Pilates, surprisingly and unsurprisingly, is more than it looks. On social media, the supermodels and the dancers make it look effortless: They move with grace and ease, they’re hardly sweaty, and we don’t see that ‘arrrgh’ expression on their faces. They’re clad in really good, skin-tight outfits, too.
L.A.-based Filipina model and Asia’s Next Top Model season 4’s Ja Flores, who has been in the modeling industry for decades, decided to try pilates to alleviate her back pain, but what made her stay was the focused exercise it allowed her. “Unlike when I workout in a gym, where I find myself constantly checking on my phone during cool-down, in pilates, my time in the studio is maximized,” she says. “Pilates engages my mind, just as much as my body.”
Joanna Ng, a senior marketer in her 30s, never worked out her entire life and was never engaged in any sport growing up—but she has always been naturally thin. “With aging comes pain here and there,” she admits. “That’s when I knew I needed to start working out to strengthen my body, but I was too intimidated to go to the regular gym. I saw celebrities (like Georgina Wilson) posting about pilates on Instagram, so I did my research and found out it’s actually recommended for people with scoliosis—which I have.” She signed up for her first pilates class in 2022—her first workout ever—and has consistently kept up with her twice-a-week sessions ever since.
Pilates turns out to be quite the opposite of everything we’ve always known about sports and strength: It’s slow and low-impact, there’s no need for speed, and the heavy weights are nowhere in sight.
It’s an attractive workout, to say the least, thanks in large part to the A-list clients and the faces—and bodies—that promote it. Technically speaking, pilates is a workout, yet it turns out to be quite the opposite of everything we’ve always known about sports and strength: It’s slow and low-impact, there’s no need for speed, and the heavy weights are nowhere in sight. But what makes it so effective–and the choice workout of the cool and chic?
What You See Isn’t What You Get
Pilates is often perceived as an exercise for women, but that’s hardly the case. Its founder Joseph Pilates, a German who trained in gymnastics and boxing, was a circus performer, a brusque physical trainer, and a self-defense expert, among many other things.
It was in 1914 when Pilates and his troupe were traveling in England and World War I broke out. He and his circus mates were arrested and sent to an internment camp, where food was scarce and there was hardly anything to do. Pilates noticed how such conditions left them in despair, their now-frail bodies slowly debilitating.
Joseph Pilates decided to do as the cats did: He started to move his limbs and stretch his muscles on the daily.
His lightbulb moment came upon observation of the stray cats wandering around the courtyard. They were scrawny and tiny, but unlike the human captives, they still moved well, agile and steadfast, as they hunted for prey, climbed with vigor, and landed gracefully on their feet—without any injury. And every so often, the cats stretched, stretched, and stretched.
Pilates decided to do as the cats did: He started to move his limbs and stretch his muscles on the daily. So he tinkered with the beds at the internment camp and developed the first versions of his apparatus. Pilates’ internees followed suit, and under his guidance, they grew healthier than when they went into camp. And when the Spanish Flu broke out, it is said that none of them were infected.
Safe to say, the practice of pilates was born out of the need to survive and stay strong in a time of uncertainty, tension and despair, stagnancy and immobility. It wasn’t at all meant to keep female models fit and trim.
Lifestyles Of The Rich And Famous
From Gwyneth Paltrow to Naomi Campbell, BLACKPINK’s Jennie to Son Ye-jin, Miranda Kerr to Hailey Bieber, there’s no shortage of svelte celebs to convince us all to try pilates. “You’ll instantly notice a ‘pilates body,’” begins Krishna Yalong-Penson, Move with Options Studio owner and managing partner. She says it’s easy to spot and guess who are the celebrities doing it, because of the way they stand tall and carry themselves. “Their bodies are long and lean, but toned, and they have good posture.”
“I believe [the popularity of pilates] also has a lot to do with it being a go-to for many Korean stars,” adds Tanya Maria Aguila, founder of ONELIFE studio. She notes how celebrities as such have to go through rigorous training schedules and activities that make them susceptible to injuries, but they need to continue exercising to maintain a good physique. “Pilates really fits in perfectly for both those needs. It suits the long and lean—and fresh—aesthetic that’s big in South Korea and most Asian countries now.” For Aguila, a 55-minute session is all you need, and you don’t come out of the gym looking all wound up.
“You don’t look ngarag (haggard) and you can still do a lot of things after a session,” echoes Yalong-Penson. “And with pilates, you don’t bulk up, unlike in weight training,” she adds. “Plus, the progress is fast.” No wonder it’s become the choice workout of models and celebrities who want to keep trim and slim. Yalong-Penson discloses that lot of celebrities visit the studio right before they have an important fashion show or shoot, as a way to reinforce the toning and definition of their bodies.
“Pilates is pretty sneaky—in a good way,” says Aguila. “It is a common misconception that good workouts only happen when you feel exhausted, spent, drenched in sweat, and almost at the point of throwing up. [But with pilates,] you don’t get super sweaty, and it doesn’t beat you down or beat you up.”
A Place For All
All the same, pilates isn’t reserved only for women, the high-profile, or the ultra-busy. In fact, it caters to and serves a wide range of clients, from pregnant and postpartum women, to athletes who are cross-training, the elderly recovering from injury or are strength-training, and those with special needs.
“My husband and dad are perfect examples. They used to think pilates is just for women,” recalls Yalong-Penson. She suggests that perhaps the vibe of pilates studios also gives it that ‘female’ branding. Pilates studios are bright and the interiors are pleasant. It smells good. And the equipment used isn’t self-explanatory, which can be intimidating.
“When my husband finally tried it, we saw that his core was weak,” Yalong-Penson shares. “Then we invited his friends, who are basketball players. And they were shaking, [because they had] a lot of muscle tightness,” she adds. “They’re strong and do a lot of body-building. But in pilates, it works out all your muscles, even the most internal ones, and most especially the core.”
“Pilates from an outsider’s perspective may seem just like a lot of stretching,” Aguila points out. “Internally, what’s happening is that all your systems are firing, connecting, and balancing for strength. It is really about precision, those small movement refinements, and the use of the deep stabilizing muscles of the entire body.”
Yalong-Penson’s dad, who needed knee rehabilitation due to old age, only recently started doing pilates. “It was his doctor’s advice to try pilates to strengthen his knee,” says Yalong-Penson. “Imagine that—we’ve had the studio for years, but he only tried it now because of his doctor.”
It’s Hardcore
“To begin pilates well is to begin with an engaged and activated core. Everything else follows,” says Laarni Burgos, co-founder, program director, and lead instructor at Prana Movement. “Start with breathing, the articulation of the pose, then integration of all the body parts.”
Burgos, whose bread and butter has always been fitness, turned to pilates after suffering from multiple overuse injuries. She used to regularly do intense workouts such as body combat and had to perform the routines multiple times a day as a trainer. It led her to have a frozen neck, a tennis elbow, and sciatica. “I needed to rest my body,” she recalls. “Thankfully, [I’m able to continue working out my body] through pilates as it’s low impact and has a lower risk for injury.” To date, Burgos has been in the practice for more than 20 years.
“Pilates is whole body health,” adds Dek Noriega, senior instructor at Move with Options. “There’s an emphasis on the three Cs—concentration, control, and centering,” she shares, reiterating how Joseph Pilates first called the method ‘Contrology,’ which pertains to the principle of controlling the body through one’s mind.
“The core is the body’s shock absorber. It’s also where the stability of your body comes from,” Noriega reiterates. “When your powerhouse is strong, you lower your risk for injury. There is flexibility, the strength of the shoulders, and the stability of your hips and knees when you land. You’ll have good balance and coordination.” Athletes, from volleyball players to golfers, recognize the benefits they get from pilates and complement their training with it.
“Pilates is all about the small movements that activate the internal parts of the body,” concludes Burgos. “That’s why it’s important to have a trainer who is intuitive and can understand the nuances of the exercise. And if you respond well to the exercises, the benefits are explainable.”
The Cost And Effect
If Pilates is so good, then why isn’t everyone on it? An obvious barrier is its steep price—one session sets you back at P2,500 to P2,700, and most studios would recommend a twice- or thrice-a-week practice.
It’s a lot, for many, but behind the price is the sum of what makes it worth it: the high-quality equipment and the personalized, one-on-one training that comes from the coach’s hard-earned education. Aguila reveals that “complete, high-quality Pilates apparatus complement is a big investment—one that is in the millions.” At the same time, a trainer’s education can cost as much as a college degree, or even more. Noriega also points out that training to become an instructor isn’t just a short course you’ll need to do once—it’s continuous education, and the training fee per equipment is different. Burgos, who trained in Singapore about a decade ago, recalls that training for mat pilates can cost about P65,000, the reformer more than P100,000, and the Cadillac chair and barbell are another hundred grand. Taking the exam can cost P50,000.
In sum, one has to shell out more in pilates—compared to a regular gym membership, for example—but this equates to faster results in just a few sessions. Still, whether or not it’s the workout for you depends on what your fitness goals are.
For many of its proponents, pilates offers a fitting solution to their needs—and more. “Pilates has greatly improved my posture and core strength, which are both essential in my work as a model, but what I really like about Pilates is it being a mind-body exercise that not only enhances my flexibility but promotes my mental well-being as well,” says Flores.
“Pilates has ultimately helped me gain confidence,” shares Ng. “I used to be super scared of trying out new workout activities because I always thought I was too weak. But now I feel stronger and I’m more willing to take on new challenges, like boxing. Honestly, the abs are just a bonus.”
A POST-PANDEMIC PILATES REVIVAL
There was a time when CrossFit and HIIT were all the rage, Krishna Yalong-Penson recalls. Post-pandemic, it seems that “everybody is going back to the basics,” she says. “And pilates ultimately brings us back to building and strengthening the foundation.” Practically all pilates studios today are fully booked, or have a long line in their waiting list.
Likewise, for those of us in our thirties with newfound aches and pains and a yearning for body awareness, the pilates promise calls. We tried out pilates for the first time to see for ourselves—our skin-tight outfits and sticky socks ready.
ONELIFE at Capitol Commons
First impression
True to its core (pun intended), ONELIFE Studio welcomes us into a safe space. Staff and coaches are warm and there are always genuine smiles from co-clients. It feels like a friendly community where everyone is rooting for you. If you’re self-conscious or usually scared or intimidated because gyms aren’t your natural habitat, it’s easy to let go and let loose at ONELIFE.
ONELIFE founder Tanya Maria Aguila, who first practiced yoga before being introduced to pilates, shares, “I [used to feel] a little out of place because my body type wasn’t the typical svelte, lean, and long body that you see in most yoga images. At the time, I felt judged whenever I’d walk into other studios or even when I’d teach some classes because I didn’t fit the mold.”
She created ONELIFE with the goal “to create a place where true body positivity will be championed”—and this truly is what we feel walking into ONELIFE studios. For us, a welcoming environment is essential for us to really let loose, feel relaxed, and come as we are, ready to have a good session.
What to expect
For new clients, you’ll be asked to fill in a form to note pre-existing conditions, past injuries, and the like. Then, you’ll be tasked to undergo a full body analysis that tells you things that may be hard to hear—but you’d appreciate knowing (trust us!).
The equipment measures your body fat to know if it’s within a healthy range; your visceral fat, which reveals if you’re eating too much fatty or oily foods; the places in your body where most of your fat is stored, to know which part of your body needs to be worked on more; what your body age is, and more. For us, it was a great way to get to know our body more, and how much our lifestyle—workouts and food choices alike—impacts it.
Then you’ll be asked to do stretches and poses for the trainer to identify your weak spots and areas for improvement. The first and succeeding sessions will be dependent on this onboarding assessment. Not to worry, because the coach will go slowly and gently.
The verdict, so far
On the outside, it may look as if you’re just stretching or doing ‘pretty’ poses, but slowly, and with more body awareness, you’ll start to feel the small but certain effects on your body. Each session is tandem work with your coach, as you’ll be asked every time how you’re doing, and if there are any issues you’d like to address.
Overall, every session at ONELIFE feels like a mood and body boost. It makes you feel good, inside and out, and the infectious vibe at the studio is just infectiously good. Not to mention, of course, the slow and steady results you’ll see—and feel—session after session. In the words of Aguila, “You may not come out of pilates sessions sweating buckets, but you’ll definitely see the results quicker than you expect.”
MOVE WITH OPTIONS at Rockwell
First impression
Move With Options is an established studio that truly knows Pilates to its core. On our first session, we first noticed the variety of clients practicing pilates, from elderly men and women to middle-aged moms, to younger folks with fit and athletic builds. It’s an encouraging environment that made us want to eagerly start and learn how pilates could benefit us.
What to expect
The first session gets you down and dirty from the get-go (not literally, of course!). The coach gets you on the full routine so that at once, you get a feel of what a strong core entails and what a proper posture should look like. You’ll stretch like never before. You’ll learn what a “lazy” pose is. You’ll be pushed to truly engage your core—and you’ll learn that the core isn’t just the abs, but includes back, buttocks, inner thighs, and more.
It’s challenging, and your coach won’t let you give up. Further into the practice, they will notice the irregularities in your body—which everyone has (for us, they spotted scoliosis, uneven legs, and body movement tendencies that led to past injuries). No reason to feel bad, as no body is naturally symmetrical and perfect. Knowing these gives cues for your coach to know how to work with your unique physique. And slowly, but surely, you’ll find yourself working through the poses and stretches, and you’ll hear that you’re doing a good job—and it feels good.
The verdict, so far
It truly is a studio for all. We’ve been told they’ve had clients who’ve had three to four generations in the family practice with them. From a client who’s on the spectrum and loves fitness, to an elderly senior who had balance problems and thought he had vertigo but was remedied through proper breathing in pilates, Move with Options offers pilates as a worthy and life-long solution for health and fitness needs.
PRANA MOVEMENT in San Juan
First impression
Prana Movement combines the best of different disciplines to offer personalized and precise workouts that cater to what clients are looking for and what they can do. Upon entrance, you’ll see all the ready equipment at a glance, which makes you want to take on the workout and get started—stat!
What to expect
First, you are given a crash course on Pilates, with a focus on core activation and ensuring that you begin every pose the proper way. What does an activated core look—and feel like—and how does one activate it? It’s a great way to start a session as knowing the basics lets you take the instructions from the coach better.
Throughout, you’ll be asked to do poses, stretches, and workouts to try. If you’re able to do it easily and properly, the coach takes it up a notch, by way of a more difficult workout or increased repetition, so you’re sure to be challenged each time.
The verdict, so far:
Prana Movement makes pilates more dynamic with its unique and personalized approach. It incorporates the practices of yoga, suspension training, and the like, which for us, adds a layer to the practice. The studio caters to a variety of needs, should you simply want to be fitter and stronger, or have special cases, such as post-surgery-recovery, rehabilitation, or active aging. Your coach will tailor-fit your routine each time, according to pace, transitions, and repetitions, down to the exact workout and the sessions recommended.
LOOK THE PART
They say a commitment to a workout starts with… er, shopping. This may or may not be true for you, but if it helps, we’ve rounded up a few good looks to get you started on your pilates journey.
Long Sleeve Square Neck Uni with Pockets
P5,999, Patton
Sports Uni with Pockets
P4,950, Patton
Color Block Camisole
₱1,800.00, Coral Manila
Zipper Top
P1,900, Coral Manila
