Pilates & ShinyNew-itis: How Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye can help
Along with my annual dose of laryngitis, this time of year I also get a hefty dose of ShinyNew-itis. This is driven by our society’s focus on the ‘New Year! New You!’ mentality and far too much time scrolling on the Instagram to avoid de-Christmas-ising the house.
So far this year, despite some hard graft on liking and sharing some adorbs capybara and cat videos, my algorithm has thrown up numerous ads for Asian Pilates, Military Calisthenics for Woman and, slightly worryingly for Mr V, A Friendly Divorce. All promise that in 2026 in just 12 quick and painless weeks of fun and smiles, I’ll have zero body fat, the ability to lift a small hatchback, and an exciting new single life. I will apparently, a smidge, concerningly TBH, become unrecognisable.
Just to make it clear, I want none of these things. Oh, and all are VERY misleading by the way, obvs. As a ‘mid-life’ woman, I am having a lovely time finally recognising my recognisable-ness. Please don’t ruin that now. There is an audible sigh of relief from Mr V as he wrestles the definitely-not-ShinyNew Christmas tree back into the loft.
But. Yes, that But is a significant symptom of Shinynew-itis. There is always just that little spark of what if…what if there IS something out there I am missing…something better than what I have/am doing. We are SO programmed, especially as good teachers, and as women, I think, to always be ‘On The Improvement’. And the ads of Insta totally know this.
Now, Liz and I pride ourselves on ensuring we offer the best we can for our Vita Pilates clients. So, as ever, I head to t’internet to use my natural curiosity and, full disclosure, the ShinyNew (to me) Chat GPT to see what all this Asian Pilates and Military Calisthenics stuff is about then. As Mr V bought me some lovely Shiny new things for Christmas, he can rest easy on that third ad for the time being..though he does surreptitiously check over my shoulder as he’s putting the loft ladder back in the shed.
So, in this Part One, let’s consider this new global phenomenon (really??) of Asian Pilates.
Asian Pilates is well, from Asia. It appears that, quite understandably, Pilates teachers have taken aspects of their own cultural movement practices and threaded and developed them into their classes. And then some of them are trying to make a ton of money out if the ‘ShinyNew-ness’ of it. As is the way of the world, like a nice new box of Christmas chocolate biscuits, it’s all the favourites just re-branded and packaged. We might not all like all of them, but essentially, Pilates is a popular product for a reason people. Because essentially it works. A regular movement practice will make you feel better.
“Asian Pilates is a modern interpretation of Pilates that blends core Pilates principles (breath, control, alignment, precision) with Eastern movement philosophies and mindful pacing. It’s not a single standardised method, but rather a style seen in many studios across Asia (and online) that emphasises a calm, flowing, mindful experience.”
Thank you AI. It wasn’t that complicated after all. A good YouTube trawl gleans it’s a Pilates/Tai Chi, Qigong/Yoga mash-up at its most snazzy and mostly just mat Pilates-inspired movement with some plinky music and obligatory pot plant. It is, essentially, mindful movement that has mildly, sadly been corrupted by a woman promising an aesthetic, again (big sigh) – why Sisterhood, WHY do you STILL do this???
This does also make me question where the ‘Pilates Up The Wall’ fad originated from…
I do, though, some disappointing behaviour aside, like the sound of this. I’ll do some more curious research and see what I think would fit with us, fit in to our core aims, not distract or dilute. No ShinyNew-ness needed here after all. Because Liz and I too understand the value of bringing other movement practices into our classes. Because movement is AWESOME. And because it’s still sticking to the essential key principles that consider the value of mind/body connection and slow, precise (not ‘perfect’!) movement. Tick.
But, I hear you cry, I’m waiting for the link to Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye and Pilates. Bridget Jones’s Diary film and spectacular soundtrack is a fave Christmas film of mine. And when sometimes faced with a bout of ShinyNew-itis, we just need to adhere to their crooning and “Stop, Look (Listen to your Heart)” and “hear what it’s saying”. It’s saying if it ain’t broken, don’t fix it. ShinyNew is pretty but never long-lasting. Look after the core things, don’t get complacent, check in that you are still doing the best you can for people. That’s our clients, Mr V and the Christmas tree included.
Look out for Part 2, where my ShinyNew-itis meets Callisthenics. Coming soon.
