You’ve tried Pilates.
You’ve heard it’s the smart choice.
You’ve heard it’s low impact, easy on the joints, and great for your core.
And yes—those things are true. However, if you’ve been doing Pilates for a long time and still haven’t gotten noticeably stronger, it’s worth asking why.
Pilates Is a Great Starting Point
First of all, Pilates is not bad. In fact, it can be an excellent starting point. If you were previously sedentary and wanted something structured, controlled, and joint-friendly, then Pilates was a smart move. Additionally, it helps improve body awareness, posture, flexibility, and baseline core stability.
Because of that, many people fall in love with it early on. Moreover, it feels productive without being overwhelming. That matters, especially when you’re building consistency.
However, here’s the reality: your body only adapts when it has a reason to adapt.
The Body Adapts to Demand
If you don’t give your body a reason to change, it won’t. For example, you won’t get a tan if you stay in the shade. Similarly, you won’t build muscle if your workouts never challenge your muscles beyond what they’re used to.
In other words, adaptation requires progressive overload. That means gradually increasing resistance, intensity, or difficulty over time. According to the American College of Sports Medicine, progressive resistance training is one of the most effective ways to increase muscular strength and size.
Therefore, if your goal is to get stronger, build muscle, or reshape your body, you must eventually move beyond a static level of challenge.
Why Strength Training Wins for Results
While Pilates improves endurance and control, it typically does not provide enough load to maximize strength and muscle growth. On the other hand, resistance training—whether you call it strength training, weightlifting, or progressive overload—creates the mechanical tension your muscles need to grow.
Furthermore, heavier resistance stimulates more muscle fibers. As a result, you build strength more efficiently and increase lean muscle mass. Consequently, your metabolism improves, your joints become more supported, and daily tasks feel easier.
That doesn’t mean Pilates has no place. Instead, it means Pilates and strength training serve different purposes. Pilates can enhance mobility and control, whereas strength training builds raw capacity.
If you’re unsure how to start building a proper program, check out our guide to building a strength foundation to learn how to transition safely and effectively.
What Do You Actually Want From Your Workouts?
Be honest with yourself. Do you want to feel like you exercised, or do you want measurable progress?
If you want visible muscle tone, increased strength, and long-term joint protection, then resistance training should be the foundation of your program. Meanwhile, Pilates can remain a supportive tool.
Ultimately, your workouts should challenge you enough to create change. Otherwise, you’re just maintaining your current level.
Pilates isn’t the enemy. However, if it’s the only tool in your toolbox, you may be limiting your results.
If you have questions about how to level up your training, I’m not hard to find. Email me at john@scardinofitness.com.