Pilates Wasn’t Always White—Here’s What Changed

07/04/2025 19 min Episodio 32
Pilates Wasn’t Always White—Here’s What Changed

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Episode Synopsis

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Pilates may be marketed as a path to wellness and elegance—but who is it really for? In this episode of Sportly, host Kavitha Davidson explores the complicated racial and cultural history of Pilates, from its roots in an internment camp to its modern-day status as the go-to fitness trend for affluent white women. Kavitha traces the hidden contributions of Black pioneers like Kathy Grant and the rise of inclusive movements like Black Girl Pilates. What does it mean when an exercise promising strength and balance becomes a symbol of exclusion? And how can we reclaim it for everyone?



 Tune in for a deep dive into the aesthetics of wellness, the myth of the “Pilates body,” and how women of color are reshaping the future of fitness.



Host: Kavitha A. Davison | Producer: Saadia Khan I Associate Producer: Andreea Coscai I Content Writers: Nicholas Black & Kavitha A. Davidson I Fact Checking and Research: Suhasini Patni I Sound Designer & Editor: Paroma Chakravarty I Immigrantly Theme Music: Simon Hutchinson | Other Music: Epidemic Sound | Cover Art Graphic Designer: Sarah DiMichele



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