Pilates has become one of the most familiar fitness methods in the world. Although its popularity has risen and fallen over the decades, the workout is currently experiencing another major surge.

As of 2025, Pilates and yoga studios were estimated to represent a $120 billion market. Yet the practice began more than a century ago as a rehabilitation method for injured men during World War I.

Pilates Began in an Internment Camp

Joseph Pilates was born in Germany in 1883 and trained as a gymnast and acrobat. He eventually created a low-impact exercise system designed to build strength, improve flexibility, increase muscle tone and support injury recovery.

Pilates was living and performing in England when World War I began. Because he was a German citizen, British authorities classified him as an enemy alien and placed him in an internment camp.

While detained, Pilates helped injured prisoners perform exercises they could complete from their hospital beds. Those rehabilitation movements helped lay the foundation for the fitness system that would later carry his name.

The Workout Finds an Audience in America

Joseph Pilates introduced his exercise method to the United States after moving to Manhattan in 1926. Professional dancers were among the first groups to embrace it because the practice helped them improve movement, strength and recovery.

Pilates remained relatively specialized for decades before becoming widely popular in the United States during the late 1990s. Its low-impact nature and potential health benefits continued attracting loyal participants even when broader interest fluctuated.

Today, Pilates can be found in traditional studios, contemporary group classes and numerous fitness programs inspired by the original method.

Turning Reformer Pilates Into a Group Experience

Former ballerina Heather Andersen began working as a Pilates instructor around 2008. Most of her early work involved private sessions, which could be expensive and difficult for clients to schedule.

Andersen believed people should be able to attend reformer Pilates classes as easily as they could join a yoga class. She and her husband, Brion Isaacs, opened their first New York Pilates studio in 2013.

The reformer, which was also developed by Joseph Pilates, resembles a bed frame with a moving platform. Springs and straps provide resistance for controlled, full-body movements.

New York Pilates was created to make reformer workouts more accessible while maintaining a strong focus on proper form, technique and functional alignment.

The company now operates eight studios throughout New York City and the Hamptons, with more locations in development.

Why Pilates Appeals to So Many People

A major strength of Pilates is its adaptability. Instructors can adjust exercises for clients with different body types, experience levels, injuries and fitness goals.

Kat Anta, an instructor and education manager at New York Pilates, first began practicing as a teenage dancer dealing with lower-back pain. Her experience eventually inspired her to build a career around the method.

Her open-level classes include both easier modifications and more advanced options. This allows beginners, athletes and people recovering from injuries to participate in the same class while working at an appropriate level.

That flexibility is one of the main reasons clients continue returning. People can modify the workout as their strength, mobility and confidence improve.

Skilled Instructors Are Central to the Business

Andersen believes the success of a Pilates studio depends largely on its instructors. Strong teachers need technical knowledge, proper training and a genuine interest in helping people.

Some Pilates-inspired brands can expand quickly because their instructors may not be required to complete the same level of education or certification. New York Pilates, however, has focused on growing more carefully.

The company has primarily used cash flow and debt financing instead of outside investment. It employs approximately 120 people, including about 55 instructors.

Developing knowledgeable instructors takes time. Teachers must understand the exercises, learn how to guide different clients and provide a safe and effective experience. In this type of company, the service depends on real people bringing real expertise to every class.

Community Is Supporting Pilates’ Latest Rise

Pilates has also benefited from the strong communities forming around it. Studios provide opportunities for in-person connection, while social media allows the culture to reach much larger audiences.

Online workout videos, lifestyle trends and aesthetics such as the “Pink Pilates Princess” have introduced the practice to a new generation. New York Pilates has built a sizable digital audience, including about 160,000 Instagram followers and more than 20,000 TikTok followers.

The workout’s recent growth may also be connected to changes that followed the pandemic. As people looked for exercise, belonging and social interaction, Pilates studios became places where they could improve their health while connecting with others.

What began as a rehabilitation method for prisoners during World War I has grown into a global fitness and wellness business. Its continued popularity is driven by its low-impact approach, adaptable exercises, knowledgeable instructors and ability to create meaningful communities both online and in person.