At Bootcamp Pilates, we’re seeing a dramatic rise in demand for fusion classes that combine at least two disciplines. It’s important to us that our members have fun and see results fast, and these workouts deliver on that – they challenge your muscles in new ways and ramp up your calorie burn.

We’ve responded to this demand by adding 30-minute high-intensity interval pilates (HIIP 30) classes to our weekly timetable. These fusion classes, with reformer pilates at their core, have proved extremely popular since their launch in January, with our members really loving the variety and intensity of the shorter sessions.

We’re also developing a boxing/reformer pilates class concept, soon to be added to our timetable. We expect this hybrid class to appeal to the growing number of men who are now discovering the benefits of pilates, as well as our female members.

The thing I’m most excited about isn’t necessarily traditional pilates, but incorporating pilates and mind-body movement into pieces of equipment found in a commercial setting. With the current rise of circuit training, we’ve been getting the question from group exercise instructors and personal trainers: ‘Can you combine the fitness essentials of cardiorespiratory training, strength, neuromotor training and flexibility with the principles of pilates and mind-body movement? And can that be transferred to pieces of equipment or props that we already have on-hand?’

We think the answer is an absolute ‘yes’ and we’re working on developing a programming system called ThinkFit to deliver on this. The challenge is not just in coming up with a system that combines the above elements, but also in creating enough material to keep things fresh and fun for these classes.

The most exciting thing for me is the way pilates is expanding and evolving. For years, it was seen as a niche exercise for select groups, practised by a relatively small, dedicated community. But today pilates is everywhere, from yoga studios to gyms, and from university fitness facilities to therapeutic clinics and rehabilitation practices.

The vast healing and strengthening potential of pilates is being widely recognised, from rehabilitation and vocational practices to injury prevention, athletic conditioning, performance and strength training. At Merrithew, we’re tapping into this with programming that builds on the foundation of STOTT PILATES and applies this knowledge in new and challenging ways, all while maintaining the important mind-body connection.

Meanwhile, the work we’re doing on our branded programmes – ZEN·GA, CORE Athletic Conditioning and Performance Training, Total Barre and Halo Training – is in line with the broader ‘mindful movement’ trend that’s seeing increasing interest across all fitness, wellness and health sectors.

Finally, I’m very much looking forward to seeing the unique ways pilates is used in the future, especially in the growing area of fascial movement and research.

We’ve seen a significant rise in the number of people attending our training courses in the last three years, with many training to be pilates teachers because they’ve been inspired by practising pilates themselves.

The growth of pilates in gyms and clubs – including fusion classes – means the discipline is reaching a wider, more experimental audience. We’re finding more and more people coming to us with an appreciation of the benefits of pilates, such as improved body awareness. It’s exciting that they wish to share that by training as a teacher and spreading the word.

Once qualified, we have a number of additional CPD courses that extend our students’ knowledge and skills: pilates with small equipment, pilates for common orthopaedic conditions, and pilates for pregnancy are our most popular. The scope is broad and awareness is growing all the time.

Over an almost four-decade career in the pilates industry, I’ve seen many exciting developments and, admittedly, had some moments of concern.

The most exciting developments in the industry today involve the evolution of the equipment and the use of technology to enhance the learning experience. I believe in remaining true to the intent and philosophy of Joseph Pilates, but at the same time I also believe in embracing change based on scientific research and knowledge. We must keep pilates current to meet the needs of society today.

Growth is good and Joseph Pilates dreamed of seeing his work practised by the masses. But we must preserve quality. To do this, we can harness the power of technology: online vehicles such as Pilates Interactive and Pilates Anytime are great examples. Information is available on-demand, anywhere in the world.

The growth is exciting, but the integrity of the method developed by Joseph and Clara Pilates must always be preserved.

The most exciting thing about pilates is how we can bring it into the 21st century, incorporating movement for the
way we live today.

At The Fitness Function, we do this by blending functional movements with a repertoire of exercises that involve the Total Gym Gravity Training System This equipment acts as resistance or assistance, so people of all fitness levels can perform normal, day-to-day actions with comfort and ease.

Our thought process is still aligned with the principles of Joseph Pilates, but pilates in the 21st century isn’t just about the mat. We use mats, body weight and equipment to create a whole-body workout.