We Don’t Ick Anyone’s Yum

AKA: Stop Policing Pilates, Karen

Let’s get straight to it: I’m done.
Done with the gatekeeping.
Done with the “you can’t sit with us” energy.
Done with the eye rolls, the social media shade, and the self-appointed Pilates purists acting like they’re the last true defenders of Joseph Pilates’ sacred scrolls.

Because guess what?
Pilates is for everyone.

And I mean everyone. All shapes, all sizes, all levels of ability, all vibes. Whether you want candlelight and breathwork or neon lights and EDM bangers — it still counts.

But lately, the Pilates world feels fractured. Divided.
People arguing online over what is and isn’t Pilates like we’re in some weird mat-based Game of Thrones.
There are posts dripping with superiority, smug captions declaring “this isn’t REAL Pilates,” and instructors claiming they do it “better than anyone else in the world.” (Really? Are you okay?)

To those people: this blog might not be for you.
But also... it kind of is.

Because I’m not here for the elitism. I’m not here for the performance of “purity.”
I’m here for movement. For joy. For community. For sweat, smiles, and sore glutes.

My studio? We’ve got neon lights.

We’ve got EDM.
We’ve got big, bold, powerful movements on the Reformer.
Does that make me less of an instructor than someone whispering their way through a classic sequence in neutral spine? Absolutely not.
I have a tribe who love what we do — and who are you to say they’re not welcome in the Pilates world?

Spoiler alert: if Joseph Pilates were alive today, he might love a bit of Zedd.
The man was about innovation, movement, and making bodies stronger — not arguing over footbar positions and whether we should say “ab prep” or “crunch.”

Here’s what gets me:

You’ve got people crying out for connection.
For movement. For strength. For confidence.
And instead of welcoming them in with open arms, some parts of the industry are busy building walls.

We read the research.
We study the science.
We learn biomechanics, we look at real bodies, we listen to our communities — and we design experiences that serve them.
Not your ego. Not your textbook. Not your gatekept version of what counts.

And you know what?
Maybe your clients would actually love a little more fun.
A little more flow, laughter, movement, music, culture, energy.
Maybe not everything needs to be clinical. Maybe a little “loosey goosey” is exactly what they need.

So here’s the deal:

I’m not icking your yum.
So why are you so determined to ick mine?

You like silence, control, classical flows? Amazing.
I like beats, biceps, and burn. Also amazing.
Both are Pilates. Both have value. Both belong.

Let’s stop acting like there’s one right way to move.
Let’s stop gatekeeping and start welcoming.
Because at the end of the day, Joseph Pilates didn’t build his method so you could argue about sequencing on Instagram. He just wanted people to move better.

So no — this isn’t a rant.
It’s a response.
To the social media noise. To the shade.
To the uninvited opinions that say our version of Pilates isn’t valid.

To those still listening:
If your first instinct is to judge what you don’t understand, maybe take a breath.
Step back.
Ask yourself: is this really what Joseph would want?

Because I reckon he’d be too busy loving the glow-up to care.

x Bex 💋
#WeDon’tIckAnyonesYum