STRONG Pilates – Singapore

We aim to change the way people perform and think about exercise, with innovative training methodology, machinery, technology and community.

What was the gap you guys identified and how does STRONG Pilates fulfill this? What differentiates you from competitors?

We noticed that Pilates is often portrayed as “pretty” and “petite”, making it intimidating for the common folk. The name STRONG Pilates in itself is paradoxical — which is what we love about it! When we first spoke to Michael and Mark, the founders of STRONG, we instantly recognised that the vision they had for STRONG was totally aligned with ours for YOGA MOVEMENT – and that was to de-gender and make accessible the fitness focused side of both PILATES and YOGA, and filling the gap of what was missing in both modalities. We grabbed hold of the opportunity and decided to take their unique idea of a ‘pilates infused, cardio inspired’ workout (similar to YM’s ‘fitness focused yoga’) into the market very quickly.

Our exclusive Rowformers and Bikeformers are what makes the STRONG method unique. By incorporating a cardio component like the rower or bike, participants get the added bonus of a significant calorie burn while still reaping the incredible benefits of Pilates. The class is adaptable to most fitness levels, making it a low-impact but high-intensity workout that anyone can challenge themselves to try!

An example of the 45-minute STRONG body class will see you doing up to 3 five minute blocks of rowing/biking, all with different target settings. In between each cardio block you will work on strength blocks to target different muscle groups, either with the reformer or added weights that we provide. Because you’re keeping your heart rate up the whole time, you can burn some serious calories, while also achieving all the benefits you get out of traditional pilates.

How is STRONG Pilates impacting people’s lives, and what keeps clients coming back?

With different class types targeting different muscle groups, our clients are addicted attending classes to fully immerse themselves in the STRONG Experience. The best part? STRONG offers a low-impact yet high-intensity workout allowing clients to push themselves with minimal risk of injury. The combination of fast twitch/slow twitch muscle fibres offers both a steady level of cardiovascular recruitment and the inclusion of HIIT. This provides maximum benefits including: weight loss, endurance, metabolic threshold increases, flexibility, toning, lean muscle additions, growth hormone release, and more.

What does STRONG Pilates feel about creating communities, and how’s actively involved?

Success is not only measured by a client’s physical state but also their mental and emotional state. It’s seeing them progress from 2 classes a week to 3, it’s watching them get excited to do more than 1 class a day because they feel great doing it, it’s observing them signing up to STRONG alone but leaving the class with new friends at the end of each workout! But of course, physical success is the most visible one. The first noticeable difference in the body after starting is often an improvement in posture due to the emphasis on proper alignment and use of deep postural muscles. It can also improve core strength and stability, leading to reduced aches and pains in the lower back and hips. With consistency, there may be improvements in flexibility, range of motion, overall body tone, and strength. However, the specific changes you will see and feel in your body will depend on your individual starting point, your goals, and how often and consistently you workout with your loungewear sets.

How has technology impacted the fitness landscape in the last few years, and how does STRONG Pilates make use of it?

What does the future hold for fitness studios in Singapore and how to adapt moving forward?

Singapore has over the last couple of years turned into a wellness hub, a large part of it being attributed to the large number of fitness concepts bursting into the scene. In order to stay relevant, brand owners need to take charge and have a keen understanding on what’s already saturated vs what’s in demand, and understand why the two go hand in hand. In order to thrive we need to find ways to be a leader in our area of focus, and be conscious of blindly following trends and fads. Brand values and company culture play a huge role in sustainability in long run.

What do you see in the future of fitness in the next 12-18 months?

What will you or your team do differently given the chance?

I don’t think we would have done anything differently, every business owner can attest to the fact that we were muzzled during the Covid phase and have only recently just come out on the other side, We did our best to continue to thrive through that period and did everything we could to grow in such a difficult period. Now that we are on the other side and ‘un-muzzled’, all the prep work that had been done during those times have come to fruition. So there was no wasted time or lost opportunities at all given our circumstances.