Sounds Like A Cult – "The Cult of Pilates" (February 24, 2026)
Hosts: Amanda Montell & Chelsea Charles
Guest: Dr. Adam McAtee (Pilates instructor & physical therapist)
Overview
This episode of Sounds Like A Cult dissects the world of Pilates as a modern "cult," exploring its roots, transformation into an exclusive fitness phenomenon, internal controversies, and its subtle yet potent influence on wellness culture. Hosts Amanda Montell and Chelsea Charles, both self-described Pilates insiders, balance candid personal confessions with a critical look at Pilates' barriers to entry, coded language, and its peculiar hold on identity and self-worth. The episode includes an illuminating interview with Dr. Adam McAtee, who brings a science-based perspective to Pilates’ dogmas and divides. The ultimate question: Is Pilates harmless fun, or is it a "cult" worth watching out for?
Key Discussion Points & Insights
The Seductive Allure and Subtle Exclusivity of Pilates
- Amanda and Chelsea come clean about their own participation in Pilates, acknowledging both its appeal and exclusionary nature.
- Pilates aesthetic: From matching sets to reformers “lined up like pews,” Pilates studios exude a ritualistic, sorority-like vibe that signals insider status.
- [03:21 | Amanda Montell]: “This show is all about... soberly scrutinizing the silly little ways in which humans attempt to find meaning and belonging in the 21st century...also poking a bit of fun at the absurdity along the way.”
- The community is characterized more by subtle competitive coolness than overt, “churchy” cult traits found elsewhere (e.g., SoulCycle, CrossFit).
- Chelsea prefers “extremely feminine Pilates studios” for their seeming safety and camaraderie, though she notes a “performatively feminist, exclusive girl boss vibe” reminiscent of The Wing.
- [10:27 | Amanda Montell]: “There is this very sort of like performatively feminist, exclusive girl boss vibe that at the end of the day you have to be like, there's something sinister here. Like, this can't just be this female utopia, right?”
Pilates History, Lore, and Structure
- Origins: Created by Joseph Pilates, a German performer and self-taught anatomist, originally for rehabilitation (including World War I soldiers).
- [11:44 | Amanda Montell]: “Pilates emerging as a rehabilitation exercise for soldiers during World War I is such a part of Pilates lore because... outsiders kind of discount Pilates as a bit of like a girly pop workout.”
- Post-Joseph, students splintered into competing lineages, leading to infighting over what constitutes “real” Pilates.
- [13:50 | Amanda Montell]: “So many different sects and denominations of Pilates. Honestly, this is giving slightly live your life. Because when there's no like centralized controlling organization, I don't know, it can go both ways.”
- 1996 court ruling: “Pilates” could not be trademarked, leading to a proliferation of methods—some traditional, some high-intensity, some corporate chic.
Barriers to Entry, Exclusivity & Class
- Pilates is expensive and often signals class, thinness, and affluence through not just cost but unspoken uniform and etiquette.
- [16:29 | Amanda Montell]: “Exclusivity breeds legitimacy. The harder something is to access—financially, socially, or intellectually—the more meaningful membership feels.”
- Certifications are costly and lack regulatory standardization, leading to “elitist and exclusionary” education.
- Insider language and complicated move names (“French twisted mermaid egg”) reinforce hierarchies and make outsiders feel inferior or “hazed.”
- Subtle social and body image pressures are significant, especially perpetuated on social media.
Cult-Like Mindset & Hazing
- Stories of feeling “chosen” or “special,” but also being broken down by instructors illustrate classic cult grooming and hierarchy.
- [18:26 | Amanda Montell]: “She built you up to break you down. But that is the type of hazing...that keeps me wanting to prove myself and win them over...there is a cult for everyone, as we say on the show all the time.”
- Marie Claire article cited: Pilates marketing largely excludes larger bodies, older women, women of color, leaving out those it could benefit most.
The Subtlety of Harm and Social Media’s Role
- Unlike cult scandals (e.g., Bikram, SoulCycle), Pilates exudes “a much more subtly dangerous mentality that perpetuates diet culture and low self esteem.”
- [22:25 | Amanda Montell]: “It is a much more subtly dangerous mentality that perpetuates diet, culture and low self esteem among women...it’s much, much more subtle than some of the cult fitness cabals that we've covered before—and that feels pretty insidious.”
- Social media intensifies confirmation bias, cements insider-outsider divides, and fuels elitism and identity attachment.
- Algorithmic recommendations contribute to body dissatisfaction and higher mental health risks.
Guest Interview: Dr. Adam McAtee
Pilates instructor (16 years), exercise science background, physical therapist
On the Cult-Like Mindset Within Pilates
- Infighting and “groupthink” are common:
- [27:26 | Dr. Adam McAtee]: “Are you talking about the physiotherapist based Pilates that claims to be scientific but they don't use science? Are you referring to the people who are really attached to the way Joseph Pilates taught... that's the cult.”
- Instructors are often taught their lineage is the only legitimate Pilates, leading to guilt and snobbery about alternate methods.
- Teaching certifications are expensive, but “you don’t actually learn exercise, you learn exercises” (emphasizing rote dogma over science or adaptability).
- [35:24 | Dr. Adam McAtee]: “Who would you be if you found out what you learned was wrong?”
Shared Language & Exclusion
- Specialized terminology often creates unnecessary barriers, reinforces fragility narratives, and gatekeeps “proper” membership.
- [30:09 | Dr. Adam McAtee]: “The language is sacred in the sense that you’re not allowed to question it...I say fuck it, I’m questioning it.”
On Social Media
- Social media fosters echo chambers and confirmation bias—the “essence of a cult.”
- [32:49 | Dr. Adam McAtee]: “Partially what social media can contribute is just connection to the industry and there's different perspectives. And a lot of times people get threatened by different perspectives.”
On Science, Lore, and Race
- Joseph Pilates' own ideas—some outdated or misinformed—are treated as gospel, but rarely scrutinized for accuracy or modern relevance.
- [40:25 | Dr. Adam McAtee]: “Would you take medical advice from the 1950s?...He got a lot of stuff wrong. Just like we are getting a lot of shit wrong today.”
- Parallels drawn between Pilates’ outdated/biased roots and those in fields like gynecology, including issues of racism, classism, and exclusion.
- [41:54 | Dr. Adam McAtee]: “See a human as a human and a human that we appreciate the work of. It's not a disrespect to question things. That's just the nature of science. Question everything.”
On Pilates Scandals
- No single explosive scandal, but deep schisms over lineage and brand loyalty:
- [44:00 | Dr. Adam McAtee]: “The cultiest part is...I’ve talked to individuals who studied a certain type of Pilates and they wouldn’t go to educational events that weren’t held by that company...”
“Culty or Just Cringe” Segment (Selected Scenarios)
- Hands-on corrections without consent: Cringe
- Insider language: Culty
- Expensive trainings promising legitimacy: Culty
- Feeling guilt for skipping class: Cringe
- Viewing Pilates as rehab for everything: Culty
- Matching sets as unspoken uniform: Cringe (with debate)
- [47:14 | Amanda Montell]: “I think it's culty, but that doesn't reflect the actual studio...we love to sensationalize on this show, and all of this is up to interpretation.”
Notable Quotes & Moments
- Amanda Montell [03:21]: “This show is all about both soberly scrutinizing the silly little ways in which humans attempt to find meaning and connection...and also poking a bit of fun at the absurdity along the way.”
- Chelsea Charles [16:29]: “Exclusivity breeds legitimacy. The harder something is to access—financially, socially, or intellectually—the more meaningful membership feels.”
- Amanda Montell [22:25]: “The cult mentality here and the cult mission and ideology is much, much more subtle...and that feels pretty insidious.”
- Dr. Adam McAtee [35:24]: “Who would you be if you found out what you learned was wrong?”
- Chelsea Charles [20:48, quoting Marie Claire]: “Pilates is for everyone, yet the image being sold is young, thin, white and affluent.”
- Chelsea Charles [51:03]: “Sometimes you are experiencing things, i.e. Pilates, from a place of privilege. And I think Pilates should be more accessible to everyone. And so—watch your back.”
Important Timestamps (MM:SS)
- 03:21: Framework for the “cult” concept and analysis.
- 07:30 – 09:04: Hosts on their personal Pilates experiences and the emotional, aesthetic appeal.
- 11:01: Brief historical overview of Joseph Pilates and Pilates’ origin story.
- 16:29: Chelsea on exclusivity and its cult-like perks.
- 22:25 – 22:59: Exploration of subtle psychological harm perpetuated by Pilates’ culture.
- 26:30 – 44:48: Interview with Dr. Adam McAtee; deep dive into Pilates education, infighting, bias, and lore.
- 45:18 – 47:16: “Culty or Just Cringe?” game with Dr. Adam.
- 50:09 – 52:44: Hosts’ verdict: “Watch Your Back”—acknowledge cognitive dissonance and the need to push for greater inclusivity in Pilates.
Episode Verdict
Final Category: Watch Your Back
While Pilates lacks the headline-grabbing scandals of other fitness cults, its subtle mechanisms of exclusion, reinforced beauty standards, pricey gatekeeping, and internal dogma earn it a cautious spot on the cult spectrum. It's adored for its benefits and community, but listeners are urged to stay “culty, but not too culty”—to enjoy Pilates while remaining alert to its pitfalls.
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