"Pilates Arms" (Still) Aren't Real, No Matter What the Internet Tells You

The "Pilates arms" discourse is still going strong and it's safe to say we're officially weirded out. From the producers of unnecessary labels like "legging legs" and "hip dips" comes social media's coup de grâce: Pilates arms. The term started to go viral following Miley Cyrus's stunning performance at the 2024 Grammy Awards, where it was her toned arms that captured the internet's attention (rather than her first-ever Grammy win). One reformer Pilates instructor went so far as to create a TikTok about Cyrus's "Pilates arms," saying that Pilates gives easily identifiable, "copy-paste body types" to anyone who sticks with it.

"Those are Pilates arms, like right away, that was my first reaction to this photo," she said in the February video, referencing a full-body photo of Cyrus. "I teach a ton of classes a day, like every single day, and so many people in my classes have these exact same arms." The creator of the original TikTok added that her own arms tend to "get super big" if she lifts weights, which makes Pilates a perfect alternative for building strength. Videos like this have since fueled existing debates about what kind of workouts will lead to the most desirable body composition.

As Pilates arms skyrocketed in popularity, social media became inundated with specific workouts meant to help people achieve the look. This fixation remains true to this day, especially following Cyrus's appearance at the 2025 Golden Globes. But while Pilates may be what works best for one person's lifestyle and fitness goals, linking exercise modalities to specific body types is a dangerous game. No matter what the internet tries to tell you, Pilates arms are not actually a realistic fitness goal. (And no, lifting weights will not automatically make you look bulky.)

In all fairness, Cyrus is indeed a fan of Pilates. Based on what we know about her fitness routine, she's been spotted at Pilates studios as early as 2013. Still, the reality is that, while Pilates may help you build arm strength, no singular exercise can "tone" a specific body part. In fact, as experts previously explained to PS, you can't really "tone" a muscle at all. While muscles can grow or shrink, they can't become harder or softer. When people talk about "toning," they typically mean a combination of strength training, which makes the muscles bigger, and general fat loss, which makes them more visible. (Worth noting: you can't control where your body loses fat either, according to the University of Sydney.) These facts make these elusive "Pilates arms" a tougher sell.

In essence, Pilates uses low-impact, resistance-based movement to improve strength and flexibility, although results vary depending on your lifestyle, genetics, and level of consistency. It's a great workout for many different reasons, but it's not about granting everyone with the same pair of Grammy-winning arms.

That said, with nearly 500K likes, the concept of "Pilates arms" clearly resonated with viewers . . . and that's part of the problem. It's good to have goals, and you might find that certain exercises or classes make it easier to achieve them. But we're doing people a disservice when we tell them their arms could look exactly like Cyrus's, if only they cared enough to try one specific workout.

From what she's shared publicly, Cyrus's wellness routine includes Ashtanga yoga, Pilates, plenty of outdoor movement, a formerly vegan diet (which she is now "experimenting" with), and professional assistance from personal trainers. Fitness is essentially a part of her career, and it requires time, energy, and money that not everyone has access to. That's not to mention the many other factors that play a role in body composition, including gender, age, race, nutrition, physical activity, and hormonal status.

The bottom line is, even if we all had the means to work out and eat exactly like Cyrus, we still wouldn't look like her — and that's OK. If you have arms, you have Pilates arms, and that's worth celebrating.

Chandler Plante (she/her) is an assistant health and fitness editor for PS. She has over four years of professional journalism experience, previously working as an editorial assistant for People magazine and contributing to Ladygunn, Millie, and Bustle Digital Group.