Strengthening Body and Spirit: A Christian Perspective on Pilates
I first started doing reformer Pilates in 2024 after my friend told me about how it dramatically transformed her body. And I could tell, from her Instagram photos, it helps tremendously. I was all on board, wanting to get on the Pilates train. I signed up for an unlimited membership and… I found myself falling flat. Literally.
I was weak. In discipline, mind, and body. I couldn’t keep up with the classes and found myself wanting to leave early and not participate in the rhythm of the routine. I wasn’t focused, I wasn’t aware, and I wasn’t present. Spiritually, I was lacking. Physically, I was lacking, even more.
I sound hard on myself. But as a former athlete and dancer, having been in better shape in the past than I was then in the Pilates room, I was disappointed in myself. How can I be better? How can I be stronger?
Does this resound with you? How many of you have compared the present you to your past selves, filled with regret on how you have transformed, not for the better, but for the “lesser,” judging yourself. It’s actually not uncommon. In The Slight Edge, Jeff Olson talks about the positive trajectory and, conversely, the negative trajectory our lives can take because of a chain of choices we make. Each choice we make can have a positive or negative consequence, taking us on a positive or negative trajectory of our lives.
I spent hundreds of dollars on Pilates classes that I didn’t use. I wanted to be in better shape, thinking that spending so much money on these memberships was the right decision to make, for my body. But it wasn’t the right decision, financially, or physically, or mentally. I tried to jump from point 0 to point 100, without the gradual acclimation of my body to the movement Pilates required. I wasn’t “fit,” and I wanted to be, but I didn’t have the right strategy or the right habits.
How do you start to be fit? To go from “couch” to “athlete”?
Like with anything, start small.
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“It is not the spiritual that comes first, but the physical, and then the spiritual". - 1 Corinthians 15:46.
We often separate physical health from spiritual life. Not many forms of exercise combine the two. But practices like Pilates can reconnect both spirit and body. In a fast paced, distraction-heavy culture, intentional movement becomes more than just exercise but also God-centered.
Pilates as a Discipline
Pilates is a discipline, not just exercise, that is centered on controlled movement, breath, posture, and core strength. It emphasizes awareness — being fully present in your body, aligning your movements, and strengthening from the inside out.
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit?” — 1 Corinthians 6:19
Pilates discourages harmful behaviors, behaviors that hurt the vessel that God created for you as you are beautifully and wonderfully made by Him, and invites you to care for your body with respect. With slow, mindful movements, every stretch, breath, and exercise becomes an act of honoring the body God has given you.
It seems that Pilates is about aesthetics — when witnessing the many toned, lean, and athletic bodies of the women around me. But rather than chasing aesthetics or comparison, Pilates encourages you to focus on yourself, to respect your limits, build strength gradually, and cultivate gratitude for what your body can do.
Breathing as Prayer
One of the foundations of Pilates that it shares with yoga is breath control. Instructors encourage you to sync breath with movement. For Christians, this can mean something deeper.
Breath is life — God breathed life into Adam (Genesis 2:7). When you slow down and become aware of your breathing, you create space for stillness. That stillness can become prayer.
Try this next time you are doing Pilates:
Inhale: “Lord, fill me with Your peace.”
Exhale: “I release my stress to You.”
This transforms a physical practice into a spiritual rhythm.
Consistency and Discipline
Pilates requires consistency. Progress, whether it’s spiritual, mental, or spiritual, doesn’t come overnight but it comes through repeated effort, focus, and patience. This mirrors the Christian journey.
Spiritual growth isn’t immediate. It is built through daily disciplines like prayer, Scripture, obedience and perseverance. Strengthening your core happens in the quiet, consistent movements no one sees.
“For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things…” — 1 Timothy 4:8
Pilates is valuable, not just physically, but as a training ground for discipline, endurance, and self control.
Stillness in a Noisy World
Pilates forces you to slow down. You can’t rush through it mindlessly, you have to be present in the moment. Concentration and focus are key to a successful Pilates workout. In our culture of constant doom scrolling and notifications and short lived dopamine rewards, Pilates strengthens our resilience and ability to withstand prolonged exercise and movement for extended periods of time. This combination is rare and the stillness that Pilates invites you in is also unique.
“Be still, and know that I am God.” — Psalm 46:10
Pilates becomes a space where you quiet your thoughts and become aware of the space around you and in you.
A Different Kind of Strength
Strength in this world is defined as intensity, speed, or power. Sports like basketball, football, and soccer are commonly seen as the most powerful and athletic sports. Pilates redefines strength as control, stability, and endurance.
Strength isn’t just physical, it’s spiritual. We can experience spiritual strength through:
The strength to be patient
The strength to forgive
The strength to trust God when life feels uncertain
As you build physical and mental strength through Pilates, which tests your mental endurance, you are reminded of the deeper strength God is building with you.
Conclusion
Pilates is not just a cultural phenomenon and popular among a specific subculture of women. When approached with intention and thoughtfulness, it becomes —
A way to honor your body
A rhythm for prayer and reflection
A practice of discipline and consistency
A space to encounter stillness—and God
You can integrate your fitness with your faith. Exercise isn’t just about improving your physical appearance and body shape. It’s centered around strengthening and alignment of your mind, body, and spirit with a greater purpose overhead.
