Workers reveal how they can do Pilates in the middle of the day
A viral video, that has been viewed more than four million times, has started a conversation about what is important in the workplace.
Lifestyle
Don't miss out on the headlines from Lifestyle. Followed categories will be added to My News.
“Wondering what everyone in my Pilates class does for work to be here at 10am?”
US influencer Ashton Von Kessler posed that question, and it went viral, amassing more than four million views on TikTok.
The replies were swift with people from around the world sharing how they worked in various industries, from real estate to early childhood education, and found time to attend exercise classes within typical working hours.
One daytime attendee, a therapist, shared her daily Pilates routine, emphasising the importance of “blocking” out time.
Another, working in sales, strategically scheduled meetings around her classes.
A third said she created a well-deserved break by “putting a meeting in my calendar” to attend Pilates.
Many commented that they were surprised so many could take time out of work to exercise, and “wondered” what jobs people did that allowed so much personal freedom.
“As a working girly who works 7am – 5pm I hate how much classes are on during the working day,” one vented.
Attending an exercise class during working hours might not be completely mainstream, but it is definitely on the rise.
It used to just be shift workers or stay-at-home mums who were able to exercise in the middle of the day.
Now, gym classes are filled with women wrapping up their exercise and getting back up on their laptops.
In 2024, securing a job is no longer just about work; it is about finding a career that can also give you the lifestyle you want.
Recruitment expert Roxanne Calder said it wasn’t unusual for candidates to raise questions during the interview process about whether they’d get time in their working days to attend exercise classes.
Ms Calder said it was about the “cultural fit”, and when interviewing people, they’ll be straight forward and say: “Am I allowed to go to an 11am Pilates class?”
Alternatively they’ll ask if the company is invested in staff’s wellbeing to determine whether the culture would accept someone ducking out for a yoga class within standard working hours.
Ms Calder said there’s always been a push for work and exercise to be combined, but it is expected these days.
“Back in the day Telecom had gyms in their offices at the basement level because work/life balance was important. The difference now, from what I’m seeing, is that people see it as a right instead of a bonus,” she said.
“People expect work to fit around everything else in their lives now.”
While Ms Calder said it was great to focus on health, she worried that industries were now stuck with workers not doing enough.
“We have a productivity issue,” she said. “If your employer says it’s OK to do all these things while you’re in the office, you also need to make sure your team is being supported.”
Originally published as Workers reveal how they can do Pilates in the middle of the day
Man’s $6 text exposes why dating is doomed
After meeting a man on a Sydney beach and going on a coffee date, Emily sadly felt “no spark”. After admitting her feelings, things went awry.
Major cash boost for Aussie families
Women who give birth to or adopt babies after July 1 next year will be eligible for an increased cash boost aimed at lowering the “motherhood tax”.