Black women are becoming the faces of pilates

Long before pilates became synonymous with a monochromatic sport and slim white bodies, a black woman named Kathy Grant modified the famous practice. Growing up in Twenties Boston, Grant pursued a dance profession across racial barriers, performing with legends similar to Bill “Bojangles” Robinson and Carmen De Lavallade, and later pioneering Black representation in the movement at The Dance Theater in Harlem and beyond. A knee injury led her to Joseph Pilates – the German physical trainer accountable for this transformative exercise – in 1954, where his exercise system inspired her and ignited a lifelong passion. One of the few students certified by Pilates itself, Grant spent the next 50 years teaching a particular body-centered approach that empowered students around the world.

Although Pilates was designed with all bodies in mind, many still consider it an exclusive practice created for and dominated by thin, affluent white women – a stereotype reinforced by limited representation in the media and America’s exclusionary history in fitness and wellness. When Lori Harvey revealed at the 2022 Met Gala that Pilates was her secret to a sculpted figure, her words sparked renewed interest amongst Black women, but long before that, Kathy Grant and generations of Black women were already pioneering change in the world of Pilates. Today, dedicated Pilates studio owners like Tiffany Lauren Mason from Harlem PilatesTabatha Russell z tabCentrum PILATES and Bodyworks in Chicago and Camai Brandenberg z Embody Pilates in Los Angeles, they are redefining the narrative, difficult stereotypes, and creating inclusive spaces that prioritize healing, strength, and community.

From passion to practice: the path to studio ownership

Mason, Russell and Brandenberg’s journey to owning a Pilates studio reflects passion, resilience and unrelenting vision. Both Mason and Brandenberg – the latter of whom was a D1 athlete – were first introduced to Pilates through a growing love of yoga before experiencing an “Aha!” moments with modality. Like Grant, Russell discovered Pilates while teaching as a dance professor in the early Nineties. This became a necessary part of her practice as she learned the exercise system with students in one other teacher’s classes and incorporated it into her dance team’s warm-ups. Years later, after a while away from intended physical activity while raising her children, she reconnected with Pilates and felt the same spark of transformation.

As their love for Pilates deepened, each woman noticed a glaring lack of studios of their neighborhoods where they felt seen and supported as black women. “I traveled so far to find a college that aligned with my values,” Mason says. Russell, on the other hand, decided to practice at home using instructional DVDs after which take online classes. Even getting certified had some hurdles. For Mason and Brandenberg, the certification process may be isolating and discouraging, a trial by fire that can only strengthen their resolve over time. “I wanted to build what I felt was missing in this space,” explains Brandenberg.

Neither of them had ever began, owned, or operated an organization, which made going from dream to successful studio a monumental leap that required years of diligent saving, education, and unwavering faith. Their studios are now radical, welcoming spaces – a testament to the belief that their communities deserve access to secure, well-affirming experiences.

Breaking down barriers: debunking misconceptions about Pilates

“People think there’s a prerequisite — that you have to go into a class ‘knowing’ Pilates exercises or looking a certain way,” Brandenberg says. And she’s not the just one fighting these prejudices. When Russell encourages potential black clients to schedule a consultation at tabPILATES on Chicago’s South Side, he often hears hesitation. “I understand: ‘Are you sure my body will fit on your machine?’” he says. “And my answer is always yes, every body can do Pilates.”

The uniform image of Pilates created by the media reinforces the false belief that it’s training for slender, flexible, white women – a lie that studio owners debunk day-after-day. Brandenberg noted that many novices, regardless of race, imagine that Pilates requires a level of strength and adaptability that they don’t yet possess. That’s why at her studio, Embody Pilates, takes an academic approach, offering foundational classes that specify Pilates from the ground up. Students learn learn how to use the Reformer machine, understand the history of Pilates, and practice in an area where every one is widely known, regardless of shape or size. “We pay special attention to our new clients,” she notes, working to create an environment through which they feel empowered to start their pilates journey.

Mason takes an analogous approach at Harlem Pilates, offering introductory packages at discounted prices for those starting the practice. He understands the intimidation factor. “The machines look alien,” he says, “and people associate Pilates with stretching.” Although stretching is an element of it, Mason emphasizes the strength and balance it provides. Her advice? “Try some activities. You don’t know until you try,” he encourages. “What if you try it and it turns out it’s not for you? That’s okay too.”

About the transforming power of pilates

For these women, Pilates is greater than only a workout; it’s a way of life, a practice that has shaped their understanding of movement, healing and strength. And that is what allows them to survive the challenges of entrepreneurship. Their commitment to self-care and community drives each studio’s mission, filling the void they felt as students craving for representation. Now they encourage others, especially those that appear to be them and barely see themselves in the world of Pilates.

Mason appreciates the way Pilates taught her learn how to move consciously. “In or out of the studio, I simply pause to adjust my mind, body and emotions. It’s something everyone should make time for and it doesn’t take much,” he says. For Brandenberg, Pilates modified her relationship with strength. After years of practicing sports, this practice allowed her to develop a compassionate approach to her body, finding a balance between strength and relationship with herself. “Nothing else connects you to your body like Pilates,” she says, describing the state of flow she creates as her mind and vessels move in harmony.

Meanwhile, Russell sees Pilates as a path to functional health. From elite athletes to older clients searching for greater mobility, her studio welcomes everyone. “I’m in [Pilates] conference precisely because of the number of black women on the panel,” she shares. “I wanted to come and be a cheerleader for these women because I remember a time when I had no one but myself. It’s amazing.”