A new Tom’s Guide comparison brings a Pilates instructor and strength coach into the debate over muscle growth. Their assessment suggests Pilates can develop strength through sustained tension and progressive challenge, while traditional resistance training remains better suited to maximal muscle gain.

Pilates is increasingly being discussed alongside resistance training, but a recent comparison in Tom’s Guide argues that the two methods should not be treated as interchangeable. Published on 14 October 2026, the article consulted Pilates instructor Amelia Palmiero and strength coach Andrew Griffiths about whether Pilates can build as much muscle as weight training.

Palmiero described Pilates as a low-impact method that uses body weight, bands and Reformer springs to create sustained muscular tension. She highlighted deep stabiliser work, control, posture and unilateral exercises as important parts of the method. Griffiths agreed that Pilates can support strength and hypertrophy when exercises are sufficiently challenging and progressively overloaded, rather than performed only as light, repetitive movement.

The distinction is intensity and specificity. Traditional weight training makes it easier to apply heavy external loads and measure progression, particularly for maximal strength and muscle size. Pilates, by contrast, can provide a demanding stimulus through leverage, spring resistance, time under tension, balance and precise control, but typical group classes may be aimed primarily at mobility, posture, coordination or general conditioning.

For instructors and studio owners, the comparison is a useful reminder to describe Pilates accurately. The method can contribute to strength development, especially when programming is progressive and technically demanding, but the article does not establish that it produces the same results as a structured weight-training programme. It is also an expert comparison rather than a new controlled study, so its conclusions should not be presented as Pilates-specific scientific evidence. For the international Pilates community, the story reinforces the value of explaining what a class is designed to achieve—and where complementary resistance training may be appropriate.

Read the full article:
Can Pilates actually build as much muscle as weight training? A strength coach and a Pilates instructor both weigh in

Image: AI-generated illustration.