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Pilates Thoughtful Tuesday: Labels, Names, and the Marketing Trap

Writer's picture: Michael KingMichael King

Only clinicians, like physiotherapists or osteopaths, should use the term Clinical Pilates professionally.
A medical professional in a clinical setting, representing the true definition of Clinical Pilates.

In the world of Pilates, words matter. Labels, names, and marketing tools can define how we present ourselves to the public and how clients perceive what we offer. But there are some terms that are thrown around in ways that can be misleading, whether intentionally or not. Today, I want to address one in particular: Clinical Pilates.

This term gets me every time. It’s used far too often by people who aren’t actually in a clinical environment. Why? Because it sounds credible. It suggests an ability to deal with injuries and medical conditions, making it attractive for marketing purposes. But here’s the issue: Clinical Pilates is not a term that applies to regular Pilates teachers.


What Is Clinical Pilates?

By definition, Clinical Pilates refers to Pilates being used in a clinical setting by a qualified clinician, a physiotherapist, osteopath, or another medical professional, to aid in rehabilitation. These professionals have the medical background to diagnose and treat injuries. They are trained to make clinical decisions regarding a person's condition and prescribe movement as part of their treatment.


What Pilates Teachers Can and Cannot Do

As Pilates teachers, many of us have years, even decades, of experience working with clients who have conditions, injuries, or postural issues. We design programmes that are safe, effective, and appropriate for each individual's needs. However, we do not diagnose. That’s a key difference.

I’ve been teaching Pilates for 47 years, and no matter how many courses I take, I will never be a clinician. And that’s okay. We don’t need to call what we do "clinical" to justify its value. What we can do is work alongside medical professionals. Often, a physiotherapist will refer a client to a Pilates teacher for continued movement practice after an initial rehabilitation phase. This is where therapy-based Pilates, restorative Pilates, or post-rehabilitation Pilates can be used as accurate descriptions.


The Problem With Misusing Terms

When Pilates teachers use "Clinical Pilates" incorrectly, they are false advertising—whether they mean to or not. It might make their services seem more specialised or advanced, but ultimately, it confuses the public. And let's be honest—the public is already confused.

Between dynamic Pilates, classical Pilates, contemporary Pilates, Reformer-based fitness studios, and hybrid workouts, clients often struggle to understand what Pilates actually is. So why add to that confusion by using a term that suggests something we are not?

If you are a physiotherapist and you use Pilates in your clinical practice, then yes, Clinical Pilates is the correct term. But if you’re a Pilates teacher, no matter how experienced, using this term is misleading.


Integrity Over Marketing Gimmicks

There are plenty of accurate ways to describe what we do without crossing into clinical terminology. Words like therapeutic, restorative, post-rehabilitation, mindful movement, or functional training can all communicate the right message while keeping professional integrity intact.

At the end of the day, our job is to teach the Pilates method, not to pretend to be something we are not. Let’s educate clients honestly and ensure that Pilates continues to be a respected, methodical, and effective movement system without blurring the lines of the medical field.

That’s my professional thought for this Thoughtful Tuesday, be clear, be honest, and let the method speak for itself.

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