When people ask me what makes a STRONG Pilates class different, they expect me to talk about the ROWFORMER™, or the mix of Pilates, rowing, and strength. And while that’s all essential, here’s what I really believe: fitness is entertainment. If your class doesn’t feel like an experience—if it doesn’t take someone on a journey—it’s just another workout.

The best studios, the best instructors, and the best programs don’t just train your body. They capture your attention. They create emotion. They keep you coming back, not because you have to, but because you want to.

That’s what I mean when I say the best workouts tell a story. From the second you walk into the studio to the final beat of the cooldown, every moment matters.

The Studio as Stage

When I think about how we design a STRONG Pilates studio, I think in terms of theater. Lighting, flow, acoustics—it all plays a role. We’re not just putting machines in a room. We’re building an atmosphere.

Dim, focused lighting sets the mood. Strategic machine layout creates energy and symmetry. Sound design—whether it’s a bass-heavy playlist or a pulsing rhythm during transitions—guides emotion and effort.

There’s a reason we use the word “experience” when we talk about STRONG Pilates. The studio is a stage. The class is the show. And our clients? They’re not just participants—they’re the stars.

Storytelling in Every Set

Think about your favorite movie or book. It starts with a hook. Then it builds tension. Then there’s a climax. Finally, there’s resolution. That’s how I believe a great class should feel.

You ease in. You get grounded. You know what’s coming. Then the intensity builds. Your muscles start to burn. The pace quickens. The instructor pushes just a little harder. That’s your plot twist.

Eventually, you come back down—breathe, stretch, reflect. It’s satisfying because it has shape. It respects your body’s arc of effort and recovery.

That flow isn’t accidental. We design it. Every moment has a purpose. It’s choreography—but with sweat.

Machines That Make You Feel Something

One of the most overlooked parts of a fitness experience is the machine itself. When I designed the ROWFORMER™, I didn’t just want it to be functional. I wanted it to feel powerful. Smooth. Responsive. Sleek.

There’s a reason it looks the way it does. The industrial frame, the resistance feel, the way it snaps back into place—it all contributes to the energy of the workout.

People fall in love with machines that feel good. That challenge them but don’t punish them. That respond like an extension of their own body.

We obsess over car design. Over the feel of a great pair of sneakers. Why shouldn’t we demand the same from fitness equipment?

Music Is More Than Background

In any STRONG Pilates class, the playlist matters just as much as the program. It sets the tone. It moves people emotionally. A well-timed beat drop during a max-effort sprint can make the difference between giving up and breaking through.

We work with instructors to teach them pacing with music. How to use it to guide transitions. How to create moments of intensity, then space.

Music connects the class. When people move in sync to a shared rhythm, it creates unity. That’s where community is born.

Instructors as Storytellers

No one delivers the story of a class more than the instructor. At STRONG Pilates, we look for people who can coach, motivate, and perform. It’s not about yelling or being flashy—it’s about presence. Timing. Empathy.

The best instructors can read a room in seconds. They know when to push, when to back off. When to crack a joke, when to get serious. They’re narrating the class in real-time, and their voice becomes part of the soundtrack.

When people leave class saying, “That flew by,” or “I didn’t even think about my phone once,” that’s storytelling in action.

More Than Fitness—A Full-Body Experience

When people love a workout, it’s rarely because of the reps. It’s because of how it made them feel.

They felt strong. Energized. Connected. They lost themselves for 45 minutes and came out a little more confident. A little clearer. A little more alive.

That’s what I care about building. A workout that doesn’t feel like a chore, but like a ritual. Something you look forward to, that pulls you in, that gives you a moment of meaning in a chaotic day.

Why It All Matters

So, why put this much thought into every detail? Because in an oversaturated fitness market, experience is everything. Anyone can throw together a playlist and a circuit. But creating something people talk about, crave, and commit to week after week? That’s art.

Fitness should be immersive. Emotional. Transformative. Whether you’re a studio owner, an instructor, or someone showing up to sweat—you deserve more than just reps and sets. You deserve a story.

And at STRONG Pilates, that’s exactly what we aim to deliver—one class at a time.