Everything I Thought I Knew About Pilates Was Wrong

Let’s rip the Band-Aid off, shall we?

The fitness and Pilates world has a *bit* of a problem.

Scratch that—it has a massive one.

For years, we've been fed a steady diet of myths, half-truths, and downright nonsense, all wrapped up in a shiny bow of "expert opinion" and "this is how it’s always been done."

And you know what? It sucks to wake up one day and realise everything you thought you knew… isn’t based on much at all.

Maybe you’ve spent thousands on courses. Hours obsessing over the “right” way to move, breathe, or align someone’s pelvis. And now? You’re here, feeling a little duped, a little pissed off, and wondering: *What now?*

First, take a breath (yes, even if it’s not “Pilates breath”). You’re not alone. The shift from pseudoscience to evidence-based practice is uncomfortable—no way around it. It’s like realising your favourite song has questionable lyrics, or that your skincare routine is just overpriced water. You feel betrayed. But here’s the good news: this is where the real growth begins. Let’s break it down.

Why pseudoscience feels so… safe

Pseudoscience thrives because it’s simple. It’s comforting. It delivers black-and-white answers in a grey, messy world. “This is the only way.” “Do this, and your clients/pelvis/core will thank you forever.”

Sounds nice, right? Almost *too* nice.

The truth? Bodies are complex. Evidence doesn’t always give us neat answers. And that’s okay. Science isn’t here to sell certainty. It’s here to challenge, to question, to refine. It’s not about throwing out everything you know but learning to hold what you know lightly. To adapt when better evidence comes along. And trust me, that adaptability? It’s what separates good practitioners from the great ones.

So, how do you start shifting your mindset?

1. **Get curious.**

Why do you believe what you believe? Seriously, ask yourself: *Where did this idea come from?* Is it something you were taught but never questioned? Did it come from a trusted mentor, or (gulp) a cleverly marketed Instagram post?

2. **Start following the evidence trail.**

Evidence-based doesn’t mean “never listen to anyone ever again.” It means balancing expert opinions with high-quality research. It means questioning, not blindly accepting.

3. **Be okay with saying, “I don’t know.”**

This is a tough one, especially if you’ve built a career on *knowing*. But the reality is, no one has all the answers. Saying “I’m not sure, let me look into that” isn’t a weakness—it’s a freaking superpower.

4. **Let go of the guilt.**

If you’re feeling bad about teaching things that are now questionable, stop. You did your best with the information you had at the time. Now you’ve got better info. And that’s a win.

5. **Find your community.**

The journey to evidence-based practice can feel lonely, especially if the Pilates elite (or anyone else) is side-eyeing you for not sticking to tradition. Find the people who value critical thinking as much as you do. They’re out there, and they’ll cheer you on.

Ready to rethink everything?

Shifting your mindset isn’t about burning it all down. It’s about building something stronger, clearer, and more aligned with the truth. It’s about standing up for the mothers, clients, and humans we work with and saying, “You deserve better.”

So, let’s do better.

If this hit home for you, share it with someone else who’s ready to take that step. We’ve all been there. And we’re all in this together. 💪