Why is Pilates Australia’s new obsession?

Pilates has become a staple of Australian fitness. New studios are opening all the time and classes are packed. Have you even started your day unless you’ve done Pilates and had an Acai Bowl?

But this hasn’t always been the case. Once Pilates was the realm of dancers and those who needed specific rehabilitation for injuries. Those days are long gone though as everyone from busy Mum’s to AFL players and TikTok influencers jump on the trend and make it part of their weekly routine.

In this article, we’ll have a look at the driving forces behind the phenomenon that is Pilates and why it has become so popular.

The statistics behind the trend

It’s all very well to say Pilates is becoming more popular because we’ve noticed more gyms opening up, but do the stats back that up? Well, yes, and the increase is larger than you might have thought. According to search engine trend research by the Compare the Market health insurance team, Australia ranks second globally in terms of search volume per capita for the term “pilates”, with 2,111 searches per 100,000 in 2024. Go Aussie!

But get this, Pilates has around twice the search volume of  the term “gym”, but let’s not rely on a single source. Looking elsewhere we can see Statista reported that more than 1.1 million people aged 15+ years in Australia participated in Pilates during the 2023 financial year. But, what about outside Australia? Well, Forbes found that pilates had a huge 250% growth not only in Australia but also in New Zealand, making it the fastest growing fitness trend in both those countries in the 12 month period prior to September 2022.

The virality of Pilates

Pilates has gone viral. Perhaps even more than viral if that’s a thing. Influencers on TikTok and Instagram cannot produce Pilates videos fast enough to feed their followers’ appetites. And a whole industry has emerged around Pilates. From activewear outfits to workout routine apps and whole body transformation lifestyles, this is one very jumped on bandwagon. In fact, the “pink Pilates princess” was recently identified by Vogue as a key consumer group that should be taken seriously even though the term was coined as more of a tongue-in-cheek description of a category of affluent women.

Not just for the pink Pilates princesses!

OK, so we know at this point that Pilates is strongly associated with affluent women, suburban mums, and Insta babes, but its boom is not just staying limited to that consumer group. Last year, Hurtsville Zagreb FC (a men’s pro soccer team in Sydney) went viral in a video that showed their players doing a Reformer Pilates workout. And it’s not just the pros who are at it, men are adopting the exercise strongly in general. The President of the Pilates Association of Australia, Robyn Rix, said 20-25% of her clients are male and from all walks of life, including tradies, office workers, athletes, and more. It’s clear that the reputation of Pilates is continuing to grow as a form of cross-training for flexibility, performance, and injury resilience.

An inclusive and adaptable exercise

Pilates is a versatile workout as it can be adapted to suit multiple different skill levels and abilities. This makes it a viable option for many individuals looking to try new exercises. Pilates classes can be tailored to be as difficult or easy as  the person desires. Instructors walk through the different levels of intensity to ensure you’re doing the exercises correctly. Due to this, Pilates can appeal to anyone from pregnant or postpartum people, those rehabilitating after an injury, or complete beginners to exercise (However, it’s always important to consult with a doctor first if you’re taking on a new sport). Studios can also sometimes offer barre-fusion or mat Pilates options along with reformer classes. These alternatives can offer plenty of options to keep the workouts interesting. 

From its versatility to its ever-growing social media popularity, it’s no wonder Pilates is becoming a regular workout for Australians. If you haven’t already, it might be time to hop on the Pilates craze.