Pilates is still number one in the fitness charts. The health platform ClassPass has just published its 2025 report on global fitness trends and for the third year running Pilates remains the most booked workout, with a 66 per cent increase in bookings this year. Pilates beat running, yoga, strength training, cycling, barre, gym time, boxing, dance and low impact training. The report comments that Pilates’ success saw it, “cementing its role as both a global fitness staple and a cultural phenomenon.”

Indeed Pilates can be a vital complement for lots of popular sports and some not so obvious ones. It is excellent for both preventing and aiding recovering from injury.

Extending His Career

England rugby international George Ford recently praised Pilates for its role in helping with his kicking and extending his career. In football Cristiano Ronaldo has used Pilates to boost his phenomenal leaping for headers while Manchester City’s Erling Haaland has used Pilates to aid some prodigious high-kicks and volleys. While in cricket bowler Joffra Archer has spoken of how Pilates has helped him overcome long-term injuries.

Tiger Woods

In golf the great Tiger Woods credited Pilates with improving his game, helping him maintain proper alignment when he rotates his upper body to take a swing and reducing the strain on his lower back and shoulders.

Scottish golfer and Ryder Cup legend Colin Montgomerie has spoken about the benefits of Pilates for the older golfer, saying: “There is no question it [Pilates] helps. It’s the flexibility that stops us. It’s what stopped Nick Faldo, Seve Ballesteros in his later years, Ian Woosnam really. It stopped Sandy Lyel many times… I’m very lucky, I’m very flexible, but I’ve got to keep at it.”

American Football Team

Last year several members of the Chicago Bears American football team revealed that more than 20 of their players had taken up Pilates. The Bears’ Dominique Robinson cited how it improved his focus: “You don’t think about breathing sometimes, you know? It’s kind of crazy, but that helps kind of calm things down; gets your body in a position where it can work and function the correct way.”

Cycling World Champions

In cycling professional mountain biker world champions like Swiss legend Nino Schurter have made Pilates a key part of their training. The mountain bikers utilise Pilates in order to make small gains in explosive power. Pilates can also help with preventing common cycling injuries such as lower back, hip and knee pain.

Pilates for Runners

Pilates can aid both park and ultra runners too. London Marathon Events describes Reformer Pilates as, “a game changing cross training tool for runners at every level — whether you want to build a foundation, sharpen your form prevent an injury or recover from one. Just one or two sessions a week can transform your stride and keep you strong.”

The advantage of Pilates for long-distance runners is that as much of it is done lying down it allows runners to build strength without putting too much pressure on their legs or overloaded joints. It can reduce any wobbliness as a runner’s foot hits the ground by improving balance and core stability.

Pilates is Top of the League

Whatever sport you do Reformer Pilates can help by both improving the muscle groups you need for that sport and also concentrating on areas that might not be used so much. Balance, mobility, core strength and breathing will help too. When it comes to sport it’s understandable why so many regard Pilates as top of the league.

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The Pilates Central Team