So, why is everyone suddenly flocking to Pilates? Liz Joy Hardie, a senior teacher at MoreYoga, says “there’s more awareness now about how Pilates can help improve physical fitness, strength and mobility rather than its very outdated reputation of being a stereotypically ‘female only’ practice”. She’s seeing the same in yoga, and said that when she started teaching a decade ago, yoga was viewed as an activity for “hippies”. Times have changed, and people are opening their minds to different kinds of exercise. Yoga and Pilates are good for improving mobility, and we’re seeing greater interest in mobility work alongside strength training. People — of all genders — want to do exercises safely and with better flexibility. Even Gymshark — a favourite activewear brand among influencers and young gym goers — now offers lunchtime mobility classes at its studio in London, there’s that much new interest in this side of fitness.
