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Why is pilates considered an "old white ladies" sport?

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Pilates kicked my black ass. But my instructor is cute af so... I'll be back as soon as my baby old enough to leave home lol.

My husband be cracking up at out little group lol.
 

JoanClayton

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I've loved for mat and reformers pilates for years and credit it for my posture and flexibility. I almost invested in a reformer machine a few years back when a pilates studio closed and I'm mad I didn't go through with it.

I've never seen a Black pilates instructor in my area - I found one that was 45 minutes outside of my city (driving) and I used to go to her classes until the pandemic.
 

morecoffeeplease

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The thing i miss the most during this pandemic are my Pilates classes. Er, that and brunch.

I had a little crew of black Women and wed try to schedule to go to the same classes in New York. At New York Pilates the black instructors were amazing but hard af.

I liked the workout cuz it’s the only thing that leaves me sore for three days
 

Waterlover

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I do Barre and the majority of the women at my Pure Barre studio are white and older. The area that the studio is in is diverse and affluent, so black women here can definitely afford it.

On the weekdays, I would be the only black woman in my classes. On Saturdays 1 of 3.

One of the instructors is a black woman and she definitely is the best instructor there, as far as challenging her students, so that they get results. AND she has the best body of all of the instructors!! But y’all already knew that lol

See im.not the only one that agrees Black women are the better instructors
White women instructors that dont have ballet experience are bottom of the list

Again the order from best to last
Black women
Former ballet dancers (race irrelevant)
Gay men
Anyone else





White women
 

JoanClayton

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When I attended pilates classes in Flatbush, Brooklyn (mostly Caribbean), everyone was Black/Caribbean. The evening classes were young people (20-50), day classes (retirees/stay at home moms). Now I'm Harlem and the racial makeup of the classes are the same as Brooklyn.
That's awesome. I wish I could see more of this in my area.
 

metroglam

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See im.not the only one that agrees Black women are the better instructors
White women instructors that dont have ballet experience are bottom of the list

Again the order from best to last
Black women
Former ballet dancers (race irrelevant)
Gay men
Anyone else





White women

Black Gay Male Dancers for me are the best. They’re gentle with their correction and will push you. My old Reformer Instructor saw that I was strong and very advanced, added small dumbbells to my jumps. He always asked if he could touch you before correcting you. Non ballet white women are the worse.
 
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giiiiirl!!!!!!!
I’ve been dying to buy one.

I was nervous about the price, but I did the math and it pays for itself compared to a year of studio lessons. I've been practicing for 8 years so I know enough to work on my own. Plus, the shutdown had me so upset and stressed when my studio closed and I couldn't take lessons. There are good ones at a variety of price points--you should look into buying one!
 

Coco K. Flo

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Everybody in my barre class was white and very tall, long and stick thin. I'm a slender girl but I'm on the shorter side with thick, muscular thighs so next to them I always felt like a baby elephant.
That’s the thing, people are associating the workout with being thin and lean, but we already pointed out some of the main people who do it. That’s their body type by large, but when you get others who do the same, it’s sculpting.

So like, yes, I think those traditional people end up sinewy (with balanced diet), but Black women with bawwwdy will only sculpt what’s there. It’s a win win when you’re already shapely.
 

Autumn1456

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I've taken pilates. It's great for the body. Last time I took a class was two years ago.

I recommend it regardless of who attends. When I go to workout classes or dance classes, I go for myself. Ironically enough most of the people who do attend are old white ladies but as another don't said they have access to the resources.

Also, I met lifelong friends in the classes; one is my age and black and another is 71 and a white woman. Sometimes you can't help who you connect to.
 

Noodles

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It was originally done by dancers, especially for rehab. Then rich white ladies because honestly, those classes are expensive as hell. I wouldn't let any of that stop me but nothing much does, lol. I've done some of the floor work but not the equipment, which will kick your ass.
 

Autumn1456

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How embarrassing. Since I started this plant-based diet, I do not dare exert myself around others! :oops:

:oops:lmao this comment took me out.

I make a lentil dish and a chickpea dish for dinner once a week, so I understand your sentiments.
 

redbud tree

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:oops:lmao this comment took me out.

I make a lentil dish and a chickpea dish for dinner once a week, so I understand your sentiments.

Whoo, chile!!!

I started this thing during COVID. Lord help me when I'm back at work regularly. These farts have a hair trigger on them. No warning.
 

Noodles

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Whoo, chile!!!

I started this thing during COVID. Lord help me when I'm back at work regularly. These farts have a hair trigger on them. No warning.

Don't overdo it at first with the legumes. Eat tofu and seitan for proteins, they won't cause gas.
 

simplyFABULOUS

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My studio in Houston is fairly diverse but sometimes I am the only black woman. My studio also plays really good music. I think everyone should take a body reformer class once before they decide whether or not they like it.
 

Autumn1456

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Whoo, chile!!!

I started this thing during COVID. Lord help me when I'm back at work regularly. These farts have a hair trigger on them. No warning.
Maybe drink more tea and water? :ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:

When eating "healthy" backfires lololol.
 

Sophia Home Now

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I bought my reformer about 6-7 years ago. I absolutely love it. Having taken dance, tap, ballet and acrobats as a young one, it renewed my flexibility. The core is where it is at.

When I first got it, I signed up for beginner classes at a studio which was awesome. They had tiered classes. I always managed to take the beginner class, as it was just me basically and once in a while another person. That way, I got one on one instruction and they couldn't force you into the next tier. I was also able to find a private instructor for $50 a session in my home, yet that was some years ago. She was this tiny Black woman who was pregnant and was awesome.

Having moved and with Rona, I was looking for another home trainer. Around November, I found one who wanted $100 per hour. Too steep for me.

Thanks for this thread, OP. Wishing you all luck and happy new year!
 

O.o

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Are there ladies on LSA who do pilates? What does your class look like? Is it filled with middle aged white people?
Who said that?

I learned about Pilates from Black women
 

ladyo514

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I love Pilates. There is this man John Garey on YT he has great videos. Do you ladies have any other YTbers you would like to recommend for beginner Pilates students?
 

afrodite88

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Wasn’t it always marketed that way to affluent soccer moms? I always found barre and Pilates to be beautiful
 

Wildebeest

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Because it’s super expensive. I love Pilates, but can’t do it as much as I’d like because classes are so pricey.
 

zansanchez

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you can totally do it w/o the reformer machine. thats what keeps the prices high
i have been do the ballet/yoga/pilates workouts w mariinsky ballet dancer maria khoreva since covid. her workouts are amazing. i get compliments on my arms!
this is one of her pilates influenced workouts
 

Pressley

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I'm obsessed with barre and reformer pilates.

My classes were mostly white women of all ages when I started, but I think these kinds of classes are starting to catch on because especially the last two years, I saw way more black women, which is great.

Anyway, I think black people tend to sideline these kinds of workouts because of price and perception of the results.
The studio classes are expensive, sometimes prohibitively so, and when you look at the people who are the faces of these kinds of workouts, they are all flat and boxy.
Black women don't want to look that way. Not even slim black women want to look that way, and I think it scares us away.

But the cool thing about barre and other pilates type workouts is that instead of creating a certain shape, they just streamline and enhance whatever your natural shape is.
Many white women are just flat and boxy, so that's what comes out lol.
But if you're naturally curvy, like many black women, that's what will be enhanced and defined.
And even in my classes, there were some white girls with cake and they had been coming for years.
So I hope more black women give it a try, it's an intense workout and can be very meditative.
I Am Late as Hell with this response but you phrased all of this perfectly!! I ran away from Pilates for years because i Thought it was gonna make me a boxy weird looking woman Like most of the Pilates teachers I’d see. Then like you said I realized that’s just how most ww are built!! Pilates enhances your natural shape. In short, BW get into Pilates and look amazin!
 

East_Afriqueen

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I e some pilates at home and ha e taken classes.

The best classes are taught by former ballet dancers, Black women, and gay men.
The should ontain a mixture of ethnicities with Black women being on the higher end.

Since it's difficult to find the instructor I prefer then I practice at home.
Most instructors move through the movements too fast which defeats the purpose of pilates. It's all about precision of movement to activate the deeper muscles and joints.


I absolutely love the pilates from the early 2000's.

This one was where I started

I owned it as a tape and have no idea where it is. I purchased it from an infomercial.

This video is down now :( Do you have any other recommendations. I’ve tried Move wit Nicole but even her beginner workouts seem tougher than they should
 

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