Inspire360 Global Fitness Newsletter, April Edition, Issue 38
If only Joseph Pilates were alive today to see what his contribution to the fitness world has become. The term "pink Pilates princess" has become so entrenched in the cultural lexicon and Spotify has even made it a category of music.
But what has been — rather recently — societally branded as a women's workout with words like "sculpting" and "toning," was originally designed as a rehabilitation technique in a WWI internment camp, and developed to be an essential performance tool, primarily focused on the health of the spine.
Despite being paired with iced matcha lattes and matching sets from Alo, Pilates isn't a gendered workout (and it never has been).
And some people are starting to get that memo.
Male participation in Pilates has climbed from roughly 15% of the total Pilates population in 2010 to an estimated 22–25% in 2026. That's not a blip; it's a structural shift. One worth paying attention to if you're offering Pilates programming, or planning to soon.
Pilates now accounts for over 43% of all boutique studio modalities, making it the most dominant segment in the 2026 boutique fitness market, and is consistently ranked as one of the most rebooked fitness categories on major platforms (proving its high stickiness once a client is converted). If you’re not already providing this form of training in your club, you should absolutely be considering it.
Why Men Are Getting on the Reformer
Much of the appeal comes down to the machine itself: unlike mat-based classes, Reformer Pilates is machine-based, mechanical, and resistance-adjustable — qualities that feel familiar to anyone accustomed to traditional gym equipment.
For men who might otherwise find a mat class intimidating, or perhaps not take it seriously, the Reformer functions as a credible entry point. It doesn't read as soft-floor fitness; it reads as apparatus training.
And elite athletes have done the rest of the cultural heavy lifting. When names like LeBron James and Cristiano Ronaldo credit Pilates as a key part of their training for longevity, injury prevention, and mobility, the average gym-goer takes notice.
The trickle-down effect is real: what starts as a performance tool for professionals, eventually becomes standard practice for serious recreational athletes. And that's exactly the trajectory Pilates is on: 19% of regular Pilates users now identify as athletes using the method for sports-specific performance and recovery.
The Genderless Appeal
The case for Pilates has never been about gender at all; it's about what the body needs.
Functional longevity. Traditional lifting builds strength, but it can also build stiffness. Think: overuse patterns, tight hips, rounded shoulders, underdeveloped stabilizers. These are the gaps that limit a lifter's performance over time, and they're the gaps Pilates is specifically designed to address. Joseph Pilates once said "You are only as old as your spine is flexible," and emphasized that his programming was specifically designed for longevity.
Deep core stability. By targeting the transversus abdominis and pelvic floor in ways that standard crunches simply can't replicate, Pilates builds the foundational stability that makes heavy compound lifts (deadlifts, squats, carries) safer and more effective.
Injury prevention. Men statistically carry a higher risk of workout-related injuries, and Pilates' emphasis on alignment and eccentric loading directly addresses that. It doesn't have to be a replacement for strength training; it can be a complementary tool that keeps strength training sustainable.
Action Items and Takeaways
If you're not actively marketing Pilates to men, you're leaving a growing demographic on the table. Ahead, some straightforward and practical shifts in framing that can make all the difference:
Rethink the language. Swap "toning" and "sculpting" for "core stability," "performance enhancement," and "injury-proofing." This isn't just a rebrand, but genuinely a more accurate description of what Pilates actually does, and they speak directly to what many men are looking for, with other styles of exercise.
Audit your visuals. If your marketing imagery features only women on the Reformer, it's sending a signal. Make sure men can see themselves in your programming.
Build male-specific sessions. Offerings framed around performance can give men an entry point that doesn't require opting into a class that wasn't designed with them in mind. Think: "Core for Lifters," "Mobility for Athletes," etc. The class itself probably isn't different, but this framing can help members see Pilates in a way that makes sense for their needs.
One studio already doing this well: Nofar Hagag, founder of Nofar Method in New York, launched a men's-only Pilates class after noticing that male clients were curious, but hesitant to book — not because of disinterest, but because they felt out of place. Her approach keeps the method intact while shifting the coaching language toward athletic performance and injury prevention. As Hagag put it, men don't need a different workout, they just need a different entry point. Since formalizing the offering, her male clientele has grown from roughly 10% to nearly 25%, and her roster includes several NFL players.
Leverage the partner effect. Female members are often the first adopters; structured partner sessions can be a low-friction entry point for men who are curious but haven't committed.
The perception shift is already happening: men are coming around on Pilates with or without an invitation. The question is whether your programming is ready to meet them there.
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Inspire360 Club Bulletin
In case you missed it, we recently launched Inspire360 Club, a game-changing platform built to redefine health club education and unite the industry for the first time under one comprehensive, modern learning ecosystem. #GameChanged. Book a demo of Inspire360 Club at: www.inspire360.com/club
What's New This Month:
Inspire360 and Mike Boyle’s Certified Functional Strength Coach (CFSC) have partnered to bring world-class performance coaching education directly to the Inspire360 Club platform. Inspire360 Club now integrates CFSC’s proven, real-world coaching system—built on decades of experience developing athletes and clients alike—into its comprehensive learning ecosystem, expanding global access to high-quality education for health club professionals while equipping them with practical tools that translate seamlessly to the gym floor.
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In Case You Missed it: NEW Industry Report on GLP-1 Programs
Our updated Q1 2026 Intelligence Report is live, mapping out how 17 major gym chains and 10 top solution providers are successfully integrating GLP-1 programs into their clubs. We’ve broken down the essential playbooks for supporting these members, including how to bridge the "trainer readiness gap" to ensure your staff can safely manage the unique resistance training and nutrition needs of this growing population.
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Industry Happenings:
Upcoming Events:
- FIBO, April 16-19, 2026, Cologne, Germany
- FitnessFest Conference & Expo, April 16-29, 2026, Phoenix, Arizona
- Sibec, May 18-21, 2026, San Diego, California
- Miami International Fitness Expo, May 23, 2026, Miami, Florida
- Florida Mania, May 29-31, 2026, Orlando, Florida
- Summit in the Sun, June 25-28, 2026, Litchfield Park, Arizona
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Upcoming Workshops in April & May:
- 20+ workshops from Peak Pilates
- 20 workshops from Spinning®
- 20+ workshops from TRX®
- 14 workshops from ART
- 12 workshops from CFSC
- 11 workshops from Exos
- 10 workshops from Oxygen Advantage
- 4 workshops from Gray Institute
- 1 workshop from Eleiko
- 1 workshop from Power Plate
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Industry News:
- Gyms & studios are taking over America’s retail spaces.
- Study finds that strong muscles are linked to significantly longer lives for women.
- Life Fitness names Merrithew as exclusive U.S. Pilates Equipment partner.
- ACSM unveils landmark resistance training guidelines.
- Four wellness sectors are responsible for much of the wellness economy growth in the largest markets.
- Les Mills and Life Fitness announce strategic partnership.
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Thanks for Reading!
This newsletter was brought to you by Kathie Davis, Peter Davis, Ravi Sharma, Dominique Astorino, and the Inspire360 team.
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A Note from Peter & Kathie
The industry is changing rapidly, and we are here to help you sift through all the noise and get to the good stuff. Every month, we'll bring you trending topics and the inside scoop that we believe is paramount for fitness professionals to know.
Keep Inspiring,
Peter & Kathie Davis
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