Shopping trips and video games are still popular ways for teens to stay entertained, but many young adults across the country are choosing something unexpected instead: pilates. Somatic and wellness exercise has seen steady growth in popularity, especially across younger generations. But, where did this trend come from?
While typical youth physical activity comes from school-based sports like volleyball, basketball and other typical athletics, organized sports are often not a good solution for every student. Rigorous practice hours, traveling long distances and extreme competitiveness at higher levels make those kinds of activities unappealing to a lot of teens.
This is where athletic activities that allow flexibility and individual pacing become a popular choice. Pilates classes allow accessibility for a wide variety of people of all ages, ranging from complete beginners to out-of-season athletes to seasoned pilates veterans. Furthermore, these kinds of spaces bring a feeling of belonging and non-judgment that often makes joining more organized sports uncomfortable.
“I love Pilates…because it’s very controlled. You have to focus, you have to pay attention, and I love it…I would say the Pilates studio that I have the most recent experience with, there are more younger girls coming. I seem to be the older gal in the studio, I think because it is so much focus on core,” shared Admissions Associate Kari Allegri
Social media is also playing a large role in the influx of teens into exercise classes. Influencers on TikTok, Instagram and other platforms often glamorize “wellness culture,” promoting healthy eating and physical activity. Look at any teen-recommended internet page to see matching exercise sets and hot pilates classes at 5:00 am, which especially appeals to the younger and more easily influenced demographic of viewers.
Additionally, pilates and similar exercise classes offer an array of physical and mental benefits for teens, especially. This kind of exercise often focuses on low-impact strength and flexibility training, which is incredibly beneficial for growing bodies to prevent injury and improve posture. Somatic exercises like yoga and pilates prioritize intentional movement and mindful control of the body. This can develop a helpful mindset when it comes to body positivity.
While pilates and yoga may not offer the “team” experience that comes from many traditional sports, they still offer a sense of community and belonging to anyone who wants to join. Studios often offer classes that host many return customers, allowing people to make connections in the athletic space.
However, like every kind of exercise, there is some risk to be aware of for anyone who wants to try pilates for the first time. Despite being low-impact, improper form can lead to joint strain, lower back or neck injuries and even muscle imbalances and heated classes increase dehydration risk. As teens’ bodies are still developing, making supervision and appropriate pacing crucial is incredibly important to prioritizing their health and safety.
Many people raise concerns about the high price points for many pilates classes, sometimes creating a feeling of exclusivity. But, many studios offer discounts or special teen classes, as well as online classes for cheap or even free, that people can follow along with at home.
Yoga, pilates and hot classes are now all the rage for good reason; internet hype and a variety of benefits make this form of exercise worth a try for anybody.
