The People's Gym · Cork
Pilates vs strength training
Half of Cork is in a reformer class and the other half is wondering whether they should be. Pilates is good. It is also not the same thing as strength training, and for backs, bones and the years after 40 the difference matters. Here is an honest comparison from people who only do one of them.
Pilates vs strength
What each one actually does
They are not rivals. They are different tools, and the question is which one does the job you need done.
Pilates is control
Body awareness, deep core, mobility, breathing. Excellent for how you move and how you feel, and a lovely hour.
Strength training is load
Muscle, bone and the ability to lift heavy things. It is the only one of the two that reliably builds either muscle or bone density.
Backs
Pilates helps a lot of backs feel better. Progressive strength training is what makes them robust. Most back pain research now points to load, not just control.
Bones
Bone needs load to get denser. Pilates does not provide enough of it. For osteopenia and osteoporosis, the guidelines say lift.
After 40
Muscle loss from 40 on is the thing that decides how you age. Only progressive resistance stops it. Pilates keeps you moving well; lifting keeps the muscle.
Both is ideal
Plenty of our members do a reformer class and two short strength sessions a week. If you can only do one, the answer depends on what you need.
Real Google reviews
From members who started where you are
In their own words, straight from Google.
"I joined ATP because they all say that doing weights is recommended for women who have hit middle age. I wanted to try PT classes because I was a member of another gym for many years but I never challenged myself or followed a structured program. Six months on and I’m stronger, fitter, and have more energy. My mood is better and I’m sleeping better."
"Lovely welcoming environment! Would definitely recommend the PT sessions, I started a few months ago, having never done any weight training before and I am so glad I did. …"
"The trainers listened to my reasons for starting & tailored my training plan accordingly. There’s a lovely friendly atmosphere in ATP Fitness & I love the mix of ages. All the trainers are so encouraging & know when it’s time to make changes to the training program. I feel so much stronger now & could not have imagined that I’d have the ability to lift the weights I can today."
"I started training with ATP a few months ago and for someone who thought they hated the gym, I love it. The PT sessions are tailored to suit your ability and the trainers take into account how you are feeling on the day. … My strength has improved a lot in the few months I've been there."
The honest version
Which one do you need?
We run a strength gym, so you would expect us to say strength. Here is the honest version instead. Pilates is very good at what it does: control, mobility, breathing, the deep core, and a calm hour that leaves people feeling better than they came in. If you love it, keep going. What it does not do, and cannot do by design, is load the body heavily enough to build muscle or bone. That is not a criticism; it is just not what it is for.
Strength training is for that. Progressive load, climbing week by week, is the only thing that reliably builds muscle, densifies bone and makes a back robust rather than just comfortable. It is also, done properly, a lot gentler than people expect: 30 minutes, coached, starting light.
If you are doing Pilates for your back
Keep it if it helps. Then add strength. The evidence on back pain has moved firmly towards progressive loading: people who learn to hinge, squat and carry with a coach have backs that cope with life, not just backs that feel better on the mat. Our back pain page explains how we do it.
If you are doing Pilates for your bones
This is the one where we will be blunt. Pilates is not enough for osteopenia or osteoporosis. Bone needs load and impact to get denser, and every guideline says so. Pilates is a lovely addition for balance and control; lifting is the treatment. We work to whatever your GP or consultant has advised. Our bone health page goes into it properly.
If you are over 40
You are losing muscle every year unless you load it, and Pilates does not load it enough. If you only have time for one thing, lift. If you have time for two, do both. Our over 40 page and menopause page cover why.
Getting started
Your first session is free. Claim it below and tell us what you have been doing and what you are hoping for. It is a real coached 30-minute session at Douglas or Ballincollig, no card and no commitment, and if you have never lifted a weight in your life, that is the most common starting point we see.
Memberships & pricing
Simple, flexible pricing
Personal training from €20.56 a session on a rolling membership, €35 pay as you go, and no-expiry packs from €289. See full pricing →
FAQ
Pilates vs strength questions
If yours is not here, give us a ring. We would rather talk it through.
Is Pilates strength training?
Not in the way that matters for muscle and bone. Pilates builds control and endurance in the deep core with body weight and light springs. Strength training uses progressive load that climbs over time, which is what muscle and bone respond to.
Is Pilates enough for osteoporosis?
No. Pilates helps balance and control, which matters for falls, but bone needs load to get denser. Every guideline recommends progressive strength training for osteopenia and osteoporosis. We work to whatever your GP or consultant has advised.
Which is better for back pain?
Pilates often helps backs feel better. Progressive strength training is what makes them robust, and the evidence has moved towards loading. Ideally do both; if it is one, coached strength work.
Can I do both?
Yes, and it is the ideal combination. A reformer class for control and mobility plus two 30-minute strength sessions a week for muscle and bone. Plenty of our members do exactly that.
I have only ever done Pilates. Will lifting be a shock?
No. Sessions start light, with a coach guiding you, and the control you have from Pilates makes learning the lifts easier. Most people are lifting properly within a few sessions.
Is it a class or personal training?
Personal training, 1:2. One coach with two clients, each on their own programme, so it is closer to a private Pilates session than a gym class.
How much does it cost?
Rolling memberships start at €179 every 4 weeks for two sessions a week, and our no-expiry packs never lapse. Your first session is free, no card and no commitment.
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Find us
Two locations across Cork
Douglas
2nd Floor, Unit A1, Donnybrook Commercial Centre, Donnybrook, Cork City
Tel: 087 649 4134
Mon-Thurs: 6:30am - 8:30pm
Friday: 6:30am - 7:00pm
Saturday: 8:00am - 2:00pm
Sunday: Closed
Ballincollig
Unit 1A, Link Road Business Park, Carrigrohane, Ballincollig, Co. Cork
Tel: 085 725 2370
Mon-Thurs: 6:30am - 8:30pm
Friday: 6:30am - 7:00pm
Saturday: 8:00am - 2:00pm
Sunday: Closed