How Many Calories Does Pilates Burn? Understanding Calorie Burn & Real-World Results with BODYROK

The number of calories burned during Pilates varies from person to person based on factors like your weight, muscle mass, intensity level, and the type of class you take. Regardless of the variables, Pilates absolutely burns calories and delivers serious body-sculpting results.

In this article, we’ll talk about how Pilates compares to other workouts, what influences your Pilates calorie burn, and how BODYROK’s signature high-intensity reformer classes help you torch more calories in less time while building strength and lean muscle. This isn’t just about calorie counting! It’s about unlocking the benefits of Pilates to reshape your body and your mindset for lasting fitness results.

What Affects How Many Calories You Burn Doing Pilates

There’s no one-size-fits-all equation that guarantees the number of calories burned doing Pilates. Your personal burn depends on a range of factors, including:

Body weight and muscle mass: The more muscle you have, the more calories you burn. Regular Pilates training builds lean muscle mass which raises your basal metabolic rate (BMR), so you keep burning those calories, even at rest.
Workout intensity: Slow, controlled movements build strength and endurance, while quick transitions and higher resistance increase your heart rate and calorie expenditure.
Class type and format: Mat, reformer, or hybrid classes vary in intensity. While all three build strength, control, and awareness, mat pilates burns calories at a slower rate than higher intensity hybrid or reformer sessions that require extra resistance and a faster pace.
Fitness level: If you’re new to Pilates, you will initially burn more calories in a single session while your body learns to adapt to new movements. As your fitness level improves, you’ll need to bump up the intensity to increase overall calorie burn.

Pilates Calorie Burn: Reformer vs. Mat

When comparing mat and reformer Pilates, the biggest difference comes down to resistance and movement intensity.

Mat Pilates provides a slower, more foundational approach focused on awareness, alignment, and control. A typical mat class burns about 170 to 250 calories per hour, depending on your bodyweight, pace, and effort.
Reformer Pilates, especially BODYROK’s high-intensity version, incorporates springs, platforms, and quick transitions that target multiple muscle groups at once. These classes can burn anywhere from 300–500+ calories in just 45 minutes, though individual results vary.

BODYROK’s reformer-based classes typically burn more calories than a traditional mat pilates session because we combine strength, endurance, and cardio elements that keep your heart rate up while sculpting lean muscle.

How BODYROK Helps You Burn More Calories

Every BODYROK class is designed for efficiency and maximum calorie burn. In 45 minutes, you’ll engage your entire body through a sequence of high-intensity, low-impact movements that improve strength and endurance, and elevate your heart rate.

Our reformer-based class format blends resistance training, controlled cardio bursts, and core-driven movement, so your body keeps burning calories long after you leave the studio. With BODYROK, you’ll see results faster without the joint stress of traditional high-impact workouts.

Pilates vs. Other Workouts: What to Know About Calorie Burn

Here’s a look at how Pilates stacks up against other workouts:

Yoga: As a slower paced workout similar to mat pilates, yoga burns fewer calories (150–250 per hour) and focuses more on flexibility and mindfulness, rather than intensity.
Strength Training: You’ll build muscle and increase metabolism efficiently, but with frequent rests, it often lacks the movement needed to keep your heart rate elevated. An average weight lifting session for a 180-pound person can burn just over 250 calories per hour. You’ll have to bump up the intensity and reduce rest time to increase the calorie burn.
Spin or HIIT: These high-intensity workouts can burn more calories per session (400-700 per hour) but may lead to burnout or cause joint fatigue when done frequently. And as cardio-focused workouts, they don’t contribute as much to building strength or flexibility.
Elliptical Machines: These offer a solid, low-impact cardio option at 300–500 calories burned per hour, but focuses primarily on lower-body movement. Elliptical workouts lack the full-body sculpting and core engagement you get with Pilates.
Rowing: This total-body cardio and strength workout burns an average of 400–600 calories per hour, but it’s repetitive in motion, doesn’t emphasize mobility or muscle control the way Pilates does, and has a higher risk of overuse injuries.
Running: This is one of the best and highest-calorie-burning exercises at 500–800 calories per hour, but with it’s high-impact nature, it comes with a high risk of joint strain and overuse injuries.

While any effort to move your body is a good effort, BODYROK bridges the gap by combining the sculpting and conditioning benefits of Pilates with the calorie burn of a cardio-infused format. It’s the perfect balance between strength, endurance, and sustainability.

Is Pilates Enough for Weight Loss?

Yes! Consistent Pilates practice can definitely support weight loss, especially when paired with a nutritious diet and healthy lifestyle. While in-class calorie burn is important, Pilates also builds lean muscle, which helps boost your metabolism and increases your daily energy expenditure. Remember that BMR we mentioned above? The more consistent you are with practice and progress, the more efficiently your body will burn calories at rest thanks to all that new lean muscle.

BODYROK’s approach accelerates the muscle development and weight loss process with a combination of resistance, pace, and total-body activation, making it a powerful tool for long-term weight management and body recomposition, not just temporary results.

Results Beyond the Burn

Calories matter, but transformation runs deeper than the numbers tracked on your smartwatch. Pilates supports a healthy, active lifestyle and that progress shows up in how you move, feel, and function in everyday life. BODYROK members often notice:

Improved posture and alignment
A stronger, more stable core
Better energy and flexibility
Reduced tension and pain
Increased mind-body awareness

At BODYROK, progress isn’t just measured in numbers; it’s in the way you show up stronger and more confident every day.

Who Should Try Calorie-Burning Pilates with BODYROK?

BODYROK is for everyone! Whether you’re:

A busy professional looking for a fast and effective total-body workout
Someone who prefers low-impact training that’s still challenging
An athlete looking to build strength, endurance, and mobility
Or simply someone who wants to see and feel progress without burnout

Our dynamic reformer classes meet you where you are, helping you push harder, recover smarter, and transform faster by condensing a full-body workout into one efficient 45-minute session that delivers maximum results in minimal time.

Class variety prevents boredom and supports your fitness goals. From high-intensity strength sessions to recovery-focused flexibility, BODYROK offers options that keep your practice interesting and appropriately challenging to support both progress and long-term consistency.

We also make things fun. BODYROK’s immersive studio environment with advanced lighting and sound systems makes classes engaging and energizing, and our expert instructors provide personalized guidance and modifications to create an experience that keeps you motivated.

If you’re curious about reformer pilates, sign up for a class at a BODYROK studio near you to see what it’s all about.

Start Seeing Results with BODYROK

How many calories you burn in a Pilates class depends on a combination of factors, but with BODYROK, you’ll burn more than you think. Our resistance-based, high-intensity format maximizes calorie burn while building lean muscle and lasting strength. Remember that your personal calorie burn comes down to consistency and the quality of your workout, not just duration.

At BODYROK, every 45-minute class is a chance to challenge yourself, improve your endurance, and unlock sustainable progress.

Ready to burn more calories with Pilates? Try BODYROK’s introductory offers today and work with our expert instructors to find the right class for your individual goals. Our team will help you build a sustainable practice that delivers the results you’re looking for.

Common Questions About Pilates and Calorie Burn

How many calories does a BODYROK Pilates class burn?

A typical 45-minute BODYROK class burns an average of 300–500 calories. Individual results vary depending on effort, fitness level, and body type, but BODYROK’s intensity and reformer-based resistance training elevates calorie burn beyond traditional Pilates.

Does Pilates burn more calories than yoga?

Yes! Pilates, especially BODYROK-style, generally burns more due to its dynamic movement and added resistance. Both offer unique and incredible benefits, but reformer Pilates is often more effective for calorie-burning goals.

Is Pilates good for fat loss or just toning?

Pilates supports both fat loss and toning by building lean muscle and improving metabolism. BODYROK’s reformer-based format increases calorie burn, which can contribute to more overall fat loss when combined with a healthy lifestyle.

How do I burn more calories during a Pilates workout?

Keep your core engaged, maintain proper form and controlled movements, increase resistance when possible, and stay consistent. Choosing higher-intensity classes like those at BODYROK can also maximize your calorie burn.

Can you lose weight doing only Pilates?

Yes, people can lose weight with Pilates alone, especially if classes are high-intensity (like BODYROK’s), consistent, and paired with healthy eating and lifestyle habits.

Is Pilates better than cardio for weight loss?

Pilates and cardio serve different purposes. While traditional cardio may burn more calories per session, Pilates builds strength and lean muscle, which improves metabolism and boosts overall calorie burn to better support long-term fat loss. BODYROK blends both strength and cardio elements for a balanced approach.

How Do I Sign Up for BODYROK’s Pilates Classes?

Visit BODYROK’s Studios page to find your local studio. From there, you can book a class online or call your location directly to learn about class schedules and intro offers for new clients.

Start With BODYROK Today!

Burn more calories with BODYROK Pilates. With a focus on resistance, precision, and performance, our classes help you build strength, confidence, and lasting results.

If you’re ready to move smarter, sweat harder, and feel stronger, it’s time to get started with BODYROK. Visit your nearest studio, claim your intro offer, and experience the full effect of reformer Pilates.

BODYROK – How Many Calories Does Pilates Burn?