普拉提可在垫子或利用弹簧阻力的普拉提床上进行，目前在全球范围内经历了爆发式增长。在健身课程预订平台ClassPass上，它是2025年全球增长最快的健身类型，而谷歌上对“普拉提床”（Reformer Pilates）的搜索量也在近期创下历史新高。房地产咨询公司MMCG估计，美国最大的连锁普拉提工作室品牌“俱乐部普拉提”（Club Pilates）已从2015年的不足50家分店，扩张至2024年的1100多家分店。这种迅速的扩张反映出普拉提工作室的开业速度已经堪比过去的冷冻酸奶店或洗车场。

尽管普拉提目前正在经历重大的复兴，但它并不是一个全新的健身系统。它最初是由德国健身狂热者约瑟夫·普拉提在第一次世界大战被拘留于英国营地期间发明的，并于1926年在纽约开设了第一家工作室。该系统最初被命名为“控制学”（Contrology），旨在增强肌肉力量的同时最大程度地减轻关节压力。该运动的核心吸引力在于其对力量和柔韧性的双重强调，为那些不喜欢在健身房里撸铁的人群提供了一种替代性的力量训练形式。

此外，普拉提在男性和职业运动员（包括篮球巨星勒布朗·詹姆斯和橄榄球运动员乔治·福特）中也越来越受欢迎，他们将其用于伤害康复、关节强化、肌肉恢复和提升灵活性。尽管高昂的费用构成了一定的壁垒（在纽约一节普拉提床课程的费用约为50美元），且由于供应增长快于需求，部分市场已显示出饱和迹象，但整体市场依然保持着极高的韧性。尽管参与者在训练过程中面临着体能上的挑战，但普拉提强大的品牌效应继续推动着其全球增长。

Pilates, which can be performed on a mat or a Reformer machine using spring-based resistance, has experienced a massive global surge in popularity. In 2025, it was the fastest-growing workout type worldwide on ClassPass, a major fitness-booking platform, while Google searches for Reformer Pilates recently hit an all-time high. A property consultancy, MMCG, estimated that Club Pilates, America’s largest studio franchise, expanded from fewer than 50 branches in 2015 to more than 1,100 locations in 2024. This rapid expansion reflects a broader trend of new studios opening at a pace comparable to past booms in yogurt shops or car washes.

Although currently experiencing a major renaissance, Pilates is not a new workout system. It was originally created during World War I by German fitness enthusiast Joseph Pilates while he was interned in a British camp, and the first studio opened in New York in 1926. Initially named "Contrology," the system was designed to strengthen muscles while minimizing joint stress. The core appeal of the workout is its emphasis on developing both power and flexibility, offering an alternative form of strength training that attracts individuals who prefer not to lift traditional weights at the gym.

Furthermore, Pilates is increasingly popular among men and professional athletes—including basketball star LeBron James and rugby player George Ford—who use it for injury rehabilitation, joint strengthening, muscle recovery, and mobility. While high costs present a barrier, with a single Reformer class in New York costing around $50, and some markets showing signs of saturation as supply growth outpaces demand, the overall market remains highly resilient. Despite the physical challenges participants face during workouts, the brand strength of Pilates continues to drive its global growth.

Source: A century on, Pilates flexes its muscles

Subtitle: An old exercise method is newly trendy

Dateline: Jul 09, 2026 05:22 AM