This past week, like many of you, we have participated in a much-needed time of reflection and revision in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.
As a company, our ongoing mission is to provide high-level exposure to the Pilates system, as an art form and methodology. Our work now is also increasingly geared towards providing that same level of exposure to the powerful community that brings this work to life on a daily basis and around the world. We are getting closer to a new release of our platform which highlights community and social learning, and it is our outspoken goal to create an environment that is inclusive; inclusive of all the people that make up our community, inclusive of all the people that our community reaches, and inclusive of anyone who feels unseen, unheard, unwelcome or underrepresented in this work.
There is no way around it—we recognize that the Pilates industry, inherently and historically but not necessarily intentionally, has always had a privilege and exclusivity barrier. It’s been reserved for those who have the resources to participate and those who believe in the healing powers of the work enough that they push through those barriers.
Additionally, as an industry, we must do better in representing and amplifying the voices of our Black teachers, students, and communities.
We have a long way to go, and we realize that the first step is difficult to take and seems impossible to get right. But we also realize that it’s not always about getting it right – it’s about taking that first step. True inclusion can’t be accomplished by taking a shortcut.
Actions speak louder than words, and we believe that actively engaging in education precedes all other meaningful action. That is our first step.
The 360° Pilates team will engage in diversity, equity, and inclusion training to learn how we can contribute to long-term changes in the culture of the Pilates community and work actively towards dismounting the barriers of privilege and exclusivity that are inherent to the method and the fitness industry at large.
We’ve always referred to 360° Pilates as a “platform” for the Pilates method. We feel the time is ripe to expand our definition of this platform to include and uplift all its people, their bodies, and voices. As we are working on defining the actions we want to take, we want you to know that we recognize the impact of current events on our Pilates community and choose to be a part of the resolution for racial equality and human rights. We take on the responsibility to learn, educate, and take action in support of this movement. We acknowledge the accountability we must take in this problem and are actively working on an event to raise funds for organizations that support education on equity and anti-racism in publications and in classrooms across the United States.
And even though actions speak louder than words, we can’t omit the words that need to be said and that we full-heartedly believe in:
Black Lives Matter. We hear you, we see and acknowledge you, we stand with you, and we will do better in celebrating and supporting you; in our industry, and beyond.
Our platform is for everyone, and we encourage you to take us up on the invitation to share your experiences, raise voices, and support true inclusion.
Sincerely,
Benjamin Degenhardt, Founder
Alexis Ambruso, Community Manager