So Hailey Bieber said Pilates is “a little over.” Naturally, people immediately started sending her TIME interview clip to me.
But I agree with her and here’s why.
First, because here’s what she actually said:
"I love Pilates. I really do. But I think it's become a little bit of a fad, and it's really hard to find really good teachers that care about form."
And… she’s not wrong.
I think a lot of people only saw the headline and assumed she was dismissing Pilates completely, but that’s not how I took it at all. If anything, she was pointing out something that has been happening for a while now, both with online and in-person studios.
Pilates exploded in popularity very quickly. Which, in many ways, is amazing. More people are moving their bodies, learning about strength, posture, mobility, and feeling connected to movement.
But when anything becomes extremely trendy, it also becomes easier for the quality to get diluted. And that’s where Hailey’s comment actually comes from.
The Pilates Boom Is Real And So Is the Problem
Over the last few years, Pilates has absolutely exploded. Studios opened everywhere, reformers started popping up in boutique gyms, and suddenly everyone from celebrities to TikTok creators was talking about their Pilates routine.
Which, honestly, I love. More people moving their bodies intentionally is always a good thing.
But when something grows really quickly, the quality can start to shift too. Teacher trainings became shorter, classes became bigger, and the focus slowly shifted from quality to quantity.
And I think that’s what Hailey was really pointing at.
Because Pilates was never supposed to be about rushing through movements, chasing exhaustion, or just getting through a class because it looks aesthetic online. Somewhere along the way, “Pilates” became associated with matching sets, reformer selfies, and the idea of a “Pilates body.” But that’s never actually been what the method was about.
When Pilates is taught without attention to form, alignment, breathing, or what’s actually happening in your body, it stops feeling transformative. It just becomes another workout.
What Pilates Was Actually Designed to Do
Joseph Pilates originally called his method Contrology, the art of controlled movement. Every exercise was designed with intention. The breath matters. The positioning matters. The transitions matter. It’s not a random movement. When Pilates is taught well, it becomes so much more than exercise. It becomes awareness.
You start noticing things you never paid attention to before:
- where you hold tension
- which muscles constantly overcompensate
- how you stand
- how you breathe
- how disconnected certain parts of your body actually feel
And over time, that awareness changes how you move through everyday life, not just class. That’s the part of Pilates people rarely talk about online.
The “Pilates Body” Conversation
I also think social media has blurred what Pilates actually is. Somewhere along the way, it became tied to a very specific aesthetic. Matching sets. Minimal studios. Flexible reformer moves. “Pilates abs.” The idea of a “Pilates body.”
And yes, Pilates can absolutely shape and strengthen your body. But that’s not the main point. What gets missed is how your body actually functions when you do it consistently.
Your posture changes. Your core starts doing its job properly. You feel more supported when you walk, sit, carry, travel, work. You feel less stiff. Less compressed. More connected to how you move through your day.
And ironically, that’s usually what creates the physical changes people were chasing in the first place.
What Good Pilates Actually Feels Like
I’ve taken classes before where I finished and thought… wait, what was I even connecting to. And then I’ve had classes where one tiny cue completely changed how my body felt for the rest of the day. That’s the difference summed up.
Good Pilates isn’t just about sweating or feeling tired. It’s about feeling connected. You leave class standing taller. Your body feels more open. Your movements feel smoother. You feel challenged, but also calmer somehow.
And I think that’s why people become so loyal to Pilates once they experience the real thing. Your body genuinely starts feeling different.
Why Form Is Everything
This is the part I feel strongest about. Pilates without form isn’t just less effective, it can actually reinforce the exact movement patterns you’re trying to fix. If you’re constantly gripping your neck, arching your lower back, or compensating in your hips while repeating movements over and over, your body just gets better at those patterns.
That’s why good teachers matter so much. A great instructor notices your body. They adjust things for you. They help you understand where movement should actually come from instead of just telling you to “feel the burn.” It’s that level of attention that completely changes the experience.
So… Is Pilates Overrated?
The trendy version of Pilates is probably a little overhyped.
The version focused only on aesthetics, fast classes, and chasing a certain look? I understand why people are becoming skeptical of that. But Pilates itself? The real method, taught with care and intention?
I genuinely think it’s one of the best things you can do for your body long term. Not because it’s trendy. Because it teaches you how to move well. How to support your body properly. How to build strength without constantly feeling depleted. That’s not a fad. That’s a practice.
And I think Hailey Bieber was actually trying to say the same thing.
Finding the Right Kind of Pilates
If there’s one thing I hope people take away from this conversation, it’s this:
Don’t judge Pilates by the loudest version of it online. Good Pilates exists. Thoughtful teaching exists. You just have to find instructors who genuinely care about how you move, not just how the class looks.
And once you experience that version of Pilates, you understand why people stay with it for years.
If you’ve been wanting to experience more intentional, form-focused Pilates, that’s exactly what we focus on at T — F Studio. Try free for 7 days.