As Pilates teachers, we often see how social media can influence perceptions of what a Pilates body "should" look like. More often than not, the focus tends to be on aesthetics—teachers who are lean, svelte, and fit the stereotypical image of someone in the fitness industry. But what about the skill, the knowledge, and the ability to teach the bodies in front of us? Are we allowing the physical appearance of a teacher to overshadow the true essence of Pilates?
Scrolling through social media, I often find myself drawn to accounts of people who look fantastic and embody what we think Pilates is about, aesthetically speaking. However, once I start watching them move, I can see tension in their bodies—a tension that tells me something isn’t quite right. It reminds me of an article written by Glenn Withers from the APPI in the Bodyworkers Journal. He discussed how teachers come to Pilates from various backgrounds—some from dance, others from fitness or physiotherapy—and each background informs their teaching style in different ways.
The same can be said for the physicality of Pilates teachers. Not every great teacher fits the "Instagram look," and that’s something we need to stop judging. I recall a time when a client walked into my studio in Greece, took one look at me, and asked in disbelief, "You’re the Pilates teacher?" Her expectations were clearly misaligned with the reality in front of her. But this isn’t uncommon, and it highlights a larger issue in our field: the fixation on appearance over substance.
Some of the best Pilates teachers I’ve known don’t have that svelte look. They come with a wealth of knowledge, amazing cueing skills, and a deep understanding of the method. They teach with precision, creativity, and, most importantly, adaptability. Teaching Pilates isn’t about performing or looking the part; it’s about understanding the body, knowing how to adapt for the client in front of you, and making each session valuable and effective.
There’s also this misconception that teachers who fit the "ideal" Pilates image must move perfectly. I was recently shown an article featuring a Pilates teacher in Bulgaria, known for having a body that represents everything the method is supposedly about. But when I saw her move, there was visible tension—an indication that looking the part doesn’t necessarily translate into moving well.
As teachers, we must move beyond aesthetics, not only in how we view ourselves but also how we view our peers. The real skill of a Pilates educator lies in knowledge, adaptability, and the ability to teach different bodies with different needs. The most exciting part of our job is that every day is different. Even with the same clients, their bodies change from one session to the next. Walking into a studio and assessing what’s in front of you, deciding how to approach it, and adjusting your teaching accordingly is where the real art of Pilates lies.
This brings me to another point—classical Pilates. I’ve always had a bit of an issue with the rigidity of certain classical Pilates schools. Many hold tightly to what they believe Joseph Pilates did, without realising that none of these teachers ever trained directly with him. Pilates was constantly evolving, and so should we as teachers. For instance, Joseph Pilates originally only worked in parallel—there was no rotation. It was Romana Kryzanowska who later introduced rotation when she took over the studio. This is a perfect example of how Pilates, as a method, is meant to adapt and evolve.
As Pilates teachers, our focus should be on teaching the person in front of us, not on preserving a tradition that doesn’t serve the modern body. Pilates is about connection, movement, and understanding the body—not just the aesthetic. Let’s take pride in our knowledge, in the ability to adapt and guide our clients through each session, making it about them, not us.
In conclusion, whether you fit the Pilates stereotype or not, your value as a teacher comes from your ability to connect, adapt, and teach with insight and creativity. The best teachers are those who know how to read a body and meet its needs, and that’s where our focus should lie.
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