It's OK If You Don't Actually Like Pilates

Let me say this again: It's OK if you don't actually like Pilates. Although the low-impact workout has recently gained traction for its many health benefits and celebrity fans (Miley Cyrus, we're looking at you), it turns out that many of these so-called Pilates classes might not be teaching Pilates at all.

"I think so much of what we see on here and on these apps and on YouTube being passed as Pilates is not actually Pilates," says Pilates instructor Amanda Blauer in a January TikTok with over 30K likes. She adds that when you search for Pilates workouts, many results more closely resemble a "sculpt class" with exercises like donkey kicks, arm circles, and leg lifts. "Just watching a lot of those videos, I can tell that the people doing them don't actually have backgrounds in Pilates, because they never include actual Pilates exercises," Blauer says.

As a self-proclaimed fan of low-impact workouts, this perspective comes as a bit of relief. I can't tell you how many times I've searched for an at-home Pilates class that'll feel gentle on my joints, only to end up sweating bullets mid-jump squat, wondering how I got there. It's not that I'm looking for something easy, but I'm definitely not always in the mood for a HIIT sculpt class masquerading as a Pilates burn. And at the very least, I'd like to get the modality I'm looking for.

Natalie Grimsley is the founder of PlankHaus, a Lagree studio in Santa Monica.

Lisa Hirsch-Solomon is the founder and CEO of The Studio (MDR), a Lagree-based fitness studio.

"Pilates was originally created by Joseph Pilates as a rehab method, so it is all about controlled, mindful movements that help build core strength, improve flexibility, and get you in tune with your body," explains Lisa Hirsch-Solomon, CEO of a Lagree-based studio. There's plenty of reasons why someone might want to do actual Pilates — from injury prevention to stress relief — but not everyone is a fan of the slow burn.

"Pilates offers a ton of health benefits, such as enhanced core strength, flexibility, posture, balance, and body awareness, along with stress relief and potential injury prevention," says PlankHaus founder Natalie Grimsley. If you're seeking a gentle, low-impact workout for core strength and mobility, Pilates could be a great option. But it's also OK if you prefer a more intense approach.

Even I can easily understand how — when you've already carved an hour out of your day to work out — you want to glean the absolute most out of your workout. Maybe you like elements of Pilates, but want to get your heart rate up a little higher. What should you type into the search bar then? Will Pilates-tok cancel you for wanting to break more of a sweat?

Hirsch-Solomon has some helpful insight. "If you love the mindful approach of Pilates but want to challenge yourself more, Lagree is a great way to take things up a notch," she says (more on the differences here). But at the end of the day, both modalities can help you improve flexibility, build strength, and increase stamina.

When it comes to fitness, it's easy to feel like you're not doing enough. But whether you're a fan of Pilates in its true low-impact form, or you'd rather crank up the intensity, the best workout is the one you genuinely want to come back to. It's OK if you don't like Pilates, and it's also OK if you really only like it a certain way. Don't let anyone on Pilates-tok tell you otherwise.

Chandler Plante (she/her) is an assistant health and fitness editor for PS. She has over four years of professional journalism experience, previously working as an editorial assistant for People magazine and contributing to Ladygunn, Millie, and Bustle Digital Group.