Totally addicted to Pilates? You're not alone
By Hannah McKimm
You’ve probably heard people say it, or maybe you’ve felt it yourself after just one or two classes. That feeling of “how have I never moved like this before?” or “wow, I actually enjoyed exercising today!”
There’s something about Pilates that really sticks with people. And while we could point to the toned muscles or the feel-good vibes, there’s a much deeper reason that Pilates feels so different and so addictive.
It’s All About the Mind-Body Connection
Pilates is one of the few forms of exercise that genuinely strengthens the connection between your brain and your body. It’s not just about doing the moves, it’s about how you do them. When you’re cueing your muscles to switch on with precision and intention, you’re retraining your nervous system and improving your neuromuscular control.
Neuromuscular control is your body’s ability to move smoothly, efficiently and safely, without needing to always think consciously about it. The more often you practise these movement patterns, the more natural and automatic they become. That’s why Pilates isn’t just a workout, it’s a form of movement training. And once you start feeling the difference in how you move day to day, it becomes very hard to stop.
Pilates Helps You Feel Muscles You Didn’t Know You Had
You might hear cues like connect your ribs towards your hips or pull your pubic bone towards your belly button and suddenly you feel something switch on that’s never switched on before. This is one of the most exciting things about Pilates. It teaches you to find and activate the muscles that often go missing in other less mindful workouts. I often hear my clients saying ‘that is the first time I’ve ever felt my glutes turn on’ or ‘I didn’t even know I had a core’ after they hear a cue that clicks.
This kind of body awareness is addictive, because it puts you in control of how you feel and move, making Pilates incredibly satisfying and effective.
Effort Without Exhaustion
Pilates challenges your body, but in a way that feels energising rather than depleting. You’ll work hard, but you’ll also finish each class feeling lifted, realigned and more connected to your body. This combination of strength and lightness is unique to Pilates, and it’s a big part of why people keep coming back.
The goal isn’t to push yourself to the point of exhaustion, it’s to move with control, precision and consistency. That’s how you get stronger, feel better and avoid injury in the long run.
The Real-Life Benefits
What makes Pilates so effective is that it carries over into every part of your day. With regular practice, you might notice that you:
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Sit and stand with better posture, without thinking about it
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Walk, run or lift things with better form and less discomfort
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Recover faster from other workouts or daily strain
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Have better balance, coordination and overall movement confidence
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Feel more grounded, calm and focused — even when life is busy
As Joesph Pilates famously said:
‘In 10 sessions you will feel the difference, in 20 you will see the difference, and in 30 you'll have a whole new body’
Why It Becomes a Lifestyle
For so many people, Pilates starts as a form of exercise and quickly becomes so much more than that. You begin to notice how you’re moving, how you’re breathing, where you’re holding tension, and importantly, how to release it. You feel stronger and more capable, not just in class, but in everyday life.
So if you’re feeling that Pilates pull, you’re not imagining it. There’s real science behind that sense of connection, confidence and control. Keep showing up and you’ll keep unlocking more of what your body is capable of.
Han x