Shhh!

Namaste. Pack your yoga mat and resistance bands! Yoga and Pilates are back in full resistance, and we’re ready to spring into class.

We’ve all heard of yoga and Pilates...and we’re getting to know them quite well with their returning commerciality. Yoga, originally from Northern India, was created over 5000 years ago (definitely not just a micro trend). It mixes meditation, stretching, postures, and breathing techniques to promote well-being; infamously propitious for mental health. There are different types depending on your goal. Yoga is becoming increasingly popular for everyone; celebs are no exception. Yoga goes hand in hand with meditation, which is also magical for well-being and can be practiced anywhere with online videos.

Pilates is also not just a fad on TikTok. It has an authentic history. First established in 1920 by Joseph Pilates, a German personal trainer, who used his proficiency in yoga to create its younger sibling: Pilates. Joseph and Clara Pilates opened their Body Conditioning Gym in NYC around this time, and it has grown since (just like muscle tone after consistent reformer training). Much like yoga, Pilates utilizes the whole body. There are a range of different types - reformer (using a reformer machine with springs to create a low-impact workout with resistance and support) and mat (body-weight exercises on a mat) are the most common types offered in studios.

Yoga and Pilates have some star-studded fans, but the whole world is in on the revolution. Here we explore some possible reasons Yoga and Pilates are the #1 exercises in 2024:

Pilates Mom

Rich and classy. One way Pilates is picking up resistance again is through social media. The birthplace of everything trending and timeless. With the average Gen Z screen time in excess of 7 hours a day (guilty), social media is a great resource for marketing, sharing experiences, and educational, yet entertaining content - such as ‘GRWM for Pilates’ or ‘Come with me to Pilates’ videos. The number of yoga and Pilates content creators (and their flexibility levels) are rising, flooding TikTok with matching gym outfits, colorful yoga mats, and gorgeous studios. Get in loser, we’re going to Pilates!

You may have heard the term ‘Pilates princess’ being thrown around online. This is an ‘aesthetic’ and stretches a lot of social media users to try Pilates. The basic criteria to becoming a ‘Pilates princess’ include, but are not limited to: attending Pilates classes (duh), driving a Porsche/Range Rover (not too much to ask for, right?), drinking matcha lattes daily (did someone say Blank Street?), eating organic foods (yum) and generally having the ‘clean’ aesthetic. Basically, be Hailey and Kendall. Sounds exhausting, but fierce. Social media has helped with the Pilates revolution as it brings together fitness and aesthetics which makes this form of exercise appealing. Some of the front runners (or front…meditators?) of yoga and Pilates YouTube content include Yoga With Bird, Elevate with Emma, and Yoga With Adriene. Their videos allow viewers to take part in yoga, without needing to leave their homes; important for those extra busy days where you just need a quick relaxation to destress.

Exclusivity. Social media and the internet also entice audiences with an element of exclusivity. Celebs such as Hailey Bieber, Kendall Jenner, and Bella Hadid attend the opulent LA Pilates studio Forma Pilates. With private classes, specialist equipment/activewear, and referral-only access, social media is flooded with the newest updates on which A-Listers are spotted at Pilates classes. Forma Pilates also has studios in New York, Texas, and Phoenix. Busy day if you’re paparazzi! Don’t worry - you don’t have to be a Victoria’s Secret model to try out Pilates; there’s plenty of studios all over, and most gyms offer group yoga classes too. No matter if you’re a complete beginner or seasoned yoga professional, you’ll be guaranteed a great workout and an even greater experience! Don’t forget to grab a mirror pic with your besties after.

Hailey Bieber in neon alo yoga activewear and an oversized white shirt, following a Forma Pilates session in LA. Image by Getty Images, March 2022

Health and Fitness

Another potential reason for the influx of people booking onto yoga and Pilates classes is the incontrovertible health benefits.

Yoga has a range of benefits for all parts of the body. It is known for being incredibly stress relieving and advantageous for mental health, but also increases flexibility, improves heart health, promotes muscle growth, and eases pain. What’s not to love? Of course, you have to be very quiet and contort into (sometimes) obscure stretches; it gets easier over time. It doesn’t matter how familiar you are with yoga, you will feel the benefits - perhaps explaining the popularity.

From personal experience, yoga classes are a great place to meet new friends, and the vibe is so welcoming, so they’re great for social well-being too. Personally, I found classes to be quite informal: no pressure, no expectations, no worries. It’s also great to see people of all ages coming together to enjoy a physical activity such as yoga, especially Gen Z. Coming off the back of lockdowns and COVID restrictions, where social interaction outside of the household was minimal or non-existent, I’ve found that I personally don't take group socialization for granted anymore, and classes really help to boost confidence.

The awareness of mental health and taking time for self-care is also heightening in society; yoga soothes the mind by improving mood, increasing mental focus, and reducing negative emotions. Mental health is just as important as physical health, and since yoga considers both, it’s a perfect choice!

Yoga teacher Lucy Holtom and Dr. Louise Newson discussed the benefits of yoga in an episode of Dr. Louise Newson’s podcast ‘The Dr. Louise Newson Podcast’ - giving a great insight into why yoga is a miracle for health.

Look Good, Feel Good

Did someone say matching gym set? You’d be lying if you said you don’t feel more motivated to run when wearing a cute, matching gym set. Same applies to yoga and Pilates. You’re not gonna let that slay of a Gymshark set just sit in a drawer, right? Looking nice leads to higher confidence levels, which in turn encourages us to be productive, so we can hit the ground running - or stretching, or meditating in this case. It’s not just a nice gym outfit, it’s psychology too. Everything down to the color of your apparel can make yoga and Pilates more enjoyable. Gymshark, Adanola, ABYL are all notorious for creating that seamless combination of fashionable and practical; they trend on TikTok pretty often too. Appealing and trending gym outfits could be helping the rise of yoga and Pilates - where else would you show off your newest athleisure? Not only are gym sets motivating; influencers and celebrities make them all the more governing when they’re seen stepping out of a workout class, or simply running errands, in them.

The Bigger Picture

And breathe. Yoga and Pilates are making another breakthrough in society, perhaps because of social media, supermodels, and health benefits. Gen Z has taken the trend by storm and influenced all of us to find the nearest studio ASAP. Is it FOMO or is it worth it? Pick out a cute, comfy outfit (don’t forget your favourite sunnies and gym bag), grab your BFF and try it!