Pilates surges across all ages

Pilates is pulling in more Americans across age groups as low-impact exercise gains ground in gyms, studios, and app-based bookings. (health.harvard.edu) (classpass.com) Harvard Health reported in February 2025 that nearly 12 million Americans tried Pilates in 2023, a 15% increase from the previous year. It described Pilates as a system built around balance, flexibility, and core strength. (health.harvard.edu) ClassPass said in its 2025 Look Back Report that low-impact training bookings rose 112% from 2024, alongside sharp growth in recovery-focused formats. The company framed that shift as part of a broader move toward “balance, consistency, and personalization.” (classpass.com 1) (classpass.com 2) On the supply side, Club Pilates says it has more than 900 locations across North America. Its studio pages pitch reformer-based classes for “any age or fitness level,” showing how the format is being sold beyond the usual boutique-fitness crowd. (help.clubpilates.com) (clubpilates.com) The appeal is partly practical: Pilates is marketed as strength work without the pounding of running or jumping. Club Pilates describes its classes as low-impact and full-body, and Harvard Health says that profile can make the method attractive to older adults. (clubpilates.com) (health.harvard.edu) The evidence base is strongest for some benefits and thinner for others. A 2022 systematic review and meta-analysis in the *European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education* found benefits for adults over 60 in dynamic balance, strength, mobility, functional capacity, fall-risk reduction, and mental and psychological health. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) A separate 2023 systematic review and meta-analysis found Pilates training improved balance in older adults. Another 2024 systematic review concluded the method showed useful effects on body posture, though study quality and methods varied. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov 1) (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov 2) The broader fitness industry is also growing, which gives Pilates more room to spread. The Health & Fitness Association said 77 million U.S. fitness facility members were working out in 2024, and its 2025 benchmarking report put median revenue growth at 9.9% for 2024 over 2023. (healthandfitness.org 1) (healthandfitness.org 2) That mix of consumer demand, studio expansion, and age-specific research helps explain why Pilates now shows up in teen schedules, middle-age recovery routines, and older-adult exercise plans at the same time. (classpass.com) (health.harvard.edu) (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)