Member-only story
‘Is Pilates Okay For Christians?’
Random musings on Google autofill
Determined to begin my long delayed fitness overhaul, I dive into Google to find out whether Pilates might build some of the much-touted muscle mass I need to kick-start my metabolism into shedding those stubborn lockdown pounds I’m no longer on speaking terms with.
Half-way down my autofill list I see the question — Is Pilates Okay For Christians?
It got me thinking. Surely core strength is the right of every individual, regardless of faith or creed?
It also begs the question: what kinds of fitness regimes could be deemed un-Christian?
I racked my brain for what little I could remember from my Sunday School days. Perhaps Pilates leads to worldly thoughts? Makes you vain? Or covetous? If you got addicted to the exercise, would that make Pilates a false idol? Overall, does exercise encourage ungodliness?
I googled ‘Exercise NOT suitable for Christians’. The top result was ‘Should Christians Exercise and Work out — Ask Pastor Tim’. The answer was a 24-odd minute YouTube offering, which I didn’t want to sit through, but on reading the transcript, it seemed like the enquirer, who wrote ‘By the time I drive to a gym, work out, shower, change clothes, drive back, it is almost a two hour ordeal. I don’t want to spend that much time…
