There's a misconception that pilates is an easy-going style of workout that doesn't require the same strength and effort as traditional gym workouts. Well, we're here to smash that myth once and for all. Pilates isn't just a challenging and effective workout, it's a safe one too. Guiding you to move your muscles in controlled, low impact, specifically targeted ways, you'll get seriously strong in no time. Keen to give it a try but not sure where to start? We've got you.
Here are 9 of Auckland's best pilates studios.
So Fitness
2 Princes Street, Auckland CBD
Image credit: So Fitness | Instagram
With eight reformers in their atmospheric semi-industrial style space, every class at So Fitness is a vibe. The instructors make a mighty team with collective backgrounds in clinical pilates, physiotherapy, rhythmic gymnastics and ballet so you know they’ve got your back (literally and physically). There’s an impressive 40 classes on offer every week and you can choose from beginner or intermediate levels. Each class encourages attendees to move with their breath, building muscle tone and control while strengthening the mind and mind-body connection all at once. Complete your pilates 'fit with a pair of their ballet-inspired grip socks. This is not a drill. Available on Classpass.
Perfect for you if you’re looking for a traditional pilates vibe in a cute boutique studio setting or you’re working around an injury.
Movement Pilates
123 Main Highway, Ellerslie, Auckland
Image credit: Movement Pilates | Instagram
No matter your level of experience or how fit you may (or may not) feel, you'll fit right in at Movement Pilates. The team, expertly led by the effervescent Shannon Thompson, will guide you through fast-paced reformer pilates using props like pilates rings, bliss balls, jumpboards and more. Start with their All Levels Reformer class to establish your strength, stretch and balance foundations, then level up with their intermediate sessions, upping the ante to prevent plateau. All Movement Pilates teachers are schooled in modifying for pregnancy, too, so provided you're feeling well and have clearance from your GP/OB to exercise, you can join any of their classes. *Reopening 28 January 2025*
Perfect for you if you prefer your pilates creatively programmed with lower repetitions, more variety and a faster pace.
STRONG Pilates
Victoria Park, Newmarket, St Johns ('The Bays')
Image credit: STRONG | supplied
Auckland’s best pilates studio for hyper-effective, low impact workouts (or if you want to enter your pilates girlie era), STRONG Pilates sports an ever-evolving rowformer that you’re guaranteed to have never set eyes on before. Think: rower or bike stuck on the end of a reformer plus cables, gym-sized weights, stretchy bands and even a weighted bar. These workouts are a contemporary spin on traditional reformer with cardio bursts and weighted strength training interspersed between pilates-inspired blocks. You might feel a bit overwhelmed during your first couple of classes while you’re getting used to the reformer and the moves but it’s worth sticking at it—you’ll be a pro in no time and stronger than ever before. Available on Classpass.
Perfect for you if you’re ready for something totally different—pilates-inspired moves with cardio bursts and next level strength training.
Refinery Studios
90a Hobsonville Road, Hobsonville, Auckland
Image credit: Refinery Studios | Instagram
Heated pilates might sound like a fresh hell but it might just turn out to be your next obsession. Enter: Refinery Studios, a mat studio heated to 35 degrees via infrared panels and a space for everybody to move and feel damn good while doing it. Holly and her expert team currently offer three class styles. Release and Restore is their traditional mat pilates session (and is great for beginners, just sayin’), Contour and Condition is more strength-focused and Sweat and Sculpt with its blend of strength and cardio is where the party’s at.
As always, with any heated activity—yoga and sauna included—it’s important to stay hydrated so take a big ol’ drink bottle in with you. And if you’re doing double classes or anything that’ll have you in the heat for 90 minutes or more, you’ll need to chase with electrolytes to keep your body’s vital salts in check. Refinery is poised to launch a reformer studio in January 2025, too, with bespoke Femi Pilates reformers designed by Refinery. This studio won't be heated but you're sure to work up a sweat regardless.
Perfect for you if you’ve been cruising in your mat pilates class for a while and you’re craving an added challenge—hello glorious Bali-reminiscent heat.
Unity Studios
Balmoral, Northcote, Point Chevalier
If you've got a bun in the oven (or just gave birth), Unity Studios is for you. In addition to their regular clinical pilates offering, you'll find pregnancy and post-natal pilates, reformer on barre on their timetable. Each class is designed with the epic changes our bodies undergo during pregnancy in mind. Pilates is available as mat or reformer and focuses on pelvic stability, upper bod mobility, pelvic floor and core throughout pregnancy, then changes tact to challenge and rehab pelvic floor, core and posture post-pregnancy. Non-crawling babies welcome in class, plus physio and massage therapy is also available.
Perfect for you if you want pregnancy-informed pilates or you’re postpartum and ready to rebuild your body.
Peak Pilates
St Heliers, St Johns, Grey Lynn, Botany, Takapuna, Millwater, NextGen Parnell
With seven different locations in Auckland, Peak Pilates will have a studio near you and with their expert training style, it's definitely worth heading along to check them out. The classes are designed to help strengthen, tone, shape and increase flexibility. They also specialise in injuries and the highly trained physiotherapists available are the best team to get you feeling back on track if you are recovering. There are no forced subscriptions and they offer everything from absolute beginner classes to more challenging Pilates for advanced students.
Perfect for you if you’re returning to movement post-injury and you’re living in the Venn diagram of 1-on-1 rehab and group classes.
Reform Fitness
Albany, Commercial Bay, Hobsonville, Karaka, Mount Wellington, Newmarket, Onehunga, Ormiston, Parnell, Takapuna, Victoria Park Market
Image credit: Reform | supplied
The team at Reform do things a little differently from the standard Pilates class. There are no slow, holistic, mindful movements to be seen—instead think body-enhancing, muscle trembling, dynamic and challenging reformer Pilates. If you're looking for a workout that will push your body then this is the one for you. These are controlled functional exercises that focus on isolating muscles, working till they fatigue and then stretching them out. (Pssst, if you're looking for Kcöre, that's now part of the Reform family.) Available on Classpass.
Perfect for you if you’re keen to periodically hit every muscle in your body and then indulge in a bit of a stretch.
Core Collective
City Works Depot, Shed 7a/90 Wellesley Street West, Auckland
The boutique method and training style offered at Core Collective is energising, encourages strength and builds muscle while creating a healthy body and mind. Sitting pretty at City Works Depot, the open, modern studio has reformer machines that give you a low impact but extremely effective workout. There are beginner, intermediate and advanced classes as well as post-natal and private options as well, so something for you wherever you are in your pilates journey. Available on Classpass.
Perfect for you if you're a social pilates girlie and you want a studio that's walking distance to the best catch-up spots. Sunday pilates + yum cha brunch, anyone?
Studio Three
Level 1/56 Surrey Crescent, Grey Lynn, Auckland
Image credit: Studio Three
Specialising in Pilates, Xtend Barre and Yoga, Studio Three is all about your individual goals and helping you get there. The team of highly trained instructors motivate and encourage you to push yourself in the right direction. The beautiful wooden floors and large windows make the studio light and full of fresh air, creating a welcoming and enjoyable place to work out. The range of classes offered every day make heading along to a session easy and there are specific level classes for whatever stage in your practice you are at.
Perfect for you if you want pilates to be part but not all of your repertoire and TRX and barre sound like a bit of you.
Main image credit: SO Fitness | Andrew Lau.
Urban List Best Of: has our highest stamp of approval—curated lists of the very best recommendations for you to eat, do, see, buy or book, carefully chosen by our Editors.