Male Athletes Embrace Pilates at Miami's Posh Life Studio

Pilates gains popularity among pro and everyday athletes seeking core strength, mobility, and injury prevention.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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Many male athletes, including current and former professionals, are now using Pilates to improve their core strength and overall fitness at Posh Life Pilates studio in Miami. Pilates has become a popular cross-training tool for athletes, targeting small muscle fibers and providing benefits like increased mobility, flexibility, and injury prevention. Former NFL players Carlos Dunlap and Jonathan Cyprien are among those who have incorporated Pilates into their fitness routines.

Why it matters

Pilates has traditionally been seen as a female-dominated fitness practice, but it is now gaining mainstream popularity among male athletes who recognize its benefits for core strength, mobility, and injury prevention. The inclusive approach of Posh Life Pilates is helping to break down gender stereotypes and make Pilates accessible to a wider range of clients.

The details

Posh Life Pilates, located along the Miami River, was founded with the goal of making Pilates inclusive for everyone. Instructor Kelsey Vargas has noticed a significant increase in male clients, including professional athletes, seeking the core-strengthening and injury-prevention benefits of Pilates. The studio's Pilates reformer machines allow athletes to work on small muscle groups and ranges of motion that they may not target through traditional strength training.

  • Posh Life Pilates opened along the Miami River in 2025.

The players

Cressida Thompson

The founder of Posh Life Pilates, who aimed to make Pilates more inclusive and accessible.

Kelsey Vargas

An instructor at Posh Life Pilates who has noticed a growing trend of male athletes embracing the practice.

Carlos Dunlap

A former NFL player who now incorporates Pilates into his fitness routine.

Jonathan Cyprien

A former NFL player who finds Pilates beneficial for his current lifestyle and fitness goals.

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What they’re saying

“Just the lack of inclusivity, like a lot of times you go to the places, everyone looks the same.”

— Cressida Thompson, Founder, Posh Life Pilates (wsvn.com)

“These machines allow me to get in ranges that I can't naturally get into.”

— Carlos Dunlap (wsvn.com)

“Not being able to play football right now, there's no need for me to be doing the lifting and the heavy weights and the running sprints. This is a lot better for my lifestyle.”

— Jonathan Cyprien (wsvn.com)

What’s next

Posh Life Pilates plans to continue expanding its offerings and reaching more male athletes in the Miami area who are interested in incorporating Pilates into their fitness routines.

The takeaway

Pilates is shedding its 'soccer mom' image and becoming a mainstream, elite, and gender-neutral fitness practice, particularly among athletes seeking core strength, mobility, and injury prevention. Inclusive studios like Posh Life Pilates are helping to break down stereotypes and make Pilates accessible to a wider range of clients.