Are you a fitness sardine?
Boutique fitness studios are all the rage -- popping up in high-end shopping districts and suburbs across the country. Tulsa is just now fully experiencing this phenomenon, although some industry experts predict that the boutique fitness "bubble" is about to burst in larger cities. As a boutique studio, before boutique was a thing, we've seen the best and worst of the concept during our 20 years in business.
Boutique studios used to be the opposite of the regular gym concept. They focused on a specific discipline (think Total Pilates, the Yoga Room, Physiques by Monique) and were often locally owned and operated by the founder who was an expert in their practice. The boutique label came about as a way to describe a smaller, more personal workout compared to the large gym experience.
With the introduction of national franchisers eager to cash in on the boutique fitness craze, the "smaller" part of the equation now translates into smaller spaces, and the "personal" part now means you will get more personal with the person working out one-inch away from you. Think of it this way: You are the sardine and your "boutique" fitness studio is the can. For example, one national Pilates chain has opened hundreds of franchises across the country with this exact business model. An owner of one of these chains said it best on the company's website, "
"I chose {XYZ Franchise} because I fell in love with the simple business model, the semi-absentee ownership model, the limited amount of employees needed and the high margins on average the studios produce. "
The truth behind these chains is simple: they pack as many heads into a room as possible (yes, they actually use the word "heads"), and charge them a monthly or yearly fee, all while hiring one instructor to teach the class, answer the phone and clean the toilets. Meanwhile, the "heads" are dazzled by the new equipment, loud music and lifetime membership rates. This is the large gym model, but in a much smaller space.
Many fitness groups have a set of standards for safety and quality. The Pilates Method Alliance is an international organization with a code of ethics required of all certified Pilates instructors. Within this code we are required to teach no more than five clients per teacher in an equipment class and no more than ten clients per teacher in a mat class. We strictly adhere to these standards in our studio because we are committed to personal instruction and the safety of our clients. Large chains often pack twelve or more people in an equipment class with one teacher. This is unethical and dangerous for the clients, but a big money-maker for the franchise!
At first, one of these studios might seem like a good idea, but the long-term costs are higher and the lion's share of the profits are shipped out of the local community and into a corporate office far, far away.
When you walk through our studio doors, you will experience an inviting atmosphere where all students are welcome and where there is plenty of space to move. We serve clients from 9- to 94-years old who come in all shapes and sizes. Our owners and instructors practice Pilates themselves and have pursued advanced training in their fields. We give back to our community by bringing Pilates to incarcerated women through the Resonance "Commit to Change" Program, and we teach free classes at community events.
Whether you practice with Total Pilates or another reputable studio, we want you to love Pilates and all of the benefits it can bring to your life. We also encourage you to support local, independent businesses. Most of all, we don't want you to become a sardine. Sardines look very unhappy...but that's just my opinion.
Pilates Love,
Lisa Coffee-Smith, MBA, PMA-CPT
Total Pilates Studio and Instructor Training Center