Pilates: Our 5 Favorite Spots in Paris

© Poses, Burning Bar, and Banote.

Since Joseph Pilates launched this practice in the 1920s, Pilates has become the ultimate obsession for fit girls. More hype than a café crème at Deux Magots, Pilates is the well-kept secret of Parisian women for an ultra-stunning silhouette. With proven benefits for the body, mind, and even health, it's simple: we can’t live without it! Sculpt your body, improve posture, strengthen deep muscles, relieve and prevent aches... You got it, Pilates is our go-to for creating a bombshell body over time. To cater to all preferences, a slew of variations exists with not-so-sexy names (Reformer, Mat, Lagree, Power, Hot…) but with a practice that’s impressively effective. The Do It Team slipped into their best leggings and tested all these methods for you to reveal the top Pilates addresses in Paris. Hello, flat stomach!

YUJ is THE Frenchie brand that revolutionized yoga in 2014 under the guidance of Hélène Duval. After the success of its first studio opened in the 7th in 2017, YUJ now boasts seven spots across the capital. Our favorite? The Reformer studio at the Louvre, above YUJ Yoga Louvre. In this haven, enjoy intimate classes with 5 Reformer machines and certified instructors (Laura, Aude, and Anne Gaël), whose credentials are recognized by the Ministry of Sports, thank you very much. This is the address that gets passed around on the sly, perfect for a semi-private session or, even better, to privatize with your 4 besties for a VIP moment. The idea? Allow the coaches to be ultra-focused on every movement because, even though Pilates Reformer is all the rage, every posture needs to be precisely aligned.

The added value of the Reformer compared to the classic mat practice? The machine itself, which works its magic: a “carriage” that slides on rails, with springs of varying resistances, enabling control of movements and conscious breathing… Everything is designed for deep muscle building (without bulking up), posture correction, flexibility improvement, body sculpting, and pain prevention over time. The best part: it also boosts the mind-body connection. And to mix things up, YUJ also offers infrared yoga – boosted metabolism and sculpted body guaranteed…

What we love: most YUJ studios feature a hidden boutique where you can shop the brand's stunning sets! Hélène, a longtime yogi, wanted outfits that transition from mat to street. The result? Pieces you can endlessly mix with boots, sneakers, and a blazer... 

YUJ Yoga Studio, Reformer Pilates exclusively at the Paris Louvre studio, 68 rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Paris 1st. €45 per 50-minute Reformer Pilates session, €200 for 5 sessions. Schedule and booking online. 

© Angéline Terestchenko.

Welcome to Banote, the 100% women-only studio where fitness rhymes with badass. Here, it’s the HQ of girls who support, motivate, and transform together. Who’s at the helm? Susie Williams, the founder who immerses us in the world of Lagree: a magical fusion of strength, endurance, and flexibility that transforms not only the body but also the mind. Her mantra? Community, determination, transformation.

A recap of the basics: say goodbye to traditional Pilates, Lagree is the more intense version. Unlike the Reformer, the Microformer machine stays firmly on the ground. This method, imagined in Los Angeles by Sébastien Lagree, offers about 1,400 exercises both on the floor and on the machine. Enough to sculpt deeply: transverse muscles, obliques, glutes, and adductors… Thought you’d already awakened all your muscles? Spoiler alert: there were a few still fast asleep. Here, we combine slow yet ultra-precise movements with high intensity, along with strength training and cardio for a workout that pushes you to the max. The idea? To surpass oneself with the concept of slow burn, strengthening each muscle deeply, enhancing flexibility, muscular endurance, and coordination. Special mention to hyper-motivating coaches like Wassi, who push you further than you’d ever imagined. So, get ready to discover soreness in places you didn’t expect… and trust us, you’ll love to hate them!

What we love: Banote is also the dream place to find stunning workout sets, available online or in-store.

Banote, 71 avenue Victor Hugo, Paris 16th, Monday to Sunday, 7am to 10pm. Online booking. 1 class €50, 10-class pack €450, 50-class pack €1,650.

Burning Bar is probably the chicest private club for Hot Pilates in the capital. This hyper-designed, cozy studio with its ultra-sophisticated equipment heats up to 35 degrees with infrared for immediate detox during the classes that you can book individually, even without a membership card. The ultimate perk: a candlelit atmosphere for a zen and relaxed ambiance, perfect for staying focused during effort.

With a range of classes from barre to Pilates, yoga, meditation, and cardio, all bathed in a gentle warmth of 35 degrees, it’s the perfect spot for anyone who wants to sweat in style. This method is a gem: it relaxes muscles, boosts flexibility, and optimizes results. Top perk: each session includes personalized wellness support. Our favorite class? Burning Core Shape, a divine mix of Pilates techniques and deep breathing that targets every muscle for complete and harmonious toning. Perfect for strengthening, aligning, and revitalizing the body!

Note: members can enjoy access to a gym, sauna, and hammam on weekends only. A real chill moment after a good workout!

What we love: Burning Bar extends wellness with its signature massages! Whether you dream of trying kobido, slimming massage, deep tissue, Swedish, or Californian massage, count €154 for 60 minutes of pure relaxation!

Burning Bar, 42 avenue Raymond Poincaré, Paris 16th. Online booking. A la carte: €40 per session, €60 for 3 sessions. Members only: €190 for 5 sessions, €384 for 12 sessions. © Burning Bar (@burningbarparis).

Born from a desire for a more holistic wellness approach, RIISE offers intense movement without ever straining the body. Here, each 50-minute session, inspired by yoga and Pilates, breathes life and energy back into you. Precision and concentration are key with deep, joint-friendly movements. More than a sport, RIISE provides total immersion, a moment for yourself to disconnect: dim lighting, candles for the mood, and perfectly pulsing music.

Upon arrival, take a deep breath to center yourself, and get ready for 50 minutes of workout! On the agenda: Pilates exercises with accessories and short cardio sequences set to music to sweat, work each muscle with precision, and improve posture. The coach guides you step by step, and the session ends with centering breathing, so you return to reality smiling and mentally recharged. A true 2-in-1 workout that sculpts the body and frees the mind.

What we love: the wellness retreats organized throughout the year, blending signature classes and activities to escape and recentre.

RIISE studio Yoga and Pilates, schedules online. Welcome offer: 3 sessions for €54, 1 Monday session €29. Pricing info online. RIISE Louvre studio: 43 rue Etienne Marcel, Paris 2nd. RIISE Charlot studio: 9 rue Charlot, Paris 3rd.

Ready to awaken the California girl inside you? Head to Power Pilates Poses, a studio that transports you directly from Paris to L.A. We’re talking about a minimalist yet super chic decor, perfect for escaping for a moment while sculpting your silhouette. Mats, blocks, showers, towels, water fountains, air-conditioned studio, beauty products, high-tech lockers with USB ports… everything is designed so you can focus solely on what matters: your workout. What’s on the agenda? 50 minutes of total immersion in darkness with LED lights, where you flow through the basic movements of your favorite flow — Pilates Flow, Yoga Flow, or Barre Flow — all spiced up with signature muscle-strengthening sequences, the famous Pulse & Poses®.

On our end, we fell for the Pilates Flow: a sequence of Pilates flows set to the rhythm of the famous Pulse & Poses® sequences combining strength training, isometric exercises (the muscle remains the same length during contraction), and bodyweight exercises to sculpt each muscle deeply. Each flow is designed for everyone, aiming to enhance mobility, strength, and stability. To the sound of almost mesmerizing music, we flow through super effective movements that awaken every fiber, using a resistance band, a small ball, and weights to intensify the workout. And with a highly motivating coach who performs the exercises alongside you, there's no way to slack off! It’s THE moment to reconnect body and mind. At the end of the session, you leave with a smile, proud of giving it your all!

What we love: Coming out as fresh as you went in—that’s the winning bet of the changing rooms, where everything is within reach: towels, shower gel, shampoo, conditioner, and hand soap, all courtesy of L:A Bruket. For an instant refresh, deodorant, cotton swabs, and makeup remover pads complete this survival kit. And the best part? You can treat yourself to a real hair care routine with hair dryers, straighteners, and even a styling straightener, thanks to our collaboration with GHD!

POSES, Studio Paris – Yoga, Pilates, Barre, online booking. Studio Marais, 21 rue des Filles du Calvaire, Paris 3e. Studio Bonne Nouvelle, 6 rue de l’Échiquier, Paris 10e. 1 session €35. Pack of 5 sessions €149. Pack of 10 sessions: €279.

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