Pilates is one of the fastest-growing workout modalities in the world, including here in Atlanta.
But that viral “Pilates princess” aesthetic — mostly thin, white women in matching high-end athleisure sets — can be intimidating to people who do not fit with those norms.
Laura Caffrey, a certified instructor at The Studio Pilates, wants to change that.
Two months ago, they started teaching dedicated “Pilates for queer bodies” classes to make Pilates more accessible for queer folks in the Atlanta community.
The 50-minute, beginner-friendly reformer classes are offered on a sliding scale, and participants receive a free pair of grippy socks. All of the body-neutral classes include consent cards, so people can opt in or out of hands-on cueing.
“It’s a way to get people in the door who don’t feel like it’s a place for them, that they’re not going to be misgendered, their bodily autonomy is going to be respected, and that Pilates should be a fun and joyful thing,” said Caffrey.
Caffrey first discovered Pilates in 2024, and quickly found that the low-impact workout system alleviated lower back pain they had experienced for years.
“Mentally and emotionally, as a nonbinary person who lives in a feminine body, drawing too much attention to my body can be stressful and dysmorphic,” they said.
“But finding a practice where I could find joy in moving in an active way really helps me feel strong and at home in my body,” they continued.
Caffrey decided to become an instructor to see more representation of queer people in a fitness space that is typically cisgender and heteronormative. These new classes are an extension of that mission.
For Pride Month, Caffrey is teaching two “Pilates for queer bodies” classes on June 28 in West Midtown and June 29 at Emory. The classes are fundraisers for Lost-n-Found Youth, a local nonprofit that provides housing services for LGBTQ+ youth. In addition, the fundraiser features a raffle with prizes such as a three-month membership to The Studio Pilates and a gift card to A Mano.
On June 28, the West Midtown location will also host a Pride Market with food and drink vendors, tarot readings, press-on nails, and more from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Studio Pilates has two locations: 1583 N. Decatur Road (Emory) and 763 Trabert Ave. NW, Unit D (West Midtown).
