Melbourne pilates owner sparks debate after member complains about shirtless men in hot classes
Studio owner says culture prioritises personal comfort and mutual respect as online discussion grows over hygiene, gender double standards and new 'shirts-on' policies
A Melbourne pilates studio owner who posted a TikTok about a member review has become the centre of a wider debate over whether men should be required to wear shirts in heated pilates classes.
Georgia, the owner of CorePlus franchises in Collingwood and Fitzroy North, said the complaint — which suggested “Men are required to wear shirts in a gym, so they should be required to wear shirts in a hot pilates studio” — surprised her because the studios have promoted a culture of personal comfort. The video, posted after a long day at one of her studios, has been viewed more than 27,000 times.
In the TikTok, Georgia explained that the studios generally do not enforce a strict "shirts-on" policy but instead rely on members to be respectful of others. "We’ve worked so hard to create this culture where people feel comfortable and confident to wear whatever they like — within reason," she said. She added that the business has intervened in only a few instances when clothing was judged inappropriate and asked those people to add additional coverage to protect other members' comfort.
The complaint appears to stem from an instance when a male participant attended a hot pilates class without a shirt. Some commenters on the post and other social platforms said shirtlessness in a studio setting felt inappropriate or unhygienic, particularly given the intense sweating that can occur in hot pilates. Others said they were unconcerned and focused on their own workouts.
Hot pilates is typically conducted in rooms heated to about 34 to 38 degrees Celsius and combines mat-based functional strength work and low‑impact cardio. The heat is promoted as improving circulation and mobility and allowing participants to reach deeper stretches, but it also increases perspiration, which has been cited by some critics as a hygiene issue when participants exercise without a shirt.
The debate taps into broader conversations about gendered expectations and the sexualisation of bodies. For years, pilates was largely perceived as a women’s activity; Georgia said she has noticed more men attending classes in recent years, which has made shirtless men in studios more visible. On TikTok and Reddit, users from multiple countries have discussed the trend, with some arguing that women’s bodies are policed differently than men’s.
Nate, a regular pilates participant in Bondi, told news.com.au that he began removing his shirt in classes after seeing other men do the same and that he finds it more comfortable given how soaked shirts can become. "It’s so hot in there, my shirt was usually completely soaked through by the end of class, so it’s much more comfortable to go shirtless," he said, while acknowledging the wider gendered implications. Other men said they deliberately keep shirts on to respect female classmates and maintain a studio atmosphere some participants consider a safe space.
Some local studios have recently adopted explicit "top-on-for-men" policies, a move Georgia suggested may have sharpened awareness and criticism about the practice. She said her studio had not previously received this type of review and that, in her experience, members have been considerate.
Public responses to Georgia’s video were split. Some commenters called for uniform rules for everyone, arguing that even small tops are still "tops" and that requiring shirts for men would be a straightforward solution. Others said policing attire misses the point and that individuals should be free to wear what makes them comfortable as long as it does not cross the line into indecency.
Studio operators are left balancing several considerations: participant comfort, hygiene, inclusivity and the preferences of a diverse membership. Some have chosen clear uniform dress codes to avoid ambiguity, while others prefer a culture-based approach that relies on staff intervention only when an outfit is judged disruptive by other members.
As male participation in pilates continues to rise, the issue is likely to resurface in other communities. Studios, instructors and participants will continue to shape local norms either through explicit policy or culture. For now, Georgia said her focus remains on mutual respect and on asking individuals to modify attire only in rare cases when it affects others' comfort.
