Why Everyone’s Dropping HIIT for Pilates—And What It Means for Your Body (Hint: It’s Not What You Think)
Here’s a wild thought: Are we finally turning the corner from couch potatoes to actual movers and shakers? Because, believe me, the latest scoop from the Sports and Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) is nothing short of a game-changer. For the very first time since 2008, a whopping 80 percent of Americans—yeah, you read that right—have jumped into some kind of sport or fitness activity in the last year. That’s 247.1 million people groovin’, sweating, and just getting it done. Now, if you’ve noticed your neighborhood Pilates studio turning into the hottest spot in town, you’re not imagining things. Pilates participation alone has shot up nearly 40 percent in just over four years, outpacing yoga, kettlebells, barre, and even stealing thunder from traditional cardio champs like cycling (which, fun fact, took a nosedive). So, what’s driving this Pilates fever, and why are so many—especially women—lining up to join the movement? Let’s dive into the latest fitness trends that are reshaping the way America stays active. LEARN MORE
Finally, some good news: More and more people are getting active, according to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association’s (SFIA) recent report. For the first time since they started tracking activity levels in 2008, participation in at least once in a sport or fitness activity in the past year reached 80 percent. That’s 247.1 million people in the U.S. getting moving.
One modality that has been encouraging Americans to sweat? Pilates. It’s seen the biggest uptick in popularity over the past five years, according to the report. If you notice your studio has been increasingly busy lately, it’s because since 2019, participation in pilates has grown from 9.2 million people to 12.9 million. That’s a nearly 40 percent change.
For comparison, the second fastest growing modality, yoga, increased by 23.6 percent, followed by kettlebells at 21.2 percent and barre at 19.1 percent. (The modality that saw the biggest decrease? Cycling, which was down 33.5 percent over five years.)
The practice is particularly attractive to women, who make up about 70 percent of it’s users, according to another report from SFIA.
Why People Love Pilates
Pilates boasts a lot of benefits, so it makes sense that people are hopping on the bandwagon.
Want to drive that participation up even higher? Get started with these pilates exercises for a stronger core or the five best pilates moves for longevity (yup, add that to the list of perks, too).
Olivia Luppino is an editorial assistant at Women’s Health. She spends most of her time interviewing expert sources about the latest fitness trends, nutrition tips, and practical advice for living a healthier life. Olivia previously wrote for New York Magazine’s The Cut, PS (formerly POPSUGAR), and Salon, where she also did on-camera interviews with celebrity guests. She’s currently training for the New York City marathon.
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