Pilates Community Pushes Back Against “pilates Princess” Aesthetic, Advocates for Inclusivity
NEW YORK – September 26, 2025 – A growing movement within the Pilates community is challenging the increasingly prevalent “Pilates Princess” image popularized on TikTok and other social media platforms, arguing it obscures the practice’s original intent and creates barriers to entry. The trend, characterized by young women showcasing premium sportswear, expensive water bottles, and aesthetically pleasing studios, is prompting instructors to advocate for greater inclusivity and accessibility.
The hashtag #pilatesprincess gained traction on TikTok in 2023, quickly becoming associated with a lifestyle centered around consumerism and curated aesthetics. Though, certified instructors warn this focus on outward appearance detracts from Pilates’ core principles.This echoes concerns previously raised within the yoga community regarding the commercialization of the practice.
“Pilates is more than taking a matcha and going to class with a set [of workout clothes],” says Fotoohi, a Pilates instructor who is now focusing on building community access to the practice. “when you put things inside a trend, you put them in small categories and this creates an atmosphere of restriction.”
Instructors like Black emphasize that much of what is presented on social media is a “distorted version” of true Pilates. The image of a “Princess” is a far cry from the vision of Joseph Pilates, who died in 1967 at the age of 83 and famously claimed his regime allowed for indulgences like daily alcohol and cigars.
The push for inclusivity extends to diversifying studio environments. Stephanie Green, a Pilates instructor at solidcore in Detroit, expresses a desire to see “more older women…enter a pilates class and feel it is also for them.”
A critically important barrier to wider participation is the cost of Pilates certification programs, wich can run into the thousands of dollars. Reed, founder of Method Room, is addressing this issue by offering more affordable training options. “The fact that someone has no finance to participate in training should not be why he is not an instructor,” she stated.
The movement aims to reclaim Pilates as a practice accessible to all, nonetheless of age, body type, or financial status, and refocus attention on its original purpose of holistic well-being.
