Welcome to the June edition of Pilates Central News.

In this edition:

• Jama party
• World-beating Pilates
• Designer Pilates
• Whole new ball game

Jama party

Love Island presenter Maya Jama has been busy posting pictures of herself doing Pilates. A pic of her stretching her back on a Reformer has the caption, “the back cracker… not gna lie I’ve been falling asleep on the sofa recently and this was needed.” Or as a very excited Daily Star put it, “Maya Jama flexes her muscles in plunging unitard as she enjoys steamy Pilates class.” The former Radio 1 presenter who dated Stormzy has previous for writing witty captions on posts to her three million Instagram followers. She recently posted a pic of herself by a Reformer with the words, “after being a slug for two weeks I am back.”

Still, there’s nothing sluggish about Jama’s commitment to Pilates. She told Women’s Health that as she approaches 30: “Everyone I know is riding the Pilates wave, so I decided to start and I’m absolutely loving it. I do one-to-one sessions… and it’s great because it’s a lighter workout but you’re using every single muscle. You can also do it at midday, and it doesn’t leave you drenched with sweat. It’s the only form of exercise that I don’t have to talk myself into doing, and that’s a big thing for me!”

World-beating Pilates

Pilates is the most popular form of keeping fit in the United Kingdom, America, Australia and New Zealand according to a new survey conducted by PureGym. The survey results come from an analysis of which types of exercise people are searching for on Google and the results include 200 different types of exercise. Pilates is the second most popular form of exercise in the world, coming a close second to dancing, which ranks number one in countries such as Egypt, Finland, Kenya, Botswana, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. Pilates is number one in 40 countries as diverse as South Africa, Barbados, Portugal, Poland, Turkey, Albania, Japan and South Korea.

Germany, Canada and China let the side down a bit by going for yoga as number one exercise, while other countries opt for some unusual activities as their top choice. The population of Monaco prefers walking, Indonesia does sit-ups, the Czech Republic goes for paddleboarding, Croatia loves the treadmill strut, Norway likes crossfit, India goes for parkour and Guatemala likes boxercise. The survey lists Pilates as the number one fitness trend for 2024 and proves that Joseph Pilates’ exercise regime, which began in New York in the late 1920s, has truly crossed the world.

Designer Pilates

Proof that we have reached peak Pilates comes with the news that French fashion house Celine has launched a dedicated Pilates range, fronted by Kaia Gerber and described as “fit for royalty” by Marie Claire. The magazine suggested “certified Pilates Princess and A-list model” Gerber was in kit that “might be too pretty to sweat in.” In the shoot she is wearing a razorback cropped top and high-waist biker shorts, plus baseball cap, headphones and shades as she poses by the ocean.

Celine even branded the Pilates equipment used for the photo shoot in Malibu, with a C monogram appearing on a high-end leather-upholstered Reformer, plus monogramed kettle bells, weights and mat. Celine is releasing its posh Pilates kit, which comes in black and white, next October. Until then you’ll just have to make do with your existing athleisure wear (or indeed your old tracksuit bottoms) and Pilates Central’s non-monogramed but classic equipment.

Whole new ball game

“Footy players go viral as glamorous trainer gives them a simple Pilates workout that leaves them absolutely humbled,” exclaims the Daily Mail. The latest viral video in Australia sees Sydney-based pro soccer team Hurstville Zagreb FC try weekly Reformer Pilates with trainer Sami Macdonald. The players, in full footy kit, look aghast as McDonald demonstrates the flying lunge they are about to try. “They’ll remember the day they did their first Pilates glute bridge forever,” comments the TikTok video as one player asks, “Is this even an actual exercise?”

“We can run for 90 minutes we can do this!” encourages one player. The Aussie lads suffer the infamous Pilates shakes and are “sweating bullets”, but they are eventual converts, despite asking “are we a done yet?”.  While one rugged Aussie bloke looks to have suffered a late tackle after “taking the circle too far”.

All good fun, but trainer Sami McDonald has some serious points to make about soccer boys and Pilates, telling News Corp: “Soccer players are very heavy on their ankles and their feet with kicking, so I’ve prioritised ankle stability and support. For example, we do a lot of stuff on their toes where they lift and lower their heels. I think their flexibility and mobility has improved; the biggest benefit for men generally is improved mobility in their hip region, which is not as naturally loose as women’s.”

Even English champions Manchester City got involved as the panting pals went viral in the UK, commenting on the club’s official Instagram account: “Never underestimate Pilates.”

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The Pilates Central Team