I Used to Train Soldiers, Now I Train Someone Braver
- May 2, 2025
- 5 min read
Written by Joakim Valsinger, Pilates Teacher
Joakim Valsinger is an Award-Winning movement expert, 2nd Generation Pilates Teacher, and founder of BälansPilates Studio. A former Green Beret Commando, he speaks globally on inclusive fitness and leads groundbreaking work with Prader-Willi Syndrome and adaptive training.
On the first Saturday of May, we celebrate Pilates Day. Pilates Studios around the world post pictures of impressive core-crunching poses and gravity-defying, spring-assisted shapes. Reformer classes are busier than ever, and many of us take a moment to appreciate the impact this Method has had on our lives. This year, I have the honour of appearing on the cover of Brainz Magazine as this celebration rolls around. This opportunity has made me pause and reflect more deeply on what we're really celebrating.
I used to train soldiers. I served in both the Australian and British militaries. I spent years working alongside some very hard and resilient people.
And yet, I have never met anyone with the quiet strength of my son, Albie.
Albie lives with Prader-Willi Syndrome, a genetic condition that affects him in many ways. He fails at most things, most of the time, walking stairs, sitting on a swing, running, communicating, and even toileting. His muscles tire quickly, and his body often doesn't obey his brain. His brain is often a bit slow to grasp everything around him.
But still, he tries. He falls over, lies still for a moment as his batteries recharge, and then gets back up without complaint. No self-admonition. No frustration. Just this gentle, relentless courage.
And now, I teach him Pilates.
My mentor, Lolita San Miguel, says that when she was in Joseph Pilates' Studio, he was often depressed that his Method had not spread as far as he had wanted. I think he would be astonished to see its current reach. Today, there's a Pilates studio in every town, a Pilates Teacher in every Gym, and a Pilates influencer on everyone's social media feed. The Method has become a truly global phenomenon.
And yet, with that reach, I have to ask: has it grown?
What I mean is this: has the spirit of the Method expanded along with its popularity? Or have we, in some ways, narrowed its meaning to fit the demands of image, branding, and trend?
Granted, Pilates means different things to different people. For some, it's their physio, for others, their sweat session, and for many, a chance to breathe and reconnect. That's the beauty of it. Pilates can be strong or soft, fiery or gentle. It adapts. A successful movement experience is very different for one person compared to another.
But adaptation does not automatically need to mean dilution.
As the industry has expanded, so too has the messaging around Pilates. It's been branded in countless ways: athletic, therapeutic, aesthetic, and even spiritual. But behind every iteration, the core question remains: are we moving people toward better living, or toward better marketing?
The modern world desperately needs what Pilates was always meant to be: a system of mindful movement rooted in the six core principles of breathing, centering, control, concentration, precision, and flowing movement. The human body was made to move, and yet we sit more now than ever before. Even in Joe's early life, Physical Culture pioneers were lamenting the sedentary shift in society. Imagine what he would say about our current state.
There is now ample research showing that our average movement levels have been in decline since World War II, almost perfectly inverted with the rise of modern conveniences. One study by Dr. Wei Bao, for example, found that average sitting time in the US rose from 5.7 to 6.4 hours per day in under a decade. The World Health Organization reports that over 30% of adults globally do not meet basic physical activity guidelines. We have societal convenience, but we've lost individual capacity.
Pilates, in its true form, can change that. But only if we let it grow in the ways that matter.
Studio owners, Educators, and movement leaders now find themselves at the helm of a cultural shift. The choices we make, who we teach, how we teach, and who we invite in will shape the next generation of this Method. Inclusion isn't just an ethical ideal; it's a strategic imperative.
I say this not just as a Teacher of the Method, but as someone who has worked across some contrasting populations. I spent over a decade leading group outdoor fitness classes with British Military Fitness. During this time, I motivated hundreds of people to get fit with training that was fun, functional, and fiercely inclusive. In 2014, I received the Spirit of Flame Award from UK Active, an award that celebrates people who get more people more active, more often.
Today, my focus has shifted dramatically. I now specialise in working with disabled children, most notably my son, Albie. My work has gone from teaching soldiers to be harder, faster, stronger to celebrating the first time a wobbly kid managed to push out the Reformer carriage with his wonky feet. Both are Pilates. Both matter.
Pilates for the Military was fun. It was useful. It was effective.
But Pilates for my disabled child is important.
In this journey, I've strengthened my belief that the true spirit of Joseph Pilates lives in the intention of the work, not just the choreography. Aiming for physical improvement is no less valuable if we never reach perfection. Small gains can have profound effects on the lives of people who never expected a change.
I have been told more than once that my son does not do "real" Pilates. That he isn't performing the exercises properly. My answer is simple:
He is doing what his body will allow today. He is focused. He is engaged. He is improving. He is doing Pilates.
Pilates Day gives us a moment to shine a spotlight on the Method. But more than that, I hope it gives us a moment to look beyond the shapes and ask ourselves:
Who are we serving?
Who are we leaving out?
Who isn't yet represented in our marketing, our teacher training, and our studio spaces?
Who could benefit from Pilates but doesn't even know it's an option?
Pilates has spread. That much is clear.
But to truly honour Joseph Pilates, we need to help it grow.
Not just in numbers, but in heart. Not just in reach, but in relevance.
And not just on Pilates Day, but every day we roll out the mat, change the spring setting on a reformer, or teach a spine to move with purpose.
In upcoming articles, I'll share more on what this evolution looks like, not just in philosophy, but in structure: from leadership models to studio design, mentorship to education frameworks. Because the future of Pilates doesn't just need passion, it needs architecture.
Read more from Joakim Valsinger
Joakim Valsinger, Pilates Teacher
Joakim Valsinger is an award-winning movement educator and 2nd Generation Pilates Teacher. A former Green Beret Commando turned studio owner, he brings over 25 years of experience to his mission: making movement accessible to all. Joakim is a global conference presenter and Master Educator for Lolita’s Legacy, known for his work with adaptive training and Prader-Willi Syndrome. He believes intelligent movement can change lives and should be available to every body.
