As Pilates demand surges industry-wide, the luxury club operator is doubling down on its 20-year investment in the modality
While Pilates has been booming over the last several years, Life Time has invested in the modality for the past two decades. Now, the fitness giant wants to position itself as “the industry’s clear leader” of reformer Pilates.
The luxury club operator plans to incorporate Pilates studios into each of its 12 to 14 new locations planned for this year, after seeing significant increases in participation in 2025, especially among its signature class CTR (Core Tone Reform).
“Pilates and reformers may be having a cultural moment, but at Life Time it’s been a cornerstone for decades,” said Life Time director of pilates Theresa Barone.
“What’s exciting for us to see is how formats like CTR are bringing new people onto the reformer,” she continued. “Many members who start with CTR for strength and athletic performance naturally gravitate toward traditional Pilates as they experience its powerful benefits for mobility, posture and healthy aging.”
Over 175 Life Time locations already offer both traditional and private Pilates session, including its increasingly popular group CTR format.
While the class helps introduce members to the reformer, CTR is slightly different, as a high-energy 45-minute reformer-based strength training class with progressive resistance, meant to support power and performance in a high-energy group setting.
First introduced last year, CTR has continued to expand across Life Time clubs with ongoing waitlists that reflect its high demand. By the end of 2026, Life Time aims to offer CTR at over 60 locations.
To cement its authority in the Pilates space, Life Time is looking to be the go-to brand that accommodates rising demand for the modality and reformer-based workouts, offering an Intro to Pilates weekend at clubs nationwide from Feb. 23 to 26. The experience is meant for beginners curious to try Pilates.
Life Time’s investment in the modality is backed by its consistent popularity and success, as other clubs — including high-value low-price operators — increasingly incorporate Pilates into their offerings, with Amped Fitness joining Crunch and 24 Hour Fitness as the latest to integrate reformer studios into big-box gyms.
