Is Pilates About Strength – or Is It Something Else

When someone asks, “Is Pilates about strength?”, the short answer is yes. But the real answer is much more nuanced – and that’s what makes Pilates such a powerful and enduring movement practice.

At Flow Pilates, we often see clients come in expecting a “gentle stretch” or a “core workout.” And while they’ll definitely feel the burn and build strength, what keeps them coming back is something deeper: a shift in how they move, how they breathe, and how they feel in their bodies.

As our founder Taryne likes to say:

“Listen to me nicely – which means we’re about to do something complex. And to do it well, we’ll need to home in on the principles of Pilates.”

The Strength in Pilates Isn’t Just Muscle

Pilates builds strength in a different way to traditional gym workouts. Instead of isolating muscles or relying on resistance and load alone, Pilates works through integration – teaching muscles to communicate and coordinate. That means your smaller stabilisers (the ones that support your joints and posture) are as engaged as your larger, more dominant muscles.

Yes, your core will get stronger. But your posture, balance, breath, flexibility, and joint health will improve too. This is why Pilates can be both incredibly gentle and incredibly challenging – often at the same time.

The Pilates Principles: The True Core of the Practice

Joseph Pilates, the method’s creator, based his system on six key principles. At Flow, we return to these often – whether you’re on the mat or the reformer. They help us move with intention, and they’re what turn each session into a practice of both the body and the mind.

• Concentration: Be present and engage with both mind and body.
• Control: Every movement is done with purpose and precision.
• Centring: Movement starts from the powerhouse – your deep core.
• Precision: Attention to detail creates meaningful movement.
• Breath: Coordinated breath enhances performance and calm.
• Flow: Seamless transitions create ease and fluidity in motion.

So, What Is Pilates Really About?

Yes, it’s about strength – but it’s strength rooted in awareness. Pilates is about learning to move well. It’s about getting to know your body: where you’re holding tension, where you’re compensating, where you could move with more grace. It’s about building strength that lasts – the kind that supports your spine, improves your balance, and carries you through life with less strain and more confidence.

At Flow Pilates, we see Pilates as a practice. Not just something you do for fitness, but something that transforms the way you exist in your body – how you stand, walk, run, lift, breathe, and rest.

Whether you’re a complete beginner or an experienced mover, the principles will always be there to guide you. And when your instructor, Taryne says, “Listen to me nicely,” know that something powerful is about to happen – something complex, refined, and deeply rooted in the Pilates method.

And that, in the end, is what makes Pilates so much more than just a workout.