Rediscover What Your Body Was Built to Do

One Size Doesn’t Fit All: Understanding the Many Journeys Behind Each Body

At Dynamic Body Pilates, we work with plus-size clients from all walks of life—and no two stories are the same. Pilates, when tailored intelligently, can meet each client’s goals with empathy, strategy, and results.

Some clients come to us strong and athletic, seeking more precision than group classes provide. Others are managing chronic pain, recovering from injury or surgery, or looking to reconnect with their core after pregnancy. Many are navigating weight loss—through lifestyle, surgery, or medication—and want to feel strong, mobile, and grounded in a changing body. Others have always lived in larger bodies and simply want a smart, effective way to improve balance, strength, and flexibility.

You don’t need to fit a certain profile to benefit from Pilates. You just need a desire to move more easily—and a skilled partner to meet you where you are.

Why Body Positive Pilates Works: Movement Without Shame, Pain, or Pressure

Body positive Pilates isn’t just about modifying movement—it’s about transforming your experience of it. When your instructor sees you as a full person, not a problem to be fixed, the work becomes more than physical. It becomes empowering.

We understand that many of our clients carry years of messaging that says movement must be punishing, that fitness is a moral achievement, or that their size is a barrier to wellness. At DBP, we do the opposite. We create a space where your body is welcomed, respected, and celebrated from day one.

Our focus is on what feels good—on noticing moments of strength, freedom, or flow, and building from there. We meet hesitation with patience, hypermobility with control, and pain with gentleness. This approach doesn’t just build strength and mobility—it reshapes how you relate to your body.

Clients tell us they begin to look forward to their sessions. They feel more grounded, more in tune with their physical needs, and more willing to try new things. Over time, this psychological safety leads to real physical progress. The journey may not be linear, but it’s meaningful, and it’s yours to define.

Real Results from Real Clients: Anita’s Journey Toward Strength and Mobility

Anita had done Pilates before and knew how good her body felt when she practiced regularly. But like so many high-achieving professional women, a mix of career demands, moving to a new city, and health issues pulled her away from consistent self-care. She arrived at DBP not as a beginner, but as someone who needed a reset—someone who knew what movement could offer and was ready to come back to it with support.

When Anita first came to us, she had a rich movement history—and a long list of challenges. A 5’3″ 260-lb client with lipedema surgeries, rotator cuff repair, knee osteoarthritis, and hypermobility, she was also navigating menopause and the metabolic shifts that come with it. Like many of our clients, she wasn’t looking for a crash diet or a trendy class. She was looking for pain relief, better posture, and a sustainable movement routine.

In her first session, we started with the basics: breathing, supported footwork on the Reformer, and side-lying sequences that didn’t strain her joints. We tuned into how her body moved, respected her achy and inflamed spots, and moved in pain-free ranges.

With time and care, Anita began to do more traditional Pilates choreography: lunges with support, long box arm work, standing Tower exercises and added weights. She now moves with more confidence and ease—inside and outside the studio. Her sessions have become a space to build strength, improve flexibility , and stay in motion without pain.

“Before I couldn’t walk 1 flight of stairs without pain and was gripping the railing the whole time. Yesterday I took 7 flights of stairs without getting out of breath. That was huge!” -Anita

Her transformation wasn’t about changing her size. It was about reclaiming her strength and mobility. That’s what we do here.

“Anita has grown tremendously—not just in strength, but in how she challenges herself. I’ve seen her increase her reps, lift heavier weights, and build real confidence in her abilities. Her strength in step-ups and squats has improved dramatically. That progress has made her day-to-day life so much easier, and her movement so much more fluid. We recently celebrated her first comfortable lunge and a deep quad stretch—things she hadn’t done in years.”
— Anita’s Pilates Instructor, Dynamic Body Pilates

Is Pilates for Plus Size Low Impact? Yes—and Perfect for Achy Joints or Chronic Pain

Yes, Pilates is low impact—and that’s exactly why it works so well for people managing joint pain, injury recovery, or chronic conditions. In fact, it’s one of the best forms of exercise for people dealing with:

• Knee or hip pain
• Rotator cuff injuries
• Osteoarthritis
• Hypermobile joints
• Lower back instability
• Post-surgical rehab
• Chronic conditions like lipedema or ehlers danlos syndrome
• Post-weight loss surgery joint instability or muscle loss

At DBP, we work with many clients who thought they “couldn’t” do Pilates—until they discovered a customized, low-impact approach that didn’t leave them sore or discouraged.

We use spring-based resistance and supportive props to build strength without compression. We focus on joint stability, breath support, and functional movement—not just aesthetics.

How Pilates Exercises for Weight Loss Work in Real Life

Building a Positive Feedback Loop for Sustainable Progress

At DBP, we focus intently on helping clients create a positive feedback loop—a cycle where each successful experience with movement builds confidence, motivation, and consistency. We know from experience that starting small often leads to the biggest results.

Consistency is what creates habits, and habits are what create results. Pilates isn’t a treatment you receive; it’s a practice you build. We’ve all seen the pattern of “crushing” a diet or extreme program only to burn out—and we know that’s no way to live as an adult with real responsibilities and real obstacles. We work with you to establish a sustainable, life-enhancing rhythm in your busy on-the-go schedule instead.

Support Beyond the Studio

For clients who want to stay connected to their work outside of sessions, we offer custom at-home guidance. That might mean recording a simple video of one single exercise during your session—something you feel good about and confident practicing independently. We’re not talking about 30-minute workouts here. We’re talking about building the habit of showing up for your body in small, doable ways.

The goal? To help you bridge the work you do in the studio with how you move in the rest of your life. That bridge is where real change happens.

Many people begin searching for “Pilates exercises for weight loss,” and the truth is—Pilates can be an effective part of an integrated weight loss approach because it creates essential conditions that support sustainable, long-term results.

When we don’t feel comfortable in our bodies, we tend not to move them. We notice how weight settles, jiggles, compresses—and that discomfort often keeps us still. But Pilates changes that relationship. It tunes you into what feels good in your body: strength in your muscles, ease in your joints, deeper breaths, better alignment. You begin to crave those sensations. And so, you move more.

That increased movement ripples outward into your everyday life. You may notice you’re walking farther without pain. You’re sitting taller. You’re more likely to stretch, reach, breathe deeply. You may even build the stamina to try hiking, biking, or longer walks that once felt out of reach.

Plus, Pilates improves your breathing and reduces stress—which plays a real role in weight loss. It might help you choose water over that stress-driven vanilla latte, or take a mindful pause before reaching for comfort food. You’re not just exercising; you’re changing your nervous system’s relationship with your body.

And when your posture improves, your self-confidence does too. That emotional shift can be just as powerful as the physical one.

So yes—Pilates can absolutely support weight loss. But more importantly, it helps you build a body you want to move in, and a mindset that wants to take care of it.

What you will get from consistent Pilates practice at DBP:

• Stronger muscles and better posture
• Improved balance and coordination
• Reduced chronic pain and inflammation
• Better mobility for daily tasks
• More confidence in your body’s capabilities
• An enjoyable form of movement you’ll actually want to return to

For those who have lost weight—whether through surgery, medication, or lifestyle changes—Pilates helps rebuild connection with your body. As your center of gravity shifts, your joints and muscles need time and support to recalibrate. Our one-on-one sessions are designed to help you move efficiently and feel more at home in your changing body.

For clients like Anita, the real win was being able to move through the world with less pain and more ease. That’s the kind of transformation we celebrate.

Ready to Feel Strong, Supported, and Confident in Your Body?

Whether you’re starting from square one or rebuilding after weight loss, injury, or chronic pain, we’re here to help you move smarter, feel better, and trust your body again.

✨ Book your Dynamic Body Assessment Session today
📍 Visit us in Union Square, NYC or join us virtually
💌 Have questions? Reach out at [email protected]

Let’s build a movement practice that fits you—because your body deserves expert care, not compromise.

FAQs: Your Most Common Questions, Answered

Can I do Pilates if I’m plus-size?

Yes! At Dynamic Body Pilates, we work with people of all shapes and sizes. Your session will be tailored to your body—not a generic routine.

Is Pilates low impact?

Yes, Pilates is low impact. That’s exactly why it works so well for individuals managing joint pain, injury recovery, or chronic conditions.

Is Dynamic Body Pilates a good option for overweight beginners?

Absolutely. Many of our clients are plus-size beginners or returning to movement after a long break. We specialize in helping you feel comfortable and confident from day one.

What if I’ve never done Pilates before?

No prior experience is needed. We’ll guide you through every step with clear instructions and gentle progressions.

Is it okay if I have back or knee pain?

Yes. We adapt every exercise to minimize pressure on joints and support injury recovery. Our sessions are safe for those with arthritis, joint instability, or past surgeries.

What should I wear to my first session?

Wear comfortable clothes you can move in—like leggings, joggers, or a t-shirt. No shoes are needed, and we’ll handle all equipment and props.