After struggling to stay consistent with yoga or running, writer Lucy Pearson found her rhythm with online wall Pilates videos.
I was a bit of a latecomer to Pilates. I was once an avid runner — stomping laps around Clapham Common most mornings and stretching my weekends with longer routes from Battersea Park to Richmond.
But for all the pavement-pounding, I never quite felt my body was changing in the way I’d hoped — though, in fairness, my enthusiastic commitment to carb-loading before every run probably didn’t help.
Then, a decade ago, I moved to Australia and trained as a yoga teacher. My mat became my new constant. I spent years perfecting my crow pose, deepening my backbends and finding moments of stillness in child’s pose. It gave me a new appreciation for my body and how it moved.
But after eight years of down-dogs and sun salutations, I was craving something different. I wanted the kind of ache that stays with you the next morning, the one that makes you feel like you’ve really done something. So, one day, on a bit of a whim, I walked into my local Pilates studio.
It didn’t take long before I was hooked. The subtle intensity, the focus on deep core strength, the kind of movements that look easy until you’re three reps in and shaking was addictive. I stopped weighing myself or counting calories a long time ago, but years of marathon training and yoga practice meant I understood my body well, and within weeks of starting Pilates, I felt stronger and more supple than I had in years.
The challenge, though, was consistency. As a freelance travel journalist, I’m constantly on the move. I’d build a strong routine — five sessions a week, feeling great — and then a trip overseas would throw everything off. My studio offered online classes, which helped, but I didn’t want to travel with ankle weights, resistance bands and Pilates balls spilling out of my suitcase. So, when a friend suggested wall Pilates — no equipment, just you and a wall — I was sceptical. Surely it couldn’t deliver the same kind of burn? As it turns out, it absolutely could.
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Testing wall Pilates for free for 28 days
Over the past month, I’ve been doing wall Pilates regularly while bouncing between Florence, Somerset and London. And something’s shifted. I feel noticeably stronger and more toned, and my posture — never the best, thanks to long hours hunched over a laptop or crammed into airplane seats — has improved dramatically.
My lower back doesn’t ache quite so much, my core feels tighter and my clothes fit just as well as they do when I’m in the studio five days a week.
What makes wall Pilates so brilliant is its simplicity. There’s no need for a reformer or even props — though ankle weights are a nice optional extra. All you really need is a bit of space and a sturdy wall.
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Does wall Pilates really work?
I found Rachel’s Fit Pilates on YouTube and started with her sessions. Her instructions are clear and the movements — think glute bridges, leg lifts and standing series — are deceptively tough. You start slow, but the shake sets in fast.
The wall acts like both a support system and an accountability partner. There’s no cheating when your back is flat against it — it forces good form and reminds you where the work should be happening. I quickly noticed that I was moving more deliberately and with more control. My body had to show up, fully, in every move.
And perhaps that’s the best part: the way it translates into everyday life. I found myself walking taller, sitting straighter, moving with more awareness. It wasn’t just about a flatter stomach or stronger arms, but a deeper sense of being at home in my body. Pilates has always been about building strength from the inside out, and wall Pilates really brought that home.
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It also fits seamlessly into a travel-heavy lifestyle. I’ve rolled out of bed and done it in hotel rooms, tiny Airbnb bedrooms and even my friend’s sitting room. No fancy gear, no complicated setup, just 20 minutes of focused movement and a noticeable shift in how I feel.
Of course, it’s not without its limitations. If you’re craving that sweaty, endorphin-fuelled cardio fix, this will hit a little different. There were days I missed the energy of a packed class, the camaraderie of everyone suffering through pulses together. But there’s something to be said for a practice that’s quiet, intentional and sustainable. A way of moving that isn’t about punishment or performance, but simply about feeling good.
Now, after a month of sticking with it, wall Pilates has become my default. Not because I have to do it, but because I want to. It’s that rare kind of workout that feels just as good while you’re doing it as it does afterwards.
And really, that’s the point. Wellness, at its best, isn’t about trends or extremes — it’s about finding what works for you, and sticking with it, wherever in the world you might be.
Feature image credit: Freepik
