09/16/2026
What if the most qualified yoga or Pilates instructor in the room doesn’t necessarily look the way we expect?
I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately.
There’s no doubt that “skinny culture” seems to be making a comeback—in the fitness industry and in society more broadly.
On social media, the posts that often attract the most attention tend to feature beautiful studios, very lean and toned bodies, popular activewear brands, beautiful movement, and, of course, the occasional mirror selfie.
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with enjoying those things. But it has made me wonder:
Have we sometimes placed so much emphasis on the way wellness looks that we’ve lost sight of what makes the practice—and the person teaching it—meaningful?
My body has changed over the past few years.
I’m a little wider. A little softer. My arms aren’t as lean as they once were. Some days, health issues leave me swollen and uncomfortable. And I don’t always feel as comfortable wearing the same things I wore a few years ago.
I’m still active. I still exercise every day. I still take care of myself. I’m just a little older. And my body has changed.
Would I love to have my old body back? Honestly, yes.
But here’s what has made me pause: I’m only about 5–7 pounds heavier.
The more noticeable difference is the shape and composition of my body. And I think being a fitness instructor makes me more aware of that difference.
I’ve heard comments about my body. Some were said directly to me. Others eventually made their way back to me.
And, if I’m being completely honest, the expectations of this industry have affected me. That’s difficult to admit because it goes against so much of what I believe.
I care deeply about the person who walks into a yoga or Pilates class wondering whether they’ll fit in.
I care about the person who stays home because they don’t feel like their body looks “right” for the room.
And I care about instructors who have spent years developing their education, skills, experience, and knowledge—and who may occasionally wonder whether they still “look like” an instructor.
I also think about newer instructors entering this field and how easy it can be to believe that appearance is somehow part of the qualification.
It isn’t.
Look at the photos in this post.
You might assume the instructor on the left is the more qualified teacher. But appearances don’t tell that story.
The instructor on the right—the softer, rounder, heavier one—has more experience, more training, and more certifications.
Looks and trends come and go. Education and experience stand the test of time.
The science, philosophy, history, and intention behind yoga and Pilates may not always be what social media rewards. But they are what give these practices their staying power.
So perhaps the better question isn’t:
“What does a yoga or Pilates instructor look like?”
Maybe it’s:
“What does a yoga or Pilates instructor know?”
Because the body you see is only one small part of the person standing in front of you.
To the person walking into a class:
You don’t need to be a certain size, look a certain way, wear a particular brand, or have a certain level of fitness to belong there.
You’re there to move, breathe, learn, challenge yourself, rest, connect with your body, and experience the practice.
You belong.
And to the instructor standing at the front of the room:
Your body is not your credential.
Your education matters.
Your experience matters.
Your continued learning matters.
Your ability to teach safely and effectively matters.
And the environment you create for your students matters.
Your body will change.
Your knowledge, experience, and the impact you have on others can continue to grow.
Maybe we can make more room in the wellness industry for all of it—the beautiful studios, the fun outfits, the strong and lean bodies and the soft, round, aging, changing, perfectly human ones.
Because ultimately, these practices are about so much more than how they look.
Maybe it’s time to make the practice the focus again.
