Pilates

Most people with lower back pain have already tried something, rest, a course of physio, avoiding certain movements, waiting for it to settle. Pilates may not be the first option they consider. Among women in their 40s and 50s in particular, it should be. A 2025 meta-analysis of 93,021 women found that 57% of perimenopausal women experience back pain, compared to 42% premenopausal, a significant increase linked to hormonal changes affecting connective tissue and muscle (PMC12

The assumption most people make about online Pilates is that it's the compromise option. What you choose when you can't get to a studio. A reasonable workaround for a less-than-ideal situation. In 2024, a peer-reviewed randomised controlled trial found that women doing Pilates via Zoom achieved 80% adherence over 8 weeks. The in-studio group achieved 74%. Fitness gains across all five motor tests were statistically equivalent between both groups. That's not the rounding error

Reformer Pilates is one of the most misunderstood options when women start looking for the best exercise for perimenopause. Most people hear "Pilates" and think gentle. Low-impact. Recovery work. Something you do when you can't do real exercise. What it actually is: precise. And precision is exactly what the perimenopausal body needs. In 2025, a randomised controlled trial published in Medicine (Baltimore) found that an 8-week Pilates programme reduced overall menopausal symp

Dark editorial cover image for Shaw Lifestyle blog post titled What Is Reformer Pilates: The Equipment, the Method, and What to Expect.