Let's get one thing straight—pilates may be a great tool for rehab but that doesn't mean it's cruisy. Yep, the pilates shakes are very, very real and the classes can prompt some DOMS (that's short for 'delayed onset muscle soreness' aka the afterburn that kicks in a couple of days after a workout) that are just as spicy as any HIIT class.
With the right guidance and technique, pilates can be a hyper effective workout, using muscles you never knew you had in controlled, targeted ways to get you seriously strong in no time. Plus, it's low impact which means it's great on joints. And this might just be the pilate instructor in me talking but once you've done a burpee on a reformer, you'll be converted for life. (Spoiler alert: it's way more fun than on the floor.)
Want to not look like a noob? Always wear grip socks. They're queen when it comes to safety, plus, it stops the machines from getting nasty. Arrive 15 minutes before your first class for an orientation—reformers aren't necessarily the same from studio to studio. If you've got injuries, let the instructor know beforehand and if any movements feel painful, let your instructor know. 'No pain, no gain' is so a hundred years ago and not a vibe.
Keen to give it a try but not sure where to start? I've got you. Here are 10 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 a huge number of 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. Plus, they do they're always coming up with the cutest grip socks (and let's be real, that's a pull in and of itself). 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 | 65 Blackbridge Road, Karaka, 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.
Perfect for you if you prefer your pilates creatively programmed with lower repetitions, more variety and a faster pace.
STRONG Pilates
9 Melrose Street, Newmarket, Auckland | 261 Morrin Road, St Johns, Auckland | 15 Halsey Street, Auckland Central
Image credit: STRONG | supplied
If traditional reformer pilates isn't it for you, STRONG Pilates just might be. Flexing a unique rowformer—think: rower or bike stuck on the end of a reformer plus cables, no footbar, gym-sized weights, stretchy bands and a weighted bar—these workouts combine slow, controlled pilates movements with cardio bursts and weighted strength training. 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. Your instructor might even be yours truly. 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. Head upstairs for (non-heated) reformer pilates on bespoke Femi Pilates reformers designed by Holly.
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, Online
Image credit: Unity Studios | Instagram
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. Available on Classpass.
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
Image credit: Peak Pilates | Instagram
Peak Pilates is one of the O.G. pilates studios and chances are there's a studio near you. The classes are designed to help strengthen, tone, shape and increase flexibility. They also specialise in recovery from injury with on-site physiotherapists (often they double as the instructors). On offer? Absolute beginner classes through to more challenging pilates flows for when you're ready for all the spice.
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
If Peak is the O.G., Reform is their contemporary counterpart responsible for a new wave of reformer pilates-obsessed girlies. These classes really lean into the muscle trembling pilates burn with faster pacing than more traditional programming. Flows tend to focus on isolating, fatiguing and burning out muscle groups. 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
Image credit: Core Collective | Instagram
Core Collective has made a home at City Works Depot, in a spacious, modern, light-filled studio. They offer beginner, intermediate and advanced classes, as well as post-natal and private options. I always recommend hitting a beginner class if it's your first time at a new studio—even if you've done hundreds of classes elswehere—because every spot teaches a little differently. 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?
Red Room
City Works Depot, 90 Wellesley Street, Auckland
Image credit: Red Room | Instagram
Wander around to the other side of City Works Depot and you'll find Red Room, a pilates studio which, as the name suggests, is bathed in red light. There isn't a massive heated pilates offering in Auckland CBD so if you're into really getting your sweat on, this is the spot to hit. And if we're throwing around business buzzwords and want to delve into their USP, it's the infrared panels hidden behind the curtains on either side of the studio. The classes themselves are lit with red LEDs but the panels deliver bright red infrared light which is thought to boost recovery and energy levels, and have beneficial effects for skin. If that sounds like your vibe, book into a post-class 10-minute red light therapy session.
Perfect for if you've ever found yourself wishing your pilates sweat sesh was even hotter, or you want engimatic red lighting for your selfies.
Studio Three
Level 1/56 Surrey Crescent, Grey Lynn, Auckland
Image credit: Studio Three
Studio Three isn't just about pilates, the team also offer classes in barre and TRX, too, all led by expert instructors. My favourite part about this studio is the wooden floor and large windows which lend to an airy aesthetic and my second favourite part is its proximity to both Honey Bones (otherwise known as brunch mecca). And is there anything better than pilates and brunch? I think not.
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 too.
Always Pilates
Level 1, 13 Commerce Street, Auckland CBD
Image credit: Always Pilates | Alice Rich
Remote reformer classes aren't new (for those lucky enough to have a reformer in their home) but an on demand group setting? Now, that's something I've never seen before. Always Pilates has sprung up on Commerce Street making it the perfect location for a workday sesh, provided you've got your basics down.
The concept behind the beautiful brick-lined studio has ten reformers complete with all the props you could ever need, a screen and a set of bluetooth headphones and a library of 180 classes you can dip into as you like. You choose whatever class takes your fancy (which can be totally different from the person next to you), then dive right in. Members can even gain access outside of staff hours and take classes whenever they like. Perhaps most attention-grabbing is weekly unlmited class membership costs about the same as a single class at boutique, instructor-led studio.
The class library offers varying class levels (including for pregnancy) but if you're new to pilates I'd recommend honing your technique at studios with in-person instructors first. Same goes for if you're rehabbing injuries or if you're pregnant. In-person instructors are constantly monitoring attendees' form and safety, both which contribute to the effectiveness of a pilates workout. Once you've built muscle memory around correct technique and can feel the right muscles working in each movement, grab your grip socks and get amongst Always Pilates.
Perfect for if you've been attending instructor-led pilates studios for a while and are 100% confident in your technique.
Main image credit: SO Fitness | Andrew Lau.
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