Gym vs Pilates: Do you really have to choose?

As a Pilates teacher who also spends a lot of time in the gym, this is a question I'm asked regularly:

"Which is better, Pilates or the gym?"

My answer is simple: why not both?

Fitness is often presented as an either/or choice, but the reality is that Pilates and gym training offer different benefits and work incredibly well together.

What the Gym does well

The gym is fantastic for building strength, improving cardiovascular health, boosting mood, and increasing overall fitness.

If your goal is to get stronger and lift heavier weights, gym-based strength training is hard to beat.

However, many people neglect mobility, flexibility and the smaller stabilising muscles that help keep the body moving efficiently and reduce the risk of injury.

What Pilates does well

Pilates improves strength too, but in a different way.

It focuses on flexibility, muscular endurance, balance, posture, and movement quality. It also strengthens the deeper muscles that support the spine, shoulders, hips, and pelvis. Pilates can help address muscular imbalances, improve body awareness, and keep you moving well both in & out of the gym.

Why I recommend both

If your goal is maximum strength, the gym is the best tool.

However Pilates fills in many of the gaps that traditional strength training can leave behind. It helps maintain flexibility, improve core strength and develop better movement patterns. That's why Pilates is such a valuable complement to gym training.

This is how I approach teaching too. For me, Pilates isn't just about getting better at Pilates. It's about helping people do the things they love outside of The Studio, whether that's going to the gym, running, horse riding, dancing, or simply keeping up with their children and grandchildren.

Gym training and Pilates aren't competitors. One helps build strength and fitness, while the other improves stability, flexibility, and movement quality. Together, they create a stronger, more resilient body. So if you're wondering whether to choose the gym or Pilates, my advice is simple: You don't have to choose.

See you in class soon!

Adam James - Reformer Pilates Instructor

Read more about Adam in Our Team section