Pilates is having a moment. Popular with every “body” from gymfluencers to Jennifer Aniston, the core fit philosophy is flexing via a slew of new studios, including BK Pilates, stretching onto the scene at Rockway this winter.
Celebrating a cool century since Joseph Pilates birthed the mind-body movements, the low-impact phenomenon is reforming bodies and minds via “six core principles: concentration, control, center, breath, precision and flow,” says co-founder Marina Kaydanova of BK Pilates, known for tailoring dynamic workouts “designed to develop essential mind-body connection, body definition, core strength, greater flexibility and improved posture.” Here, we tapped Kaydanova—who founded BK Pilates Raleigh, opening in January, with local entrepreneur Julia Davis—in front of their premiere Pilates locale to get to the core of the trend.
Who should do it? Pilates is truly for everyone—from athletes to prenatal and postpartum women, those recovering from an injury, finding their wellness journey or focused on aging gracefully.
Why such a good workout? Pilates is truly a transformative experience for both body and mind. The physical benefits include greater flexibility, strength, stamina, a more balanced posture, and injury prevention and recovery. Many Pilates workouts incorporate equipment, including spring-based reformer machines designed to support the spine and target specific muscle groups. Studies suggest it may also help to improve muscle endurance, reduce chronic pain, and lessen anxiety and depression.
Frequency? Start with two to three sessions per week to learn the exercises, form and machines. As you advance and want to build strength, tone and flexibility, maintaining three-plus [per] week will lead to those results.
What’s the draw? Pilates works muscles and parts of your body in ways no other exercise can—and it’s a smarter way to strengthen your entire body, tone your muscles and get fit. It’s efficient—and you can do [it] every day.
Stretching a swath from Glenwood Place to Pleasant Valley and a longtime hub for retail (s/o Crabtree Valley Mall!), the burgeoning district is a hotbed for development boasting an array of local stops to sip, shop and sample fare.
Dishing a fiesta of authentic flavors since 1991, this family-run resto serves up tasty Mexican fare and margs daily—and delivers your queso and guac via train (!). @dostaquitos_official
Look on the bright side and fuel your daily grind with coffee, espresso, tea and the like—and don’t sleep on the breakfast/lunch sandwiches. @theoptimistraleigh
Calling all ladies and gents. … An all-day a(fare) awaits via sandwiches, sliders, flatbreads and the like, plus gourmet frozen meals. Pro tip: The ham rolls are legendary. @ladyfingersnc
“Find your flow state” with high-intensity Pilates and low-impact cardio, headed by specialists coordinating powerful movement. Healthy body, happy body!@flowcorps
Your wish for fish has been granted. Meet the moody sushi joint rolling out flavors of Japan with colorful cuisine plated to perfection. … Meshiagare! sushimonraleigh.com
Chip golf balls at the Eiffel Tower while snacking on burgers, bar snacks and other grub via this tee-riffic virtual golf simulator-meets-bar experience. @the.iron.oaks
Satisfy all your funny + action + adventure book needs with an abundance of comics and cards depicting every hero—and creature—from aliens to Thor. Hammertime, anyone?capitolcomicsnc.com
Hiit it or quit it. Become the best version of you at this high-intensity gym offering a smattering of nutrition coaching and group training programs. @crossfitrdu
Get in that shopping state (!) of mind and “stand out for good” via Altar’d State, set to open a new locale in North Hills next summer stocking its signature picture-perfect dresses and ’fits. @altardstate
Life’s a peach indeed thanks to The Peach Truck’s local pop-ups rolling out boxes of ripe peaches, fuzzy fruit-themed gifts and a signature cookbook to put your fresh fruit to use (hey, charred peach margarita!). It doesn’t get sweeter than this. @thepeachtruck
Gents, short shorts are the garment to be sporting this summer (see: Paul Mescal). Stay stylin’ —or just embrace that “5 o’clock on a Friday” feeling—with the perfect cut at Crabtree’s newly opened Chubbies. @chubbies
Hotties do Pilates. Kick your vices and get in shape via Miami-based studio JETSET Pilates—soon to bow its first NC outpost in Smoky Hollow—with a full-body Reformer workout that will leave you beat… in the best way. @jetsetpilates
Woof, there it is! Treat Bark Obama to a trim, walk or pet sitter at Woofie’srecently opened Northwest Raleigh location repping resources from a mobile spa sesh to bed & biscuit overnight care. Bone appetit! @woofiesofnwraleigh
Unbox magical moments at Miniso, an uberpopular Chinese biz bringing color and nostalgia to Crabtree with accessories, toys and decor. Because “life is for fun!” @minisounitedstates
Reaching for new heights? Take your fitness goals next level—and flex your mind and spirit—with an authentic Heights Pilatesclass in the heart of Boylan Heights. @heightpilates
Fit check! RIW’s recently opened YoBa Studiotakes a new approach to functional fitness, offering Barre, yoga, strength training and cardio—because fun and effective workouts shouldn’t be a stretch (!). @yobastudio
News flash: Moving your body doesn’t have to be high maintenance.
It’s no secret that hitting the gym can be a real drag. After a long day in the office or wrangling the kids, sometimes the last thing you want to do is voluntarily opt for a laborious sweat sesh on the treadmill or the strain of lifting heavy weights. Enter the low-impact workout craze.
With oodles of boutique sweat studios popping up around the city, there’s no question supply is rising to meet demand for a different fitness regimen—from Pilates to hot yoga to rowing to Barre classes. Case in point: Raleigh Iron Works’ newly debuted duo of yoga- and Barre-, and reformer-based outposts, YoBa Studio and [solidcore] (respectively), and the ever-thriving and expanding Dose Yoga (hey, new North Hills Innovation District location!)—never mind the bevy of other buzzy outposts leaning into low impact with killer results to boot.
“Pilates is a buzzword right now because a lot of high-profile people do it,” notes Allison Bowers of DTR’s Heights Pilates. “But the reason it’s still around and there are so many ‘spinoff’ versions is because it works.”
Beyond results, with gym membership comes accountability and community. Which also begs the Q: Are gymgoers also paying for camaraderie as they condition? Either way, whether you’ve been on the low-impact train from the jump or are just now burning out on HIITs, here’s what your slimnastics pref says about you.
HOT TAKE: 9/10 chance you’ve got a six-pack and a slew of side hustles
CELEB DOPPELGANGER: Cameron Diaz
Glen Powell, Simone Biles and Cameron Diaz DFree/shutterstock.com; Julianne Hough Kathy Hutchins/shutterstock.com; Kristen Bell Tinseltown/shutterstock.com; Matthew McConaughey Denis Makarenko/shutterstock.com; Jennifer Aniston Featureflash Photo Agency/shutterstock.com
Close out the week—and month—via this new DTR event series.
On Fridays, we fitness… then pig out and rock out, naturally. Enter Fitness & Food Trucks on Final Fridays, Get 2 Know Raleigh’s recently launched event series in partnership with Moore Square and Raleigh Parks. So now you can look forward to both the first and last Friday of the month—a win-win!
Running monthly through October, the series features a free hourlong family-friendly fitness class hosted by Zin Yoga & Wine, Current Wellness, Row House Midtown and Knuckle Up (respectively)—plus food trucks, a local vendor market and live music. So you can break a sweat via workouts like yoga, boxing fundamentals, dance fitness, cardio and more, or just come for the eats, drinks and vibes (hey, no judgment).
Inspired in part by her involvement in First Fridays at Moore Square, Final Fridays promotes a healthy lifestyle while manifesting founder Sana Siddiqui’s “vision of families coming together for free fitness activities.” Case in point: trading your typical Friday evening bar-hopping for fitness and fresh fare.
Via her “movement to celebrate and unite our community, both online and off,” she hopes the event series will not only bring people together, but provide attendees a chance to reset and recover from the month. Not to mention emphasizing a “third place” to hang outside of traditional work and home environments at no cost. Here’s to moving and fueling your body! June 28,get2knowraleigh.com
