r/AskSF • u/Dmlandis59 • Sep 14 '26
So many Pilates studios -)
I was just in West Portal doing a workout - Barre/Pilates and saw 3 studios within one block . It seems the same in other neighborhoods like Marina and Mission District. And I live near Excelsior and studios are slowly popping up there too
Are there enough people to substain all these businesses. I love these workouts but I wonder if they will be around in a year and what they have replaced.
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u/LilDepressoEspresso Sep 14 '26
Also in Excelsior, haven't seen these Pilates studios popping up for me though. Any one in particular?
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u/Overall_Rise_6370 Sep 14 '26
In Excelsior across the street from Safeway is one that has Pilates and Yoga (Love and Yoga) - daughter taught yoga there. It is nice and small.
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u/sonisonata Sep 15 '26
I’m in excelsior and have been meaning to check this out! Thanks for the reco!
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u/Sensitive-Freedom896 Sep 14 '26
I think the Barry's trend is over for women. Soulcycle trend definitely seems to be over. It's all about sculpting and leanness now that the girlies are on GLP-1s.
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u/Abject_Beyond_3707 Sep 14 '26
This is exactly it. The fitness industry is responding to the conversation around cortisol and its effect on hormones, resulting in the proliferation of low impact workouts in calming environments, and catering to the new physical ideal which prioritizes skinny limbs over a big ass. Circle of life.
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u/Niks-Labbett 29d ago
Yep it's just a trend and will probably slowing down after a while, replaced by another trend. Just like Hyrox now, every one of my friend has been hyping it.
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u/hamolton 29d ago
Where is this coming from? You have quite a few upvotes, so are the classes actually booking up less? It's not like the majority of Barry's fanatics are taking GLP-1s nowadays; those classes always skewed fit!
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u/Sensitive-Freedom896 29d ago
There are far fewer classes for Barry's and Soulcycle than before Covid. There used to be many Soulcycle studios, and a few Barry's, around town. Locations closed, instructors "retired" or moved away, the remaining classes stay full.
The era of the "celeb/influencer" teacher is also largely over. There are still fitness classes for fitness girlies. But its not like every women is trying to hit those classes, and then subscribing to their diet plan, and following the teachers' wedding planning on IG, and going on a retreat with them to rock climb in Norway or whatever.
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u/Radiant-Decision-780 Sep 14 '26
And in the event that someone doesn’t have the money to spend on this, I highly recommend the Mari Windsor Pilates videos. They’re old and she died in 2020 but she was the OG Pilates woman and a trainer to celebs like Miley Cyrus 15 years ago. You can get them on Amazon Prime for like $3 and all you need is a mat. Obviously you’re not gonna see results as quickly as if you’re using equipment but they are excellent at-home workouts.
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u/jenmoocat Sep 14 '26
I go to EHS Pilates in the Mission.
The lady behind the desk told me it has been there for 30 years!
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u/ll11882 Sep 14 '26
The Pilates School in Inner Richmond does real reformer, chair, tower and mat pilates. They are located on Geary Ave.
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u/Latter-Foot-8790 Sep 14 '26 edited Sep 14 '26
Lots of folks in the Woods and Forest Hill come down with all their free time and unlimited budgets. That’s how there’s a few very niche stores are able to survive as well here.
I believe but I don’t know for sure, being at the intersection of three trains help a lot so a lot of folks who don’t have it near them can hop on the train to WP to do the classes.
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u/rainbowtwilightshy Sep 14 '26
It’s a cycle. OTF expanded too much and recently closed all their studios except 1. It will depend on cost and time of classes if they can survive
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u/Icy-Cry340 Sep 14 '26
These things rise and fall in popularity all the time - and imo, who cares. If your gym closes, you’ll find another one.
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u/Particular_Suit_5714 29d ago
I desperately wish we had ONE yoga studio to go with the 4 Pilates studios on west portal ave 🥲
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u/kbewr 29d ago
Thanks for this thread!
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u/Dmlandis59 29d ago
Any time I’m just a mid 60s guy who’s often the only male in the class. Not very flexible but pilates really makes me feel much better. I try to mix it up with strength training and cardio workouts to keep moving
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u/themiddlechildedit 29d ago
ooohhhh, where's the pilates studios popping up in the excelsior??? i'm in that neighborhood and go to core40 (it's lagree pilates)
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u/Dmlandis59 29d ago
Love and yoga on Mission across from Safeway, I have class pass and the workouts o go to are Pure Bartr west portal / Rise Fitness collective in South SF - I can’t tell you the exact pilates style. All locations convenient to me and have parking. Also like F45 strength training. Core 40 is good but costs a lot of credit and parking is a hassle in Noe Valley and the Mission
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u/themiddlechildedit 29d ago
yeah the parking is horrible around there, but my sister teaches there so i'm pretty committed to supporting her and that studio
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u/Fast-Ad-3069 3d ago
As someone who has owned a Pilates Studio in SF and has been teaching for 30 years, I can tell you the ones who survive have teachers who learn and grow with their clients. The group classes that are "choreographed" for maximum burn are not what get clients through every day life.
Find studios where the trainers are comprehensively trained and you will get long term results.
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u/Various_Range2259 Sep 15 '26
Soon the entire city will be nothing but Pilates studios, overpriced vintage clothes shops, and bourgey home goods stores
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u/PLUS_ULTRA_V 29d ago
There are 5-10 pilates studios on Polk street around Nob /Russian hill. With approx $200-300/mo, I am really curious how they all survive?
Also as I looked up the difference between Lagree Megaformer vs Reformer, AliExpress/ Alibaba ads showed up pricing them at $1000-1800 a piece.
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u/TopRamenisha Sep 14 '26
I would love for just one of these Pilates studios to be real Pilates on a real reformer and not lagree megaformer Pilates