the myth of the "pilates body"

[@jennifergebhart5873]

I’m a personal trainer and female. I would actually recommend listening to experts like Dr. Stacy Sims and others who actually focus on females when it comes to health and fitness. Women should be consuming way more than .5 to .7 grams of protein per pound of body weight. It should be around 1 gram or more especially if you are a female that has a menstrual period. Weight training is super important for women as it helps us build important amounts of muscle but also to improve bone density. Women are at higher risk for osteoporosis and osteopenia both bone related issues. Also, the body builder woman and other body builder women are on PEDs full stop. They may say they’re not but they are. No amount of genetics allows for that amount of muscle development. There is a ceiling that you cannot naturally break past no matter how many eggs you eat. That’s not to say body builders don’t work hard. They do. But there is an unfortunate practice amongst influencers, body builders, etc. to deceive their audiences about how they achieve their results.

[@rachellopez8357]

I wish I’d known about the importance of protein so much earlier in my life!

[@jennifergebhart5873]

@@rachellopez8357same! I was just hearing about new research that has come out that if women just change the amount of protein they consume to higher levels that body composition can change without exercise. That being said exercise is still important but it just goes to show how essential it is.

[@janad6065]

Yes yes yes! Unfortunate to show the enhanced female bodybuilder without mentioning that it’s not achieved naturally and it will NEVER “accidentally” happen to any female to look that way- also unfortunate edit by telling the (way too low)protein numbers right after showing her eating sooo much- could turn it around for some, so they are scared to eat too much protein 😆 Except from that, great video 💕 I’m so happy to see more and more women in the weight section, keep spreading the news that weightlifting is great for us! *my mum at 58 uses her 0.5kg weights as stoppers for her badass barbell now 😉 it’s never too late 💪💕

[@emilygoneferal]

what exercise would you most recommend as a pt for women? i struggle with finding the motivation to actually work out in a normal gym way. i'm a rock climber but can't always take a day out to go climb and i only do yoga on my off days which i know just doesn't cut it. any advice would be much appreciated!!

[@jennifergebhart5873]

@ ​​⁠agreed! I think depending on where you live and what environment you surround yourself with you find that there are way more women occupying spaces that used to be predominantly male. I love how popular and normalized strength is becoming among women.

[@slicer009]

I'm not gonna lie here, I watch Mina Le because I'm not on social media at all (discounting youtube) and it's nice to check in with what's going on without actually engaging. The more of these I watch, the more grateful I am that I'm not on there and I just continue keeping up through Mina. Thanks!!

[@Pinokiopie]

That’s exactly why I do too! I wanna be somewhat informed about current events and issues, but I don’t wanna participate

[@gracie9658]

Same, I never know about these things or trends.

[@momovomo]

same!

[@courtneymciverepps]

Yes! Totally

[@readingwithmiryana]

Same here!

[@adanactnomew7085]

Mina's personal style has officially transitioned from 1920s to 1960s

[@tomas9830]

im lovin it

[@hereshecomes-fallonme]

i actually feel like the 1920s and 60s overlap in sm ways!

[@dollistas]

i love 1960s

[@irenea.]

She looks great!! So slick and polished 😻

[@Emelia39]

I really liked combining Pilates with powerlifting because it helped my form, but, yeah, you’re not going to get that form from just pilates and I do tire of how much women are discouraged from lifting weights. It’s especially annoying because people think that lifting heavy will “make them look like the hulk” which 1. No it won’t lol and 2. There’s nothing wrong with muscular women and I’m tired of people pretending there is.

[@bagjuicemami]

I feel like ppl need to stop lying about bulkiness & weightlifting. It happened to me and I hated it. My anecdote obviously isn’t the rule but it’s possible and some women don’t want to entertain the possibility. Some folks don’t like the look and they’re allowed to have that preference.

[@JanethOlivia]

I didn’t know people still thought that way I feel like it has drastically changed the last few years and more woman are going to the gym for weight lifting

[@Emelia39]

@@JanethOliviathere’s definitely been a change for the better, but it’s still very common and also we shouldn’t discount the extreme sexism and transphobia that still gets thrown towards muscular cis women like Imane Khalef and other athletes.

[@marlosunnyfruit4431]

Oh dear, where do I start... I understand you totally, but I fear you don't understand that topic from your perspective. I only do Yoga and Pilates, and I look like that, exactly like that, snatched, muscle visible. I never lift, I have some very light weights that I use only sometimes. Some people are very petite and vulnurable. I would never do lifting, neigther would my yogastudents. Even hiit is too heavy on us. Thatsaid, I am fit, as strong as I want to (can lift own bodyweight). And yes, women who lift do look bulky! The more and longer they do it, the more bulky muscle mass forms. And you are right, that is completely fine, I don't care at all, BUT I really really don't want to look like that!!! And that is ok, too!

[@JanethOlivia]

@@marlosunnyfruit4431 I’m petite and definitely not vulnerable I have been doing weight training for years. I wish women weren’t so afraid of being “bulky” it takes years to look like bulky I think you fear. I’m not bulky I’m lean and have muscle.

[@adanactnomew7085]

Time to drop everything and watch this

[@KaylaNoelle1]

VALID. The way I made my bf book me an uber so I could leave for work later to watch it 😂

[@valerie_top]

Literally me right now

[@heatherhaven1268]

Damn straight. Exactly what I just did.

[@gremlita]

@@KaylaNoelle1 omg im honored

[@ilovepiKles123]

Did this 😂

[@alicek8987]

the other thing about strength training/lifting, is it gives such wonderful validation outside of weight loss & aesthetics. Seeing your strength increase week to week via heavier lifting is such an amazing way to celebrate what your body can do!!

[@Marie-mk00]

yes!

[@bandanarathore]

Doing strength training 5 times a week dissolved the cysts I had, doc told me that they are no more there..😊

[@lovelickyx]

If working out benefited my physical and mental health, sleep, strength, stamina, and overall life style but not my figure unfortunately I would not workout😭 and I know I'm not the only one

[@sabsab532]

I believe the same thing can be applied to pilates tho, seeing your flexibilidade and endurance increase is also a great feeling

[@uthamis]

Classical pilates + heavy weight lifting + light cardio such as walking/biking/swimming is the perfection combination of exercise modalities to keep this 40-something in tip top shape. It's so important to diversify!

[@laindoer333]

i actually think u can get rid of the pilates all together, doesnt add anything the others don’t already do!

[@leahyarbrough9028]

@laindoer333🙄

[@uthamis]

​@laindoer333I hear you. For me, Pilates offers focused core/flexibility/mobility training I don't typically incorporate into my weight training. So it's a good balance for me!

[@jacquelinemoghadam8183]

Pilates is so much better when you focus more on how your body feels and its strength rather than looks- its so good for you!!!

[@astrocat1013]

Let’s be real tho, the reason pilates is so popular IS because of the associated body with it.

[@Eevee756]

100%. I bought yoga mat in 2020 during lockdown and it has been my accessible and low income way of feeling good in my body and strengthening muscles that will diminish through lack of use. This trending ‘influencer’ pilates is ironically creating an exclusive space for a practise I’d argue to be very accessible and inexpensive. I don’t pay £££ for classes because I don’t feel the need to feel part of a community that prioritises consumerism over function.

[@zoeelizabeth4929]

@astrocat1013well yes, that’s what this video is about. But it’s not realistic or healthy to think that way.

[@Lissa2355]

Pilates will also help you tremendously as you age! The studio I go in is frequented by many old people that are working to regain motor skills we take for granted (like bending down to reach the floor, this kind of stuff)

[@kirrb-dot-exe]

Ever since i started i felt a bit more flexible and saw a lil line on my arm when i flex it. I feel so much stronger even if my body didn’t change much, and it’s so cool!

[@Pinokiopie]

The issue isn’t the actual exercise, it’s the culture around it. Exercise is exercise, definitely has results for a lot of people. But it definitely promises more than it needs to.

[@mikakestudios5891]

Even at my lowest weight of 125 in college, my thighs were still blessed by Thor, and my biceps were swoll. This video actually makes me want to get back into fitness because my ancestors gave me the strength to pull a plow through the mud after the oxen died.

[@marialindbergh3926]

😂 Yaaaassss!!

[@harpyspeaks]

Honor your ancestors by getting jacked af!

[@CureSmileful]

I love the way you speak

[@omghowcuteify]

Underrated comment. Needs more likes!!! 👍

[@jaycie.m]

This is truly a blessed comment

[@nikki-b]

Went to my first Pilates reformer class the other day and the instructor specifically said “if you’re not also lifting weights, start NOW.” That alone sold me on the instructor! I just like anything to help with mobility and my cursed tech neck. 😂

[@GirlDo3]

Right like people in the comments are discounting pilates as a whole as if indulging in the toxic pilates subculture is necessary. People are just being contrarians switching the pendulum back and forth every decade 😂 Combining multiple types of excercises is probably optimal and gym culture is also focused heavily on aesthetics and creates body dysmorphia for many people. In general people should just focus on the wellness aspect of excercise.

[@Stephaniacat]

​@@GirlDo3 I actually started doing pilates again because even though I do weightlifting I have terrible posture and I afraid of hurting myself for the same reason. I always liked pilates so no ones gonna make me hate it lol

[@Laura-iw8wq]

Never been so early, and I just started a weekly Pilates regimen last month 😅 definitely have fallen for the “Pilates body” myth, but I am obsessed with the reformer classes for strengthening my hyper mobile shoulders and healing my core postpartum

[@Alex_Is_Not_Here]

Thats also bs, ask a physioterapist

[@tmm6884]

Aside from the delusions about what a pilates body looks like, it is great for stabilizing hypermobile joints and definitely pulling those core muscles back together. I have Ehlers Danlos Syndrome which means essentially that all of my joints are f-all hypermobile. And, pilates, with the machines and a pilates trainer, has made my pain wildly better and kept me out of an ambulatory device (wheelchair or scooter, fun!) for the last 4 years. I tried a pilates class at Equinox and all it was doing was giving me a quad workout because my form was off. But, if you have the luxury of a true pilates studio and the luxury to pay for it (I'm a Psychotherapist now, but was once a Nurse Practitioner. So, I pick up shifts here and there to cover the cost because my spouse just became disabled, one income, blah blah). Now, I don't have a pilates body at all. I'm 5" 1" and am all torso with little hobbit legs. But, for me, this was always about mobility and strength. And, that, I have oodles of now. Have a blast on your new mind-body journey.

[@tmm6884]

​@@Alex_Is_Not_HereYou have terrible taste in music. Fix that before you tell anyone anything, Alex.

[@Ummmmmmmm841]

@@Alex_Is_Not_Here My physio and doctor both recommend pilates for my spondylolisthesis. And it worked, I was dependent on NSAID to manage my sciatica and now I am fine without them.

[@PettyBlue1]

@@Alex_Is_Not_Here I’m a physiotherapist and I find actual pilates extremely worthwhile. Reformer pilates however are a different topic, since using machines doesn’t require one to be mindful about body alignment and work with your own bodyweight the same way, as og pilates do. You can’t do the exercises at home either. Not to mention how expensive these classes are. But if you have unlimited means I guess it’s ok.

[@rosyface_]

I dance (adult recreational ballet dancer) and love ballet and Pilates as they’re meditative for me. I have hypermobile joints also so need to be careful about exercise, and Pilates really helps me with stability. There’s a time and place for everything, however I will say my Pilates instructor is a physiotherapist by day, so isn’t pushing thinness or sweating or weight loss. She’s all about strong joints and proper form.

[@ErinAllen-qe7fy]

I’m hyper mobile (44 year old ex gymnast here that has had 3 major c spine fusions)….ditched the gym membership & band work plus brisk walks & yoga brought my strength back every time. I’m 30 years into yoga practice & I’m a huge fan. It’s about being the best YOU, not being a diff body type. That’s always going to be an unrealistic expectation…

[@kzvegansuperstar]

Before my endometriosis surgery, my physical therapist at the time insisted I stop HIIT and lifting weights and start Pilates. I hated the experience of it, didn’t find it fun and stimulating, and actually lost most of my muscle mass that I’d gained over years of lifting weights and HIIT which made surgery recovery much harder. I also have ADHD and need high intensity exercise. During recovery I switched physical therapists and am back to lifting and HIIT. Much better!

[@caddieohm7059]

I second that word for word

[@alexandrag212]

I dropped my Pilates class because the marketing team kept taking photos of us doing the workouts to post them on ig and that made me feel very uncomfortable (they didn’t ask or anything) 😢

[@Waspinmymind]

Honestly doing any exercise while fat is a nightmare. Like no I’m not here to lose weight. I’m here to strengthen my leg after an injury. Or even just in general because exercise is good for joint health. But, any gym becomes a hostile environment as soon as u state that weight loss is not ur interest.

[@harpyspeaks]

Hey i dont want to discount or invalidate your experience, but maybe if you havent--try a powerlifting gym. You'll see tons of BIG, STRONG people there who dont give the remotest fuck about losing weight, just moving plates! Ive found them to be some of the MOST encouraging places. It's not my place to tell you ANYTHING about your body, but there is stuff out there that will help you feel healthy and strong. Your size is not a hindrance. It might be an asset. I bet you can already deadlift 100+lbs friend

[@itto_potato]

I'm so thankful to have spent my childhood in karate classes. They set a standard for me that defies every consumerism driven aspect of physical exercise. I refuse to spend a lot on stylish exercise clothes as I used to have a single 30€ set that would last me for years, no need to wear any shoes. The student price was 5€ for a month (8 classes). No one would talk about weight or body type, what mattered was using the correct technique and always putting in the effort. I do my best to carry this mindset to every craft, I don't allow myself to spend excessively if it's unnecessary for getting better. The reality is that you need some intrinsic motivation, a spark of positive emotion or a long-term goal, no matter how insignificant that thing might be to others.

[@NecaylPerry]

This actually inspires me to have my kid try out karate in a few years when she’s old enough and see if she likes it! ❤

[@misseternal777]

This was pretty much me as a kid, which is why I eventually settled into classic pilates and weightlifting as an adult. Being surrounded primarily by men might have helped, though

[@nitaval]

i've been doing mat pilates for abt a year and it honestly saved my life. i started adding weighed workouts to keep challenging myself but it insanely improved my form in all exercises, flexibility, durance, and mentality

[@KeiMoonQueen]

I've started Pilates 2 months ago because I needed excercise that adapted to my body after spending 2024 having heart issues and not being able to move much. I haven't lost any weight but my body feels much better and I feel much stronger already!

[@kenedigraske9121]

This is a very interesting video essay on pilates. I’ve been feeling very insecure about my arms, thighs and lower belly recently and I’ve been trying pilates, just at home on youtube, hoping it would help with weight loss. But now that I know it helps with posture and strengthening core and upper back, I’m going to continue but with a new mindset. And find another way to help get my body and mind to a healthy mindset

[@astrocat1013]

If you still like Pilates but want to lose weight just at a cardio routine, it’s doesn’t have to running, I just take long walks and lost weight 😂😂

[@LadyAhro]

Glad to hear you critique the opposition to weightlifting and muscle. It's tired, and weightlifting is good for you. And seriously empowering to do. Plus 'toning' as it's known in celebrity fitness culture straight up doesn't exist, it's just people gaining some degree of muscle. For those who do want a particular shape, like gaining 🍑 definition, weight training can be the sole solution.

[@wanderingintime]

any form of exercise is helpful for peoples joints and muscles to not become stiff. yoga and pilates contain calisthenics and that isnt bad or useless for you. people can do calisthenics with just their body anywhere and often for free, with education. that is not possible with a need for gym equipment that only the one gym downtown has. aiming for a firm round butt is like aiming for a firm and small butt. aiming for a certain body part to be shaped a certain way via any form of exercise is kinda similar vibes in no matter what method you say is acceptable or popular in this moment.. its all useful and relevant, given nutrition is not being sacrificed. that being said, even gym culture has its own set of problematic downsides as well.

[@catarinapatatina8314]

​@@wanderingintimeyou'll get better at Yoga and Pilates if you also increase strength. And that's what resistance training with progressive overload does. Yes, you can do calisthenics, but either the exercises are too difficult or, once you've mastered them, you need to do a bazillian reps. I don't want to be doing the equivalent of 3 sets of deadlifting my bodyweight for 5-8 reps in unweighted glute bridges. Others might want to though ;)

[@LadyAhro]

​@@catarinapatatina8314 For sure. And full disclosure, I do a ton of bodyweight work and Ehlers-Danlos specialised Pilates for managing my disability. But I do see a lot unrealistic expectations about what Pilates does vs doesn't do for the body. And too many people think it does everything as the one superior exercise form. Not so. Understanding the benefits and pitfalls of various exercise forms is good.

[@theresacottone]

I get a lot of leg / lower back pain from sitting in an office chair all day, especially after having my son. I like to do some "easy" Pilates to stretch and feel better. I watch a great youtuber named Kait Coats who has workouts for all body types and skill levels. She never talks about toxic beauty standards or pushes you to do poses. It's all about feeling good and exercising at your own pace. Thank you Mina for calling out people who use the exercise to promote toxicity.

[@shayreynolds3812]

The lipstick & mic matching is iconic honestly

[@suriel3688]

Pilates is actually fantastic for building strength for people with POTS and/or CFS because you don’t have to do it standing. Horizontal exercise can help prevent symptoms of post-exertion malaise, and building fitness in the legs and core can help alleviate POTS. However this doesn’t mean I’m joining Pilates classes because they are almost never intended for disabled people. The rhetoric in the whole fitness industry can be really judgmental toward able-bodied but it’s downright toxic in the context of disability. People like me end up hurting themselves trying to keep up with standards that are unreasonable even for the people they’re supposedly catered to.

[@harpyspeaks]

Hey fellow POTSie here! The excersise community is SOOOOOOO ableist its insane. Im glad you found something that works for you. Last year I got into powerlifting and it's been AMAZING for me, and the culture of powerlifting specifically really aligns with my specific disability needs (maximum exertion for like 3-7 reps with heavy ass weight, then sitting down for a looooooong rest)

[@suriel3688]

@ I’m hoping to move on to powerlifting eventually! My husband is so excited to teach me lol. Keep up those gains and I hope you keep feeling better and better! 💪🏻

[@glngersnapz]

i felt the pain from your HP roleplay expulsion for inactivity in my bones

[@chelseashurmantine8153]

I need a Harry Potter Role Play group elaboration too lmao

[@gremlita]

maybe one day 😭

[@thescarediest]

omg the cost analysis you showed in the middle of this video was mind boggling... i had no idea classes cost so much!

[@CK1000ism]

I have done pilates on and off for over 30 years. I credit it with having good posture still and good body and muscle awareness. But I have always had thicker thighs and full arms. Pilates is ONE great exercise but it won't rewrite your genetics nor is it the only things to do. And truthfully, I enjoyed it more when I did it mixed with other types of exercises on other days. As a 20 something year old, I loved seeing women in their fifties in my first Pilates studio who looked so strong and healthy (but not necessarily with "Pilates bodies". I think that kept me going.

[@misswiktoria]

When my grandma was a young adult, the IT-GIRL workout trend was callanetics. Our modern day pilates (the no equipment kind) is just another new word for it! this has been around for decades

[@JenSell1626]

I remember calisthenics with Jack Lalane on black and white tv, I felt like it was a pre-boomer thing. Mary Tyler Moore was always measuring herself on the Dick van Dyke show. I do remember doing jazzercize in middle school and it felt culty as hell, and Jane Fonda. The only tape I ever did more than twice was Cindy Crawford in the 90s I was unprepared for this flashback 😅

[@giftofgab1791]

I remember when I was in college (I went to a particularly fitness obsessed university where almost everyone was hot and looked like a lululemon model) yoga was super popular and people tried to make it seem like yoga made you look like the people I went to school with. I was in the height of my own body dysmorphia, so I thought that yoga would give me a different body but once I started taking classes with good instructors who didn’t place emphasis on how it made me look, I enjoyed it a hell of a lot more. I also joined a great local studio that I’ve gone to for years where people of all ages and body types go and it made me realize that there are so many more benefits to yoga than looking fit and toned and if that’s your focus, you’re really missing out.

[@wiredayan9719]

Its all about balance! You have to combine what you do… im doing pilates for recovery after many injuries and at the moment cant lift more than 5 pounds, but with a nice regimen it still is strengh training

[@MindfulMya]

Pilates is a functional exercising supportive approach. For some of us low impact girly and those with disabilities yoga and pilates are functional training and super important. Culture of pilates and performance is based in the dance world as well. When you think of the athleticism of it Pilates is super important.

[@hexcetera]

I’ve been doing Pilates for the better part of 12 years, which started with my mother. It honestly probably started as being rooted in her own ED at the time too because it was very trendy in the early 2010s. But when I tell people I do Pilates they are shocked, not bc I don’t have a desirable body type but because I’m not toned or very lean whatsoever. Pilates really DOESN’T give you the cookie cutter stereotype body, for me I’d have to do so much more cardio and lift weights to get a “Pilates body” and be rid of my curves. In my lifetime pilates has always been rooted in the idea of thinness which if you scroll back on blogilates KZbin to her videos 10 some years ago, the language in even her titles has changed so much but the old ones are very indicative of the goal. I do recommend pilates for someone wanting to become more flexible and mobile!

[@KarinaNPerez]

I have also tried The Class, and it was so cathartic and it left me feeling so empowered. I went in totally blind, not knowing what to expect, but fell in love. It’s also one of the more affordable classes, and least in LA, at ~$35/month.

[@blastypie]

Honestly I feel like different things work for different people, and pilates could be beneficial for some. The problem is when something becomes a trend and now its the be all end all, when it may just not be right for your needs, and even with doing the exact same exercises will not get ppl to that desired pilates body, so they just give up on exercising. These are my thoughts before the vid, I kinda just rambled on but I’m so excited to watch a 40min Mina vid :3

[@velvethunder]

I started Pilates at 12 yo when I no longer could take swimming classes for various health reasons. I have a naturally curvier body (pear) and on top of that swimming made that even more apparent through specific muscle growth so I was worried I'd end up with a fat shaming instructor. I am extremely lucky because my mom found a small studio that primarily catered to pregnant and elderly women. The two instructors they have are the most inclusive and understanding I have ever experienced. They ALWAYS modify the exercise based on your abilities, injuries and body type. ALWAYS. Without any passive aggressive shaming. It's great!!!! I've been going on and off for 10 years now. I hope they never close because they provide something genuinely important! I remember in one class a woman who normally went to gym Pilates and was post partum started crying because the instructor instead of body shaming her and calling her lazy adjusted the exercise to her needs. She quit the gym and became a permanent attendee.

[@kellydowney2506]

Former ballet dancer here- I’ve noticed over the years that myself and the other girls who were called too big for ballet (at a size 2-4) all got into weightlifting and it makes sense if you think about it. All the things that are considered negative in the ballet world - broad shoulders, thick thighs, a round butt - give you a pretty nice advantage in the weight room. Can’t speak for anyone else but it really helped heal my relationship with my body after struggling with an ED as a dancer

[@maggiemenking5709]

i second this so much! weightlifting has done wonders for my relationship with food, my body, and exercise. having had an ed before, exercise was all about looks. now it's about strength and how i feel! plus a bonus is a feeling of pride for being able to lift more weight, but none of it is about how it makes me look which has never been the case for me before. and to lift more weight, you gotta eat good!

[@mollyhayden5226]

I’m absolutely loving the 80s workout inspired fit. Matching the thick headband with the lipstick is just *chefs kiss*

[@andre-cmyk]

personal story but a new pilates place for very rich people opened here in são paulo and my mom applied for the job. she got the original stott pilates training and has been teaching for 20 years at this point. im fairly certain she got rejected because she is a 54 year old "overweight" woman with a tummy and specks of grey hair. they don't care to teach pilates, they also need to sell an image. her experience with that was really impactful on me cause i never ever bought this cultural idea of pilates thanks to her. i just saw it as a really hard method that prioritizes core strength and flexibility (honeslty exactly what i need)

[@mimyglow]

I immediately clicked Omg I’ve been trying to find a video essay about this exact topic for months and I really thought you made one before , so happpyyy and it’s for 40 mn adore youuuu ❤❤

[@paulascorner]

As a pilates instructor and professional dancer, it's really sad how people come to class bc they wanna be skinny, some don't want to workout at all, won't use 1 kilo dumbells bc they feel it will make them bulky and then leave feeling worse (i try my best to give a good experience) and also, it's very interesting the whole pilates princess thing, bc some girls will come in the most complicated outfits full of straps and bows, heavy makeup and hair claws that won't let them rest their heads on the reformer. Pilates it's an amazing workout, if you wanna work on your resistance and flexibility (and many other things), but it won't make you a skinny legend and it won't give big toned glutes. And it's also NOT YOGA.

[@AlejandraElisabet]

i always try to use one kilo weights but most of the time i don't have the arm strength but when i do i'm all for it my arms always look so good after, whilst i understand why the girls want to look thin the most that'll happen is they will toned whilst also taking into account diet, walking at least 10k steps and eating healthy fresh food. all factors have to be taken into account, i got into great shape doing pilates but i did do yoga and cardio on top of that.

[@saraquill]

I studied ballet throughout my childhood. In high school, I sometimes showed non dancer friends a photo of one dancer or another doing a difficult pose. Rather than be wowed like I was, the response was “ew, muscles.” This reaction still confuses me.

[@shannjoyy]

Just wanna say the video quality and effect is so good! It looks like you've shot on film, I love it. Really liked the video too: as someone who only got into fitness in the last couple of years, I can definitely feel the pressure that I need to look a certain way in order to perceive myself as "athletic". It's important to constantly question the ways we view ourselves!

[@neann6]

Pilates, despite all misinformation, is really helpful for me! I've always been unathletic, so doing a form of exercise where I can meet myself where I am, and not be pressured into performing, is really encouraging. Progress has to start somewhere, and I like how adaptable pilates, yoga and weight lifting is compared to something like... I dunno, doing somersaults in school, in front of 29 kids?

[@Earwithfoot]

I do Pilates and it’s given me a VERY solid core, because it’s basically just calisthenics. Using it in conjunction with cardio and lifting is best. I’ve never had a lifting injury and I feel like my solid core is a big reason. And Rene Campbell is on anabolic. That’s how she got that big. That’s almost impossible to do it naturally ESPECIALLY for women.

[@agirlsrambles]

Do I know even what Pilates are? No. Am I going to watch a 40 minute video by Mina about it? Yes!

[@Billi_crow]

Just finished the video. Honestly, you bring such a standard of quality to all of your content. It’s really amazing! I just want to say I appreciate you especially in a world of plagiarising content creators or people with aesthetics over substance. Can always count on you for a certain standard and uniqueness

[@Gr95dc]

I'm someone who does put on muscle easily. I discovered this when I started weight lifting. I have big insecurities with my arms and wide back, I feel like in another life I could have become a gymnast just due to my genetics, but in this one it has just served to make me feel insecure about my muscular prone body. The background of why women have always been made to feel bad about having muscles certainly helps me to continue working on getting rid of this insecurity with my body. I'm almost 30 so it's not as bad as it used to, but I still cannot wear thank tops without feeling bad looking in the mirror.

[@chegorgonzola]

I kept walking on my toes past my early years, which has led to shortened calves and limited ankle mobility and a whole mess of my posterior chain. I started reformer classes last week because of the focus on areas that are a struggle for me to maintain through normal movements and the studio being 2 blocks from house helps a lot. I am hyper-mobile in my hips when turning inward, and super limited turning outward and my knees never travel past my toes. That said I have run 2 half-marathons and still keep physically active. MOST physical therapists don't know how to treat me, I've only had one that did successfully. Yoga was discouraging cause I'm such an edge case for everyone, instructors had no clue how to help. Compound lifts like squats are physically impossible for me and I find being in a gym alone to be super boring. I did do circus for 3 years and that got me in a better flexibility and shape, which I lost after, but it did teach me what proper posture and form felt like on my body, so a lot of my circus training comes back at my reformer classes. Having been through the fitness rounds, I am tired of women thinking they will get big and bulky. Even when I was doing circus, I never got "bigger". My forearms and shoulders got the most muscle gain, but you could never tell and no one said anything. Women's muscles get DENSER not bigger. So much transphobia in "don't want to look like a man" too.

[@sagelafleur4425]

I really love how respectfully and clearly you make your points and how much research you obviously do. You’ve quickly become one of my favorite video essayists on KZbin because of how thoughtful and engaging you are without punching down at all. Thank you for being you!

[@misseternal777]

When one views classical pilates (key word "classical") as it was originally intended to be - Joseph Pilates' invention of innovative exercises to help fellow prisoners and even injured veterans during WWI - you get an almost meditative and challenging practice that helps develop stability, body awareness, and a strong base for even more workouts and such (and for me that does involve weightlifting). When you meet an instructor or practitioner who emphasizes the roots of the practice over someone who butchers it for aesthetics or a high intensity workout, you've struck gold. Yoga definitely has the same problem. I've been fortunate to meet both types of instructors who keep the origins of both to heart...to the point that I get hot under the collar at meeting a practitioner who is the opposite 😅

[@rebeccafogelmann9893]

Personally I think that Pilates is a nice option for the general entry to workouts, but definitely it is not THAT powerful in terms of body transformation

[@nightxgoat]

Agreed. I did solely Pilates for 2 years to get myself from a place where I was very unfit to reasonably in shape, but you eventually reach a ceiling since it's mostly just body weight. It got me to a level of fitness where I could comfortably jump into weightlifting, but it was necessary for me to "graduate" to weightlifting if I wanted to continue to increase my fitness. I still do Pilates occasionally to help with mobility and after I had a C-Section but it's not enough by itself imo

[@lucilafrugoli6479]

I started barre a year ago in an all womens gym (after never working out in my whole 24 years of life). I recognize the body standards it sometimes fosters, but i it also makes exercising more fun. Music, coordinated movements, and women of different ages having fun and focusing on our health makes it feel much bigger than just working out to make your body look better.

[@IsisAlv]

i did weightlifting for a year and it did make my arms and legs bigger. i personally was annoyed because i couldn't fit in my clothes, but i loved feeling stronger and it did wonders for my back and neck pain.

[@cupcakesandcoding]

I used to do powerlifting (have recently had to stop due to health issues) but I loved it. I loved looking stronger. I loved seeing other woman lift and be powerful. It feels so empowering to get stronger.

[@CaligulavsNeptune]

Also, guilting fat people for not achieving as well as skinny people when workouts like pilates or jazzercize are based on moving your whole weight around is crazy... Like I'm carrying several kilos on my chest, sit-ups are gonna be WAY HARDER

[@NecaylPerry]

Kathryn Morgan! She was my hero when I was in ballet as a young teenager. I got to meet her before a festival performance years ago and she was so kind. She IS an inspiration at any size, I’m so glad you brought up her story❤

[@toastonmitchell2636]

I got into Pilates doing the mat exercises on KZbin. She said the goal was just to be about to do normal things without trouble (like lifting a carry on.) I've been doing reformer Pilates for six months now. No, you don't get a super thin body. It's really about mobility and confidence in what your body can do. The classes I go to have almost every body type and age imaginable, men and women. It's been a wonderful experience so far!

[@mwv1217]

Hey Mina don't know if you'll read this but it would be great to see a video on Grandmillennial interior design. It doesn't exactly fits into the criteria of the videos that you make now but it is pretty prevalent as a interior design trend. I feel like it is something you would be interested in given what you've covered in your videos and your interests/hobbies ie Marie Antoinette, Bridgerton, antiques, thrifting.

[@A.T.0s]

Been doing Pilates since 2005 and it has worked nicely in the way I feel mentally and physically. When I gained the “15 pounds” during the pandemic I did Mat classical Pilates and it toned me right up. Pilates is def my go to for my anxiety/weight gain. It’s always given me results I’m happy with. Agree, love the exercise of Pilates, hate the culture of it.

[@karenchavez5358]

PT and weightlifter here: For the lady in @36:38 I gotta say that she does steroids. Which explains her muscle size and portion consumption. No woman working out as a natural athlete will get to her size ever.

[@Rerizz]

Exactly and even with steroids she has to eat a lot

[@allasonlewis]

I'm a very short (5' 1" on a good day) naturally stocky woman due to my ancestors being mountain dwelling peoples and I have never felt welcome in a pilates studio despite my desire for the core work and flexibility it offers! I only recently found a very inclusive yoga studio I feel comfortable at but most studios have the exact same feeling as all of the pilates ones. I can't get much smaller than a size 6 due to my bone and muscle structure despite my height placing me in the "petite" category. I think there is a huge gap in the market for really diverse, inclusive studios that focus on health and strength for women. So thanks for covering this topic! The more folks talk about this the more we're gonna see the market change.

[@daphnia9664]

ive started doing a little bit of light excersize every day for my mental health and viewing it as something i do to feel good instead of meeting any other goal has really helped me maintin the rutine for 3 weeks so far, its not much but knowing i dont have to do a super intense workout with the goal of looking a certain way has helped me with my motivation

[@rosemarydodd6176]

I feel so grateful to have access to my local YMCA for about $25 per month. I love the multigenerational exercise classes (including Pilates) where a bunch of ladies (ages 14-90) wear whatever they want and move however is best for them! It is a joy to be a part of a genuinely affordable, nonprofit workout space that functions as a third space for so many in the area.

[@spooky_did]

I've literally spent hours today crying over my body because ive gained weight recently and haven't been working out as much as i used to. pilates has never been the move for me. maybe i was doing it wrong or something but it just felt like the most basic level of stretching and exercise you can get. this video is amazing thank you

[@LiloMiller-h9s]

I'm so sorry you felt this way. I'm here to remind you that in winter your body needs more food and exercise can feel like a burden. Don't be too hard on yourself you're doing the best you can❤

[@spooky_did]

@LiloMiller-h9s thank you. that's a great reminder. its just hard because no matter how much i tell myself i am HEALTHIER with my curves and muscle mass, thin culture is having me judging myself.

[@LiloMiller-h9s]

@@spooky_did I can relate to that. I myself struggle with the thin culture but sometimes I remember that it's just in my head. My friends and family love me no matter how I look and I experience much more joy when I'm not trying to follow the thinness culture. My goal for spring is to feel good, be strong and be healthy which means not being too hard on myself and appreciating my amazing body

[@spooky_did]

@LiloMiller-h9s i hope the best for you!!!! definitely agree that not worrying about my weight and just focusing on being healthy is way easier on my mind and body

[@tumejorpose]

Pilates has been the only exercise that helped me with my back pain, but I definitely never got the "culture" that developed around it

[@michelleemanuelanyc]

Mina, I just took my first Pilates class Tuesday and it felt so off and I hated it. No shade to those who love it, but your video was right on time. It felt so anti fat and exclusive. Love you and all your work! Thank you!

[@ahmarindungu9010]

I tried Pilates ( at home )honestly, it’s not meant for someone that has no strength and needs help. I need assistance machines. Pilates will do nothing for me; a diet will, and weightlifting, honestly, just made me be in pain. I’ll try again later, lol.

[@sw3783]

Floor exercises were developed later. I used the reformer machine when I was sick and it helped me recover.

[@heysaras]

Pilates is for people who need physical rehabilitation type strengthening. However, in that case it needs to be done one on one with not only a trained professional, but someone who ideally has a kinesiology background or more.

[@lilascharmante2712]

You definitely should start working on strength gradually. I used to have a hard time steering a bike and now I can do lots of push-ups. Start with light weights

[@ahmarindungu9010]

@@lilascharmante2712 I will it’s so hard though but I’m not giving up. Ive even changed my form when working !!!

[@saras98011]

Muscles are so important for your joints! My mom is in her mid 50s and is experiencing a lot of pain in her shoulder due to not having almost any muscle mass.

[@isadoradossantos5620]

loved that video! hated how an amazing type of workout who helped me, who has health problems where it's suggested that to do exercises where i stretch my body like physiotherapy and pilates (i did both and loved it, even subscribed to do pilates next semester at college), turned into an aesthetic for the rich, especially those with specific features, while it should be an welcoming experience for everybody. also loved how you connected pilates with dance in general, because that was my experience (did jazz for years and loved it, but hated ballet) as well, it makes you feel more comfortable with these types of exercises. in the end i also prefer high energy workouts and did them almost everyday during the pandemic and even after it, but since college started it's been hard to get a good space and a decent amount of energy and time to practice it. hopefully i'm going to change this in 2025!

[@velmi_malenkaja_zabka]

All that "pilates body" culture is literally a false advertising 😂 I do pilates on reformers and it's perfect as reasonable physical activity but thin muscular body was never a promise. I wonder if it's a thing just in the USA

[@flowerpixel]

I have hypermobile ehlers danlos syndrome and pain all over. I looooove pilates, hate yoga

[@LadyAhro]

Hi fellow EDS Zebra! I prefer weightlifting these days but I started out mixing bodyweight exercises and plates and still blend the two into my training. Gaining more muscle to stabilise my joints has made such an impact on lessening my pain and dislocating or subluxing less. It's no cure but there's a definite improvement from how things were five years ago.

[@ioche_au]

mina, the matching of your mic cover with your lipstick with your headband is such a fantastic touch♥️ thank you for another excellent video

[@heysaras]

I love Pilates because it allows me to exercise while I’m laying down (on a reformer) and have much lower impact while still moving and feeling myself move on the carriage. That really helped me with developing all of the small posture muscles in my back as well as my core that I had neglected sitting in an office job. I’m not a fan of the power Pilates style and think it can cause injuries easily for out of shape people. I also believe you need about 10 private sessions before you consider joining a group equipment class to learn how to do the movements properly. I also generally seek out instructors with kinesiology or ballet backgrounds. And I would suggest not being afraid to modify exercises as well as request more flat back movements or back extension instead of forward flexion. We get way too much forward, flexion slouching in our chairs!

[@R0291-l1l]

I'm lifting weights now and I love it. You actually have to intentionally work to look super muscular, it's rarely going to happen by accident. That said, I want to look like Holga Kilgore lol so I would love it to happen accidently to me personally

[@margusiraptor9729]

I do Olympic weightlifting as a woman and I can't imagine my life without it. It makes you feel strong, powerful, and physically capable. It's annoying how much importance is set on 'not looking XY way' when talking about women and sports, and not just going - as long as it *feels* good, do it. Also, bulky, muscly bodies on women are super cool. Like, muscle mommies are so attractive to me 😂

[@madicat9719]

Another banger. I love watching these on my lunch break and coming back to talk to my coworkers about their experiences with the content you break down

[@nataliev3212]

OMG IVE BEEN BINGING YOUR VIDEOS ALL DAY YAYY IM SO HAPPY YOU POSTED

[@LeighBeanie]

Pilates is recommended for people with Dysautonomia specifically because its low/no cardio. I have POTs and pilates is good for keeping my core strong and get blood pumping in my legs. Does it help with weight loss? Not really. I used to do high intensity cardio, body building and marathon training, but covid left me unable to do those things anymore. Is Pilates great for some people absolutely! is there anything wrong with doing pilates to work out? no, of course not, but its when it's advertised as a miracle workout that will give you muscle definition, a snatched waste, and big butt is when we start to see issues.

[@pastelbaek]

I am straight sized, but I am disabled. I also love pilates. However, I am scared to try a group class because I don’t know how many variations I’ll need, and I don’t want the entire class being about the instructor changing movements for me.

[@lupezrat]

Thank your your amazing videos. I started olympic weightlifting 1 year ago and it allowed me to focus on getting stronger, better and bigger rather than trying to shrink. It’s a very challenging sport especially for women, because it forces you to reconsider what is impossible and possible for your body continuously and it “forces you” to take up space and be extremely loud! I love it

[@akwright4116]

I love my bodypump ( cardio + strength) class in my regular non-fancy gym because it’s nice to workout alongside people of all body sizes and ages. My class is taught by an encouraging mom who tells us when she’s lowering the weight she normally uses or making a modification so we feel empowered to do so too. She tells stories about her kids that make us laugh even with sore muscles and sweat dripping down our faces. It’s just good vibes.

[@Theendlesstoil]

Loved the video! I started doing pilates at home last year to help with my back pain, the core and butt exercises significantly helped.

[@Cxrriemc]

those prices are insane! I go to local council (public) run classes at my leisure centre. Pilates is £5.20 per class with a months membership neing £27. It really boggles my mind how people can justify charging so much!

[@amno3450]

I'm a pilates instructor at a middle-grade gym chain (located in Sweden) where membership costs around 50/60$ a month (cheaper with a student/pensioner) discount and I totally agree! I've never been to pilates classes outside of my gym simply because I can't afford them lol. But it's nice to have a space where I can do a workout I love (I have a background in gymnastics and circus arts so in general I prefer flexibility-based workouts) and is also accessible to most types of people

[@Tammy-js7be]

As a general rule, almost everyone can lose weight and be healthy. However, a healthy body can look very different for every person. Even people who have the same body fat percentage can have different measuraments that will affect their overall look, so anyone who promises a bodytype based on a specific workout is flat out lying. I really like this video.

[@wilbee8526]

A Mina video? Right at my lunch break?? A good day!

[@Lpinsker0246]

Pilates (and my instructor) helped me relearn how to walk without pain after a workplace back injury. Don’t care how my body looks, it’s able to move again, which is the actual point

[@rubabrazaa]

I appreciate your perspective on this, been doing Pilates for almost a year now, it was recommended to me by a friend to help with back pain for my scoliosis and helped my posture so much. I don’t find that I’ve lost much weight but I do feel flexible and I don’t have awful back pain that left me shriveled up. These influencers need to be honest about how they’re ACTUALLY shedding weight.

[@briannaisbananas]

Pilates and follow along dance exercises are what made me excited to workout for the first time in my life. I did weightlifting with a personal trainer and was miserable. Did not exercise literally for years after until pilates got popular on tik tok. Now I finally feel like i can get a solid workout without the gym anxiety or shame of how i look and almost every movement is adjustable for my needs.

[@alexandrah.5915]

Can I just say that you are one of my favourite, if not my favorite youtuber 🫶🫶 like your content is so consistently impeccable and THE TOPICS AGHHHHH

[@maxmaxmax000]

always so well researched! loved this one

[@mavlanzerotti8012]

I love pilates but because I have bad joints and it's a lower impact way to workout 😔 it's nice as a warmup for a weight lifting session or you can do it as a whole workout on its own

[@KaylaNoelle1]

Never tried Pilates but I will always be one of those annoying people who thinks yoga solves most issues. 🧘🏻‍♀️ Digestive issues? Yoga! Eczema flare up? Yoga! Sleep issues?? YOGA! I know I’m annoying and I am at peace with it. I’m nearly as bad with weight lifting, skiing, and swimming as well. No other sport has as magical of views as skiing, it’s like being on another planet, AND you burn a crazy amount of calories. Weight lifting is super efficient, and swimming is low-impact and just feels incredible. 🧜🏻‍♀️

[@brigittastone-johnson7683]

It is really time to understand that a lot of what happens when we exercise is 90% genetics and 10% underrating. You get the body you get. Treat it well, be the healthiest you. That all you can do really. Some of us bulk some of us don’t, that’s okay. It doesn’t make one feminine or not either way.

[@danielaguizar]

ive been doing pilates for 3 1/3 years. i love it. it changed my life. when i started pilates, i was at 0 on my fitness journey. i hadnt done any exercise in years. pilates offered me a safe space to begin my journey. its mostly an all womens space. i could see right away that pilates was for every body. women of all ages, people recovering from injuries, and people like myself that were overweight. Pilates focuses on a well rounded exercises to improve balance, flexibility, mobility, as well as strength and stamina. it genuinely was the best way for me to start exercising and it was the first workout that i was able to stick to long term. theres a sense of community when being a club member. you see the same people all the time. your instructors get to know you personally. they reward you for completing a certain amount of classes. it gives you a real sense of pride. I genuinely i feel much stronger, more fit, and more confident because of pilates.

[@briemme]

hell yeah, mina! you had fun with this one and it made it fun to watch

[@LI-wf8mw]

I just started Pilates 🧘‍♀️

[@Laura-iw8wq]

Same 😂

[@Lu-bk1qq]

I go to reformer Pilates 5-6 days a week plus walking and it has transformed my mental health. My studio is super diverse in terms of body type and age. A huge part of my love for Pilates is that the studio is mostly women, so I feel way more comfortable. I went to a regular gym for years and was CONSTANTLY harassed by men. Even when I started going at 4-5 AM to avoid men, the employees would start hitting on me. Pilates is such a safe space!

[@Aleatoire9]

Re: affordability - a boutique fitness club for women opened in my town maybe a year and a bit ago, and they closed about six months ago. Their asking monthly rate was $237 CAD. Absolutely absurd, even for the more well off folks in the area. No one WANTS to pay that much even if they could technically afford it. In a total opposite move, my yoga studio just permanently DROPPED their prices and we love the owner for that so much 😊

[@Aleatoire9]

I posted this before you dropped the price ranges just before 20:55 - YIKES, I thought $237 was bad (and so did everyone else in my area apparently lmao). Grosssss

[@sanjanat1085]

I personally love reform pilates because I have rheumatoid arthritis and I'm only 20. It helps with stretching, mobility and basic strengthening and balance too and its slow pace makes it easy for me to do. I was initially afraid of it, thinking it would hurt and it did but it was okay and the results of me being able to move better were worth it. Once I got those "skills", going to gym became easier, my range of motion is better and I'm able to make progress. I will say though, those basics are so important for someone like me who will walk out in the rain and get joint pain lol, having slightly more reinforcement and strength helps a ton.