“The more you do Pilates, the more you want to do it,” says Christy Allen Franchini, owner of Pilates in Paradise.
“It won’t be a burden to you. You’ll leave here feeling better and stronger than when you came,” new co-owner Michelle Pope added.
Pilates in Paradise, with locations in Tavernier and Ocean Reef, is celebrating its 22nd anniversary this month, and the two new owners also have plans in place for future growth and expansion.
Pilates was developed by German Joseph Pilates, who got the idea for this low-impact mind-body exercise method during World War I. Interned at Knockaloe Prison Camp on the Isle of Man, he believed his method, called Controlgy, could activate brain cells to stimulate the mind and affect the body.
Romana Kryzanowska, who passed away in 2013, was a student of Joseph Pilates and founded Romana’s Pilates International (commonly known as Romana), the premier school of the Pilates method. Franchini and Pope, owners of Pilates in Paradise, were trained by Romana and are part of his lineage and worldwide organization.
Franchini discovered “mat Pilates” in 1999 while working as a personal trainer at an Orlando gym. She began Pilates as a form of rehabilitation after suffering a severe injury that shattered her left leg, and was a substitute instructor at the gym.
In 2001, she moved to the Keys and began working as a Pilates instructor at the Ocean Reef Club. After receiving feedback from one of the club members, she began to research more, learned about Romana and became certified in Romana Pilates. Through a twist of fate or one thing after another, she established her business as Pilates in Paradise on June 7, 2002.
This March, Pilates in Paradise welcomed longtime customer and friend Michelle Pope as co-owner. Pope became Pilates certified in 2008.
“Pilates transformed my body. After having children, I was too weak and the normal training I used to do didn’t work for me,” she says. “I’m small, so weight training isn’t for me. When I was doing Pilates, I got lean muscles, a stronger core and strength.”
“It’s not just about doing the exercises and going home, it’s about mindset. It makes you think about the mindset part. I’m someone who needs a challenge,” Pope continued. “I really enjoy being at the tutoring center and being taught the exercises and the people who are teaching them are passionate about them. Watching my body change while doing it made me want to be an instructor because it was something I could learn on the side.”
Like Franchini, Pope has a history of injury, having taken a break from 2010 to 2017 before returning to Pilates.
“I knew Christy and Pilates were the only thing that could heal my body, and when I came back I realized I missed it,” Pope said. “My body healed, and I became an instructor in 2020.”
The couple first discussed becoming business partners in 2010, but due to changes in Pope’s life, they never pursued a relationship with Frankini. When the pair visited the British Virgin Islands in June 2022, Pope told Frankini, “One of my biggest regrets is not going into business with you.”
Just a month later, Franchini was in another accident. This severe head injury opened the door for further discussions with Pope. In March 2024, the two formed a partnership, blending their strengths and skill sets. Franchini is a fearless visionary, while Pope brings systems and organization to the business. They both have great people skills and enjoy being part of a community.
One thing that has changed is the Pilates Introductory Pack.
“Now it’s a month, four lessons instead of three, and it includes an initial assessment and a personal programming session, where you’re given exercises tailored to you so you can practice them on your own,” Franchini explains. “The studio is a training center, we’ve created a learning environment, and we’ve taken it a step further, because independent practice is one of the most important elements of Pilates.”
“We have an open studio class where clients can use the studio like a gym,” Franchini continued. “The first month is just foundational training, then they can practice and then they can use the gym, so it gives them a lot more flexibility in their schedule.”
“This allows clients to come into the studio more frequently,” Pope said.
Pilates in Paradise specializes in private and semi-private sessions in an open studio. Membership gives members unlimited access. Sign up for the days and times you prefer. There are different membership levels, with options ranging from 7am to 7pm, depending on how often you want to visit the studio and what is convenient for you.
Franchini is also currently a Romana Pilates Level 3 Teacher Trainer, i.e. Senior Teacher Trainer. Franchini has been a teacher trainer since 2019.
“There are only 27 people in the world with our Level 3 certification as teacher trainers,” Franchini says. “Supporting the passion of people who want to become instructors is a big reason why our business is growing.”
“And we’re encouraging others. If you’re passionate about fitness, we’d love to have you as an instructor. Come take our certification program. The more Pilates we can offer in our community, the better,” Franchini added.
Pope said she and Franchini both have a passion for making others feel better.
“The business has grown 125 percent over the past five years and there are many elements of our operations that will make us sustainable for many years to come,” Franchini said.
An open house celebrating Pilates in Paradise’s anniversary and new ownership duo will be held on Friday, June 28 from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. To book a free 30-minute session on June 28, call Pilates in Paradise at 305-942-0808, visit www.pilatesinparadise.net or follow Pilates in Paradise on Facebook and Instagram (@pilatesinparadiseflkeys).
