The Pilates Glow-Up Is Here, and It’s Powered by Latina-Owned Studios

Pilates isn’t just for people perfecting their form in sleek workout gear anymore. Nope. Latinas are taking over reformers, blasting Bad Bunny mid-roll-up, and proving that our cultura belongs in every wellness space.

So, welcome to the Fierce Wellness Tour, your all-access pass to Latina-owned fitness studios across the country. We’re starting with Pilates, because nothing says sí se puede like a core-burning, breath-coordinating series of moves that will leave you sweaty, strong, and maybe questioning all your life choices.

We interviewed five powerhouse jefas redefining Pilates with familia, fuego playlists, and community vibes that go way beyond a workout. Here’s your first stop.

Pilates Coven

If you’ve ever wanted your workout to feel a little bruja, welcome to Pilates Coven in New York City. Founder Sabrina didn’t see herself reflected in the Pilates world, so she made her own lane, one with reggaetón playlists, a witchy vibe, and a community that feels like familia.

“The vibe is magical, warm, and unique,” Sabrina says. “I wanted a space where Latinos could work out and see their people getting stronger without shame or distractions.” Her Lower East Side studio embraces movement with warmth and magic. “I allow them the space to see the growth within themselves. Supporting one another is the heart of our classes,” she adds.

Her proudest jefa moment? Watching her staff come to her for guidance. “When they first started asking me for advice, it really hit me. I’m really their go-to girl now.” And if this studio were a drink? Definitely a coquito: comforting, bold, and low-key powerful.

Where: New York City
IG: @pilatescoven

Sol Pilates

Over in Whittier, California, Sol Pilates is giving luxury vibes without making you leave the neighborhood. The founder, Kimberly Rosado, wanted a chic studio closer to home, so she built one with sunlight, plants, and a whole lot of reggaetón included.

“Our communities deserved a beautiful space with high-quality instructors that represent them,” she explains. “Being a Latina in wellness means reclaiming spaces where we were historically excluded.” Sol’s signature classes even have sassy names like What Waist (yes, it does what it sounds like).

The studio’s energy is all about sweat and slay. “We empower our clients to apply the discipline they build in class to real-life challenges,” Kimberly says. Expansion is already happening with a Heated Mat Pilates studio opening soon.

Where: Whittier, CA
IG: @solpilatesla

Pilates Porfavor

Kristy Sauceda turned her own health journey with PCOS into a full-on Pilates movement. When she noticed a lack of Latina representation in wellness spaces, she created Pilates Porfavor in Garland, Texas.

“Pilates had a reputation for being exclusive, even carrying a ‘mean girl’ stereotype,” Kristy says. “I wanted to flip the script and create a space where women feel welcomed, represented, and like they belong.”

Inclusivity is at the center, with classes offered in Spanish, reggaetón playlists, and details that reflect Mexican culture, like cactuses and hacienda-inspired tiles. Kristy even launched the Latina Pilates Club, connecting Latinas across the U.S. Her grand opening was a full-circle moment, with her immigrant parents watching her ribbon-cutting like the proudest hype crew.

Where: Garland, TX
IG: @pilatesporfavor

Activate House

San Diego said wellness, but make it hot girl. Activate House blends Pilates and sculpt with loud music and nonstop energy in their North Park and La Jolla studios. Classes are sweaty, fiery, and basically a party on the reformer with Bad Bunny, Shakira, and Luis Miguel all making cameos on the playlist.

“Our goal is to create empowered, connected spaces that feel like a collective,” says the founder, Stephanie. “Being a Latina in wellness is about representation and showing others that there’s space for us in every corner.”

Expansion is already happening because, naturally, chingona energy doesn’t stop. If this studio were a cocktail? “A spicy margarita with chamoy: bold, fun, and unforgettable.”

Where: San Diego, CA
IG: @activate.house

Pilates and I

Inland Empire chicas, this one’s for you. Pilates and I started in a backyard with four reformers, grew like wildfire, and now has multiple studios in the works. Founder Elaine Nunez’s mission? Accessibility. “I wanted Pilates to be accessible and affordable for those who may have been overlooked,” she says.

Classes feel like stepping into your tía’s house with Spanglish banter, familia vibes, and encouragement that makes everyone feel at home. “My cultura shows up like a family gathering,” she explains. “When you walk in, you’re not just a client; you’re part of the family.”

They even host themed events, such as Vaqueras Who Flow, where clients show up in boots and tejanas for Pilates, followed by a BBQ. “It’s about inspiring our community to prioritize their health, feel empowered, and know they belong,” she adds.

Where: Fontana, CA
IG: @pilatesandii

The Final Stretch

These Latina-owned studios aren’t just about abs and glutes (though trust, you’ll feel those too). They’re about comunidad, cultura, and claiming space in a wellness world that too often forgets about us. They’ve turned the reformer into a dance floor, the mat into a family table, and Pilates into something that finally feels like home.

So the next time someone tells you Pilates is “basic”? Tell them to pull up to a Latina-owned studio and survive The Hundred with Bad Bunny blasting. Spoiler alert: they won’t. But you will because this is wellness con sazón, and we’re only getting started.