What is the difference between Fitness Pilates vs Authentic Pilates?

With Reformer studios popping up in every town in the UK, it can be confusing as a client to choose the right studio and class type for you.

To help give you some clarity…here is a breakdown of what to look for…

Authentic Pilates is anything follows the roots of ‘controlology’, the original work of Joseph Pilates. Ultimately it’s about control, strength and stability. Classes incorporate not only the Reformer but the whole Pilates system. From big apparatus like Reformer, Chair, Cadillac, Ladder Barrel to Mat sessions with smaller props like fitness circles, resistance bands, balls, hand weights, spine corrector etc. Teachers are normally trained in the whole system (or a big chunk of it) and typically demonstrate only in class. The rest of the class will be spent walking around, adjusting, tweaking and offering individual adaptions where needed. So very much a personalised approach.

Fitness Pilates is exactly what it says it is. It’s fitness on mats or reformers, designed to work you hard, make you proper sweat and ‘feel the burn’. Expect a sweaty paced class with loud music, lots of reps & pulses, instructors may be doing the whole class with you without offering adaptions or walking around to check on positioning. It’s generally very much a one size fits all approach and class sizes can be anything from 8-25 people, depending on the size of the fitness facility or studio. Guaranteed that you WILL sweat and you’ll get a really good workout.

There is absolutely a place for both styles in the fitness world….and it really does depend on what you are looking for and what you’re looking to achieve in your practice…

…so how do you choose?

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Here are the answers to some of the most common questions I get asked…

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What should I look for in my Pilates Teacher?

There are a lot of different training providers in the UK offering certifications, some of them you can qualify with an online course or in just a weekend, some an intensive 9-10 day course and some with a year long apprenticeship.

The main ‘Authentic” Pilates schools in the UK include STOTT, Body Control Pilates, Polestar, BASI as well as Classical training linked to1st or 2nd generation teachers such as Alan Herdman, Romana’s Pilates, Jay Grimes, Mary Bowen, Ron Fletcher, Lolita San Miguel, Kathy Grant,Kathy Ross-Nash etc.

Authentic Pilates teachers have gone through rigorous training comprising of hours and years of courses. They will know the method & system inside out and are very experienced in adaptions, injuries, progressions etc.



Fitness Pilates tends to be taught by gym or fitness instructors, PTs etc who are not qualified or familiar with the whole Pilates system. At the very least they may be L3 Mat Pilates qualified with a fitness company or may have done a short Reformer course.

It's important to use your judgment and really get a feel for a teacher, do your research about their certification and education, check out their experience….if their website or bio doesn’t say, ask them!


You can read more about my journey here.



What if I have an injury, condition or back pain, what is the best style for me?



If you are carrying an injury, have a medical condition or have back pain and have been advised to do Pilates, I strongly urge you to find an Authentic Pilates class to attend.

The one size fits all approach would likely be too much and you need that personalised support and modification in a small group environment to help you work around the injury, issue or condition.

Who is Pilates for?



I come across a lot of people saying they are not flexible enough, they are too old, they are too overweight, they are unfit etc….

but in simple terms…

Pilates is for every body and everybody!



There are no pre-requisites and be under no illusion, Pilates will challenge you and change you like no other form of exercise. The benefits are huge!

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So don’t just take my word for it…here is what some of my clients have to say

“I would recommend Pilates to anyone who just wanted an enjoyable way to keep fit or anyone recovering from an injury. I have never been at all flexible, just didn’t bend in the right place, although I used to run when younger. If I can do it at my age, 80 this year, then anyone can!”

“Pilates complements the other exercises I do and helps build your strength thru slow movements. Don’t have to be flexible just patient as it takes a while to understand how to do each move correctly.”

”I tend to do the Reformer/Apparatus classes in the evening, it’s a great way to wind down after a stressful day at work just sitting at my computer. It restarts my body and mind, I begin to feel like me again and it has changed my life for the better!

I always leave feeling better than when I arrived.”

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If you have any questions about Pilates, the method, the apparatus, the styles or whether it is right for you and your body?

Then please feel free to drop me a note and I will do my best to answer.