Words by Elesa Zehndorfer
Pilates is an awesome way of building a lean, sculpted physique, but with a breathtaking 30 million fitness videos on YouTube and over 37,000 fitness apps out there right now, it can be tough to work out which programmes are right for you.
We’ve done the hard work and found the best of the best out there, so all you need to do is choose your favourite, grab your mat, and get down to business.
Aside from being insanely talented, what do Jennifer Aniston, Adele, David Beckham and Lady Gaga all have in common?
The answer is that they all swear by Pilates, an awesomely effective, fun, and challenging fitness system that exploded onto the fitness scene a few years ago and revolutionised the way that we work out.
Originally developed for gymnasts and dancers, Pilates now helps exercise enthusiasts the world over to sculpt their body, create a long, lean silhouette, improve posture, and sculpt rock hard abs, becoming one of the most consistently popular fitness genres in the world.
Sounds good, right?
It gets better.
These days, Pilates isn’t only accessible to celebrities, athletes, models and dancers. Instead, in 2021, we live in a world where we can now expect the best fitness trainers in the world to coach us in our front room, seamlessly delivering world-class content to us via our TV, smartphone, or laptop at the click of a button.
Pilates is no different - and these days, the cream of the crop are out there ready to help you. All you need is a mat, a bottle of water and a device to view content, and you’re ready to go.
But with a breathtaking number of fitness videos on YouTube right now, it can be tough to wade through content to find the best sites out there. Thankfully, you don’t have to, because we’ve done the hard work for you (you’re welcome!).
So if you’re after a red carpet body, read on to discover some of the best Pilates apps and YouTube channels out there, and find your perfect fit!
The Best Pilates Apps
Priced from £10 per month, AloMoves, FIIT and Pilatesology offer incredible bang for your buck.
AloMoves
AloMoves is a hugely popular, user-friendly app that offers a library of thousands of regularly updated fitness workouts, from HIIT to barre to Pilates.
Suiting everyone from beginner to experienced level, the site blends a luxe feel with talented instructors (including the likes of Kristin McGee and Tela Anderson). Priced at $20 per month, the app hits that sweet spot between quality and price.
A 14-day free trial lets you sample the beautifully filmed, effective workouts which many have decided are well worth the investment. Download the AloMoves app here.
FIIT
Rated #1 in fitness apps, the genius minds behind FIIT have truly created a way to bring the gym home, blending great interactivity with a vast library of workouts for you to enjoy in your front room.
Offering something new every day, the content provided in this high-quality, varied and stimulating app will seriously challenge you, letting you mix it up with a team of world-class trainers (think Lottie Murphy and Kim Ngo) any time of day.
Top-notch Pilates classes are offered alongside a wide range of other workout classes, whilst the ability to track your progress as you go, all at the low cost of £10 per month, makes FITT exceptional value for money. Take advantage of the 14-day free trial to check out everything they have to offer. Download the app here.
Pilatesology
Featured in Time, Elle, Glamour, Goop and Shape, Pilatesology remains a go-to app for classical Pilates instructors and fans of this more orthodox take on the Pilates technique.
Considered a premier site for classical Pilates, Pilatesology offers over 1, 600 videos and downloadable content, all taught by a wide range of highly respected, knowledgeable, and encouraging Pilates instructors (from LA-based Jay Grimes, who trained with Joseph Pilates himself, to Chris Robinson, trainer to Oprah Winfrey).
Pilatesology is a perfect choice for Pilates fans who would enjoy taking a deep dive into the technique, offering content on anatomy, the history of Pilates, an exercise encyclopaedia, and other informative resources alongside their impressively large back of workout classes.
The site offers a 14-day free trial, after which you pay $20 a month. Download the app here.
The Best *Free* Pilates Apps
Payday too far away? Check out these awesome free apps to whet your appetite and discover a world of Pilates – and other fitness classes - without breaking the bank!
FitOn
An amazing free fitness app, FitOn is one of the most popular fitness apps on the market. It isn’t hard to see why. The app offers an extensive library of free fitness classes.
Many of which are hosted by celebrity trainers (think Julianne Hough & Jonathan Van Ness-caliber) and the best of the best trainers across pretty much every fitness genre you can think of (hello, Gabrielle Union!).
From Pilates to HIIT (and everything in between), FitOn is an awesome choice for any budget - whilst premium content costs $29.99 a year (working out as a nominal $2.50 a month), there is still a whole host of awesome content that you can access immediately for free.
So…if you are looking for inspiring, motivating classes that are big on entertainment and effectiveness, but small on cost, checking out FitOn might just be the best choice you make this week. Download the app here.
FitCam
Pilates aficionados out there will be aware of the fundamental importance of great posture, not only to stand tall and develop a more elegant physique, but also to stay pain free and maximise the effectiveness of every exercise that we do.
With up to 80% of us projected to suffer from back or neck pain at some point in our lives, FitCam offers something special in fitness apps.
Impressively, the talented team of doctors, coaches and tech gurus behind FitCam have put their heads together to successfully develop this technologically sophisticated – and free - way of developing strength, flexibility and core strength.
Tailored to our specific, individual needs, FitCam liberates us from poor posture and exercise techniques to learn how to work out smart as well as hard. Whilst the FitCam app includes in-app purchases, the basic app is free to use. Download the app here.
The Best Pilates Programs on YouTube
YouTube more your thing? The great news is that there are 30million fitness videos on YouTube, right now, offering an incredible range of free content - so you know that your perfect go-to Pilates program is out there somewhere.
But where do you start? We’ve taken the confusion out of the mix, narrowed down the choices and found some of the best channels for you!
Boho Beautiful Pilates & Fitness
Awesome if working out by the beach is your thing.
Boho Beautiful is a super-cool travel yoga lifestyle brand that also includes amazing Pilates beach-side workouts as part of a wider fitness offering (Pilates by the sea on the beautiful island of Ko Wai, or core workouts by a freezing mountain lake? Yes, please!).
The channel is hosted Juliana & Mark Spicoluk, an adventure-focused couple who are on a mission to blend positivity and fitness, travelling around the world delivering insanely beautifully-set, effective workouts.
If stunning backdrops, all-round healthy living, and a great set of Pilates workouts are what you’re after, this channel will not disappoint!
Blogilates
For those who love some fun mixed in with the hard work!
Who doesn’t love a ‘Netflix and Abs’ workout?! This fun, sleek channel run by the award-winning Cassey Ho has been running over a decade and remains one of the most popular fitness channels on the web.
You’ll sweat, feel good, feel inspired and find a workout that really fits you, all delivered in Cassey’s expert, yet fun, style. It’s effective and entertaining with an incredible bank of workouts all designed to help you feel good and get results.
Lottie Murphy
An awesome choice, Lottie ranks amongst one of the most popular Pilates & fitness influencers out there.
Lottie Murphy has emerged in recent years as a fresh young voice in the world of Pilates. Lottie’s virtual Pilates studio offers expert tuition for all levels, offering content as diverse as Pilates for desk-based workers, restful sleep, quick morning workouts and ultimate toning sessions.
The Balanced Life Pilates
Sophisticated, effective and beautiful to look at!
You’ll love a daily fix of The Balanced Life at the end of a long, busy day. Beautifully shot, masterfully delivered, Pilates expert Robin Long helps busy women undertake their Pilates and fitness goals, whether those are 30-day
Pilates challenges, wind-down evening sessions, or unintimidating beginners’ classes. From the caringly titled ‘Pilates for when you don’t feel good’ to the ‘Bedtime Pilates Workout’, you’ll find a beach side, inspiring workout for any mood, or time, of your day.
