Acing your Pilates game, one movement at a time

How an all-age workout regime is becoming more relevant than ever, reshaping the way people train

- VAISHALI DAR

NAN ERA where wellness trends rise and fade at dizzying speeds, Pilates has not only endured, but also surged to the centre of global fitness culture. What began a century ago by German founder Joseph Pilates as a method of mindful, controlled movement is today reshaping how people train, recover, breathe, and think.

Especially in India, Pilates has moved from niche to mainstream, practised by celebrities, athletes, new mothers, older adults, and everyday fitness seekers. The appeal lies not in intensity or aggression but in intelligence and movement that feels as good mentally as it does physically. Many studios are mushrooming across cities in India. Social media is overflowing with reformer routines, teaser challenges, and slow, sweeping flows set to calming music. And instructors, once a small, specialised community, have become some of the most recognisable voices in wellness.

Show of strength

"Even though Pilates is a century-old system, people still ask what it is really good for," says Vesna Pericevic Jacob, one of India's most respected Pilates practitioners. She explains why this method is more relevant than ever.

"Through Pilates, you can increase your overall physical strength and significantly reduce your stress. Combined with deep, coordinated breathing, this method is designed to stretch and strengthen muscles without putting stress on joints and ligaments," she explains.