Pilates Soulful Sunday: Head Above the Parapet

Speaking truth feels risky when criticism fires from every direction around you

There is something interesting that happens when you speak honestly in this industry. The moment you say something that isn’t softened or carefully wrapped, the reaction is rarely about whether it is true. Instead, it becomes about how it sounds, how it might make people feel, or whether it is “helpful.”

Recently, I was interviewed in The Guardian. I gave my opinion based on what I have seen, not what I have heard or assumed. Over the years, I have made a point of visiting studios, observing classes, and understanding how different environments are being run and how teachers are being trained. This comes from direct experience, not theory.

So when I am told that I am scaremongering, I find myself asking a very simple question. Have you seen what is actually happening? Have you stepped outside your own studio and taken the time to explore what is going on elsewhere? It is very easy to defend something when your perspective is limited to your own space, your own clients, and your own way of teaching.

Working with my own studio in London, and using systems like ClassPlan, I regularly see another side of the story. Clients come in and show me what they have been doing in other studios. They arrive with movement patterns, habits, and sometimes misunderstandings that have clearly been taught. This is not about blaming individuals, but it does highlight that what is being delivered across the industry is not always consistent with the method we claim to represent.

Being honest about that is not scaremongering. It is observation. It is taking responsibility for what we see and asking whether it reflects the standards we want to uphold.

There is a clear difference between protecting the reputation of Pilates and protecting people’s feelings. One supports the long-term strength of the method. The other keeps everything comfortable in the short term, but at a cost.

Putting your head above the parapet is not about creating conflict or seeking attention. It is about being willing to speak from experience, even when it may be unpopular. It is about contributing to a conversation that matters, rather than avoiding it.

Because staying silent has consequences. Standards can drift. Clarity is lost. And over time, the method itself risks becoming diluted.

If we want Pilates to remain strong and respected, then we have to be prepared to look at it honestly. Not just the parts that work well, but also the areas that need improvement.

That is not scaremongering. It is part of doing the job properly.