Liana Levy of Forma Pilates. “Liana is well-trained, specific and sharp,” says her client Sofia Boutella.
Claire Cali
Pilates is having a big moment in the zeitgeist – just a few years after being excluded by global regulations new york magazine The article called it “Pilates Spocalypse”. This proves the old adage that everything old is new again. Of course, you need proper branding.
Forma Pilates Founder Liana Levi — recently trained Sofia Boutella for director Zack Snyder level moon — says it’s not our imagination that virtually ancient training suddenly appears everywhere. “New Pilates studios pop up on my Instagram almost every day,” says the Los Angeles-based Pilates studio who works with “It” girls like Hailey Bieber, Kaia Gerber and Kendall Jenner. says the trainer. “There has been a huge upsurge in the Pilates world during COVID-19.” She says the power of social media helped founder Joseph Pilates in 1926 as a response to World War I injuries. is credited with bringing renewed interest in the mind-body practice founded by.
“It was developed to help people heal…it’s never been this fun, sexy girl workout,” explains Amanda’s Pilates founder, Amanda Casser. His clients include Sofia Richie and the Stallone family.
But when Bieber, Richie, and Bella Hadid started posting Pilates selfies in recent years, the backlash was inevitable. According to a recent Lifespan Fitness study, the term “Reformer Pilates” is searched 238,400 times per month on TikTok, and his related videos have been viewed 27.4 million times.
“I want to take some responsibility for promoting Pilates as a cool, youth-oriented workout,” Levi says of the invitation-only, celebrity-driven business. “Pilates is a classic workout that has been around for a long time, but I’ve tweaked it and put a little spin on it, so it might catch on among the younger generation.”
Liana Levi of Forma Pilates works with clients.
Claire Cali
With five referral-only locations in Los Angeles and New York, Levi’s Forma Pilates is one of the fastest-growing boutique studios, but its beginnings were a fluke. “I decided to buy a remodeling appliance. [a bed-like apparatus that uses ropes and pulleys, offering an array of exercises that can isolate muscles] And I just happened to start a business,” Levi said, explaining that he had been taking Pilates classes for years and earned his certification as a hobby. But when the pandemic hit, she quit her job working with jewelry designer Jackie Aish in 2020 to focus on fitness.
“I bought a remodeling device for my home,” Levi says. “I sent that picture to some of my girlfriends, and everyone was like, ‘You have to come.’ They came into the studio and looked at me and looked at me like, “You’re a professional.” teach us. Let’s have a mini class. ‘I was like, ‘I’m honored.’ I don’t know what the hell I’m doing. But let’s go with that. ” I started by having fun training my friends. ”
Levi’s studio has become recognizable thanks to her Forma Pilates branded selfie mirrors. She explains that this comes from a natural place. “I love watching myself while working out,” Levi says. “It allows me to make sure I’m doing right, and it also allows me to admire myself. Those are moments of self-love and self-respect for me. …But selfie mirrors have become a big topic. Because every celebrity under the sun has been photographed in that mirror.” (One of her locations is a corner of her mother’s home in Holmby Hills. “Dreams outside the window.” “This is still everyone’s favorite studio because you can see the landscape,” says Levi.
Of working with Levy, Boutella added: I’ve been a dancer all my life, so I need strong people to push me up. She motivates me in a way that works for me, and she brings so much joy and sparkle into her space that it’s a fun environment. ”
Pilates by Amanda Founder Amanda Casser
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Kassar also saw an increase due to the coronavirus pandemic. “She started zooming in with a client who had moved from Los Angeles and purchased a remodeler for her home,” she says.
She started videotaping herself to help her clients maintain their daily routines while mandated to work from home. She said: “Rita Ora made a video of me and she was posting herself from London. I was like, ‘What’s going on?’ “In 2021 she ended up developing an app called The Core Club Pilates and started filming like crazy,” she recalls.
Kasser launched her business in 2017, making house calls for Vanna White and other fashionistas. “We were going to start at the top of Benedict Canyon and work our way down the hill,” Kasser said. Later, she opened her home studio with six reformers. On one occasion, she recalls, “When Kelly Rowland came to the studio, she was so nervous that she went in at 5 a.m. and got a flat tire.” Cassar also started a meal plan delivery company called Organic Oren. Her Core Club Pilates app features videos of nearly 200 Pilates mat classes. And she hosts intimate retreats in places like Suslos del Corazon, Mexico.
A Pilates workout class taught by Amanda founder Amanda Kasser.
kat noel smith
Whitney Port, who trains with Kasser, said she believes Pilates is the right time because it’s “a nurturing workout for women.” We’re looking for time to really take care of our bodies instead of putting stress on them. The idea behind Pilates is in line with what millennial women are looking for today. ”
Megan Roop is also a popular and popular figure in Los Angeles, but she does not strictly adhere to the basic principles of Pilates. “Pilates has evolved,” says the Sculpt Society founder, who counts Miranda Kerr and Karlie Kloss among her method’s followers. “What I do is low-impact sculpting, which is an evolution of Pilates. If you’re a traditional Pilates instructor, you’re probably tired of that evolution, right? Because if you love a traditional Pilates class, you’re never going to stop doing it. But I think there’s a natural evolution. We’re putting it to music. It’s beat-based and fast-paced. ”
Megan Roop, founder of the Sculpt Association.
lianna tarantine
The loop has the Chanel seal of approval. Her fashion house named her as “movement director” for its fitness-inspired Cruise 2023/24 show, held at Paramount Studios last year. It also included a hypnotic Jane Fonda workout-style visual that appeared on her runway. One Chanel model recognized her Roup on TikTok. “This girl comes in and says, ‘I know who you are.’ I’m training you every day,” says Roup.
Not everyone appreciates the “evolution” of Pilates. Nonna Glaser, an instructor to the stars, has been teaching Pilates at her private studio on Sunset Boulevard since before many of her peers were in college. The founder of The Body by Nonna, whose clients include Natalie Portman, Gisele Bündchen and Kelly Rowland, says, “People get injured by taking Pilates classes that have nothing to do with Pilates.” It’s actually infuriating that there are.” Glaser doesn’t specifically name competitors, but says, “There are people who take Pilates classes or Reformer classes to get in shape, but they weren’t doing Pilates. However, Pilates is an art, a method, and a technique, and it must be done correctly in order to improve your body. Trainers have a lot of knowledge about injuries and can treat each type of individual. You need to know what exercises to do. You need to make sure you’re using the right groups of muscles.”
Body by Nonna Founder Nonna Gleyzer
Alexander Atanesyan
Glaser’s expertise, which includes Chinese acupressure, lymphatic drainage massage, craniosacral therapy, and body realignment, goes far beyond standard Pilates instruction. “I always tell people, ‘I’m not a trainer,'” says the former Ukrainian rhythmic gymnast who moved to Los Angeles and has been coaching since 1996. “When a woman gives birth, I know how to manually restore the organs to normal.”of new york times They called me the “Pilates Witch.” People have to get MRIs. [But] If it’s me, you’re not. I’m just looking at your body. ”
Anatasia Bergman, Los Angeles-based model and dancer who has appeared on international covers. Harper’s Bazaar, began working with Glaser in May 2023 after a neck injury. “I read about her in a magazine,” Bergman explains. “As a dancer, I do crazy things to my body. When I came to Nonna, she opened up a whole new world to me. I love that she’s more than just a fitness instructor. She understands how the body adjusts. She doesn’t just care about your shape and shape. If you train with her, you’ll get a great figure. You can get it, but she focuses on your inner health, which means when your spine is in the right position, all your joints. When you walk out the door, you’ll feel like you have better posture. . I feel lighter.”
For this high-demand group of teachers, instruction costs start at $250 for an hour of private Zoom and range from $300 to $750 per private IRL session. Semi-private group classes can cost around $100 via Zoom and $300 in person.
Those looking for more affordable options may look to solid-core Pilates-inspired classes or giant classes like Club Pilates. The latter is the largest studio in the United States. Club Pilates has over 900 locations and several studios throughout California. Single classes range from $25 to $49. Club Pilates memberships are also available, ranging in price from approximately $79 to $359 per month. Other popular Pilates studios in the city include Speir (based in Venice and West Hollywood), Humankind (near Robertson Boulevard in Beverly Hills), LA Springs (in Echo Park), and Wundabar (six locations in Southern California). there is.
While Glaser maintains that Pilates is not meant for large groups, he says the practice has long had mass appeal but isn’t going anywhere. “Pilates is not a trend,” she says. “It’s a lifestyle.”
A version of this story first appeared in the January 26 issue of The Hollywood Reporter.Click here to subscribe.
