Pilates dreams meet reality

Arab News

4 days ago

ALKHOBAR: It starts with a stretch. Then a breath. And for many women in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province, what follows is far more than just physical movement. It's calm, clarity and control. But not everyone gets to experience it.
While pilates and yoga classes have become increasingly popular in Alkhobar, Dhahran and beyond, the women who attend them — or hope to — say the trend isn't just about fitness. It's about access.
'I've felt a real difference in my body and mood since I started pilates,' said Noura Alzayani, 42, from Dhahran. 'I feel more flexible, balanced, even my posture and breathing improved. I just feel better.'
She attends classes for free at the King Gym in Aramco camp and describes the sessions as 'a complete reset.' Her favorite part? The style of the workouts.
I've thought about trying Pilates so many times. But the prices don't match the value. When six classes cost as much as a full year of gym membersh-ip, it just doesn't feel worth it.
Lama Alrajeh, Dhahran local
'They tone the body, help with alignment and improve mental well-being. I wish more people understood their value.'
But outside of private compounds such as Aramco's, access to these benefits can be difficult. While some women are willing, even eager, to sign up, the reality of high prices, limited availability and rigid schedules has kept many away.
'I've thought about trying pilates so many times,' said Lama Alrajeh, 21, also from Dhahran. 'But the prices don't match the value. When six classes cost as much as a full year of gym membership, it just doesn't feel worth it.'
She once attended a free trial with her sister and loved the experience. 'It was motivating. But then we ran into the same issue — too expensive. Plus, the closest good studio is only available to Aramco employees. I can't even go with my friends.'
And for students like her, flexibility isn't just something they're seeking in their bodies, but in the schedules of the classes. 'Sessions are often at times I can't manage, like early mornings or late afternoons when I'm in class. It just doesn't fit.'
Still, the desire is there. Many women interviewed for this story described pilates and yoga as aspirational; something they want to include in their lives, if only logistics would allow it.
It feels like (Pilates) suddenly became a huge thing, like everyone is doing it. That in itself is a positive shift. It means people are becoming more aware of their health and trying to find balance in their lives.
Sitah Alotaibi, Al-Ahsa local
Sitah Alotaibi, 22, from Al-Ahsa, said she has never attended a class but watches the trend with interest. 'It feels like it suddenly became a huge thing, like everyone is doing it,' she said. 'That in itself is a positive shift. It means people are becoming more aware of their health and trying to find balance in their lives.'
Her main challenges? Transportation, cost and lack of availability. 'I hope one day we'll have branches in every neighborhood, with real services and inviting spaces.'
Malak Khaled, 26, from Alkhobar, agrees. She describes pilates as 'a luxury' that feels out of reach. 'These places are usually located in the middle of the city and treated like elite experiences,' she said. 'I don't even have a way to get there. And I already pay for a gym — I can't afford another membership.'
Even when her gym has pilates equipment, she doesn't use it. 'There are four machines, but I don't know what I'm doing, and the sessions get full fast. They only offer one class a week, and it's at a time I can't attend.'
For Lama Khalid, 20, from Jubail, the story began differently; she actually did start. 'I did pilates for almost a year in Alkhobar. It was amazing. My mood improved, my body felt lighter. But I had to stop — my friend and I were traveling from Jubail, and the routine just didn't fit anymore.'
She hopes more studios open in her city. 'The prices need to come down. And I wish we had more class options here in Jubail.'
For others, accessibility came not from a gym, but a screen.
Hajjar Alotaibi, 22, from Al-Ahsa, practices pilates once or twice a week at home using the YouTube channel Move With Nicole. 'It helps my mood, relaxes my body and tones it at the same time,' she said. 'I wish there were more local places that offered this at fair prices, but for now, this works.'
Others, like Rana Abbas, 26, from Alkhobar, found solace in yoga.
'I do yoga more than pilates,' she said. 'It helps my stiff body from work and lifts my mood. I feel in control, and it suits me because it's quiet and slow-paced.'
She tried multiple studios but finds the cost high. 'Around SR180 ($48) per class. I wish we had more affordable centers. And more instructors who pay attention to everyone in the class — not just a few.'
The issue of cost — and perception — comes up again and again.
'I feel like pilates has become an activity for the wealthy only,' said Khaled. 'I can't afford resistance training at one gym and pilates at another. How much do we have to pay just to stay healthy?'
Kawthar Abdulaziz, from Al-Ahsa, recently attended her first pilates class. 'I wanted a gym without weights or harsh training,' she said. 'I wanted to stretch, feel graceful and move like I'm dancing. That's why pilates appealed to me.'
The experience didn't disappoint.
'I felt a huge release — mentally and physically. I moved my blood. I felt every muscle. It felt like I emptied all my emotional tension.'
But even she admits: 'The price is too high. And the good places are far. I just want more spaces where we can move, where movement is the focus, not the luxury.'
Her words echo what every woman interviewed said in one way or another; the desire to move is strong, but the barriers are real.
Whether it is the lack of nearby studios, transportation issues, unaffordable prices or simply the feeling that Pilates is not 'for them,' many women across the Eastern Province are still on the outside looking in.
And yet, their responses are also filled with hope.
'Even though I've only done one class,' Abdulaziz said, 'it made me realize how important this is. This kind of movement — it's not just fitness. It's therapy.'