a prototype of his own, which eventually became what we know as the Reformer.
The Transition to Cultural Popularity
Pilates has existed for quite some time as an undercurrent in the fitness world, but it was not until a few influential celebrities picked up on it that it gained more traction.
Couple this with an increased focus on mindfulness and well-being during the COVID pandemic and the many famous faces starting to share their own experiences with Pilates. Even Saturday Night Live has included Pilates among its many parodies!
Terms like “Reformer Pilates” have seen a large uptick in traffic on platforms such as TikTok, with over 27 million views following Pilates photos posted by notorious celebs, including Justin Bieber.
Kendall Jenner is another famous personality who is embracing (and sharing) her experience with Pilates. Thanks to their efforts and many more, Pilates has seen exponential growth in metro centers such as Los Angeles and more, and continues to flare.
Athletes use it to cross-train to improve their performance and stability in addition to its potential aesthetic effects.
Why Celebs Love Pilates So Much
Why have all these celebrities started to flock to Pilates over other fitness options, such as CrossFit? Many cite the reflective and meditative qualities of the workout as a welcome time for decompression in their busy schedules.
Additionally, the low-impact nature of Pilates is especially valuable for celebs who are on their feet working all the time. With the adjustability of the Reformer machine, celebs can increase the challenge of their workouts when they want to and add extra support when they need it.
Another reason why Pilates has seen such an uptick, both among celebs and the general public, is the effect that the pandemic had on people’s bodies.
As more people stayed home, mostly on their phones and electronic devices or working in a home office, their posture tended to suffer—which is an issue that Pilates is especially adept at addressing.
Pilates targets proper body alignment and can help to relieve pain associated with poor posture by strengthening the muscles that keep you comfortably upright.
Of course, we’d be remiss not to include one of the most obvious benefits of Pilates that celebrities crave: strength training. Whether for their own goals or to fit into a desired role, many celebrities strive to achieve strong, toned bodies, especially in the core.
Pilates excels at this thanks to its whole-body focus that helps with posture and stability. Many celebs feel their Pilates workouts help them land the roles they want and curate the public image they display to the world.
Some of the many celebrities and athletes who incorporate Pilates into their regular exercise regimens include:
- Lady Gaga
- Miley Cyrus
- Hailey Bieber
- Megan Thee Stallion
- Hilary Duff
- Jason Kidd
- Megan Fox
- Kate Hudson
- Justin Bieber
- Kendall Jenner
- Sylvester Stalone
- David Beckham
- Sandra Bullock
- Beyonce
- Jordan Hicks
- Adrian Phillips
- Jimmy Butler
- Lebron James
- Jarvis Landry
- Dwayne Wade
- Martellus Bennett
Even Barbie LOVES the benefits! The entire Barbie cast used Reformer Pilates as their workout during filming, loving this form of exercise. “The Kens did four days of strength and conditioning training and two days of Pilates each week, while the Barbies did the reverse.”
Actress Margot Robbie even did one workout in full Barbie costume! Although the actress is in current news with her latest movie and Pilates, Harpers Bazaar shares that Margot Robbie is a long standing fan of Reformer Pilates.
In addition to the many celebrities, many athletes across various sports have been incorporating Pilates into their training programs for quite some time, finding improved success on the fields and courts. Pro athletes credit Pilates for increased agility and overall performance.
But you don’t need to be a celebrity or pro athlete to look and feel like one! Just find a good Pilates program and see for yourself.
Try Pilates Yourself with RTR Pilates
If you’ve seen your favorite celebrity post photos of their Pilates workouts and wonder if it’s a good type of exercise for you too, there is no better time than the present to give it a try!
The team at RTR Pilates is excited to guide you in Reformer Pilates, whether you are a beginner signing up for a Level 1 class or someone with advanced experience in Pilates who’s ready for a challenge.
Contact RTR Pilates to learn more about our instructors and the classes we offer or to sign up for a class that matches your experience!