Photo by Laura Troyer
By Laura Troyer
At 6 p.m. sharp, yoga mats line the mirrored walls of the University of South Florida St. Petersburg’s Campus Recreation studio. Music pulses through the speakers as students stretch into deceptively simple planks, pulses, and leg lifts. Within minutes, the burn sets in.
What was once a weekly class has grown into one of the most popular workouts on campus. Pilates at USF St. Petersburg now runs almost every night, and the 20 available spots fill up quickly.
The boom reflects a national trend. Participation in Pilates has increased by 40% in recent years, according to a 2025 report from the Sports & Fitness Industry Association.
At the USF St. Petersburg, it has taken on its own character. Students describe Pilates as both a workout and a social routine that keeps them coming back.
Emmitt Yale, the student fitness coordinator of USF St. Petersburg’s Campus Recreation, said he has seen the change happen quickly. “The big change, from my perspective, happened last spring,” Yale said. “Now, students take more advantage of Campus Recreation as a whole, especially the fitness center. It’s been an exciting shift.”
Campus Recreation expanded Pilates from one session per week to four. Yale said it was a gamble, but the results spoke for themselves.
“We put four classes on, and they’ve been amazing,” he said. “It’s so exciting to take a risk like that and be rewarded.”
Even with added classes, the studio fills every night. Yale said the mix of regulars and first-timers has created a steady energy that makes the classes feel approachable.
Students say Pilates offered a low-pressure entry into fitness.
Sofiya Rizzo, a junior in digital communication and multimedia journalism, decided to try a class after seeing flyers during the campus’ Week of Welcome. She and her roommate wanted to exercise but weren’t comfortable in the gym.
“We are both gym- shy and we don’t know what we’re doing,” she said. “We thought, if there was a group exercise with an instructor, we’d be more motivated.”
She had tried Pilates at home during the pandemic, but said the on-campus class made her feel more connected. Encouragement from instructors, even simple reminders like “the hardest part was showing up,” pushed her through the tougher moments.
“It really makes a difference,” she said.
Audrey Kellert, a senior marketing major, said the balance of intensity keeps her coming back to class.
“Pilates is the perfect middle ground between yoga and cardio,” she said. “I can get a good sweat in without feeling like I’m dying.”
Kellert added that the class’s design makes it accessible. Instructors offer ways to modify or increase difficulty, giving students room to push themselves without feeling overwhelmed.
“There are little things the instructor will tell you to ramp up, but you can still feel like you can do it,” she said. “It’s not super intimidating. It’s just approachable.”
For many, the benefits extend beyond the workout. Rizzo said she now recognizes familiar faces every week and feels like part of a group. She described the post-class chats and laughter as a sign that the workout has become a social routine as much as an exercise.
“Everybody is so friendly,” she said. “We all talk after class, and it feels like a little community.”
That sense of connection has carried into other parts of campus life as well. Kellert said she often runs into classmates in the dining hall or in her courses, where the first question is usually, “Are you going to Pilates tonight?”
That growing sense of community has also made the classes feel more welcoming to different students. While most attendees are women, both Rizzo and Kellert said they have started to notice the widening demographic.
“Yesterday was actually the first time I saw a guy in class,” Rizzo said. “It was cool because it shows that everyone can do it.”
Instructor Lisa Flatt, a retired gymnastics coach and longtime conditioning trainer, said she has seen Pilates grow across the country and on campus. She believes it resonates with such a large group because it delivers results without intimidation.
“In general, Pilates is on fire,” Flatt said. “It’s been around a long time, but in the last few years it’s exploded.”
She encourages her students to notice progress in stages.
“Ten classes, you’ll feel it. Twenty, you’ll see it. Thirty, other people will notice it,” Flatt said.
Flatt also explained that the hardest part of Pilates is showing up. But once students are in the room, the energy keeps them going.
“I always tell my students to do the best you can do, not what your neighbor can do,” she said. “Eighty percent of it is just walking in the door.”
That message seems to stick.
Students said the confidence they build in class carries into other parts of their lives. Rizzo described it as a boost that makes her feel capable, while Kellert said it helped her overcome the intimidation she used to feel working out around her peers.
Yale said that confidence is what makes Pilates stand out.
“It’s not just a social media trend,” he said. “It’s very intentional, very difficult, and it empowers students to keep showing up.”
Flatt said that she has seen that empowerment in action. She recalled a student who told her she signed up for a 5K because Pilates gave her the motivation to try something new.
“That ‘I can’ attitude makes a difference,” Flatt said.
For Yale, it’s proof that Pilates is more than a passing fad.
“I don’t know why Pilates would ever not be this popular,” he said. “We have so much opportunity for growth.”
For now, the mats keep filling, and the community keeps growing. Students may come for the workout, but they stay for the camaraderie and confidence.
“Knowing you’re capable of every movement empowers you to keep coming back,” Yale said. “It empowers you to try even harder, which then builds your confidence in here, outside of here and in your classes.”
