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I can’t believe it’s been three years since the COVID lockdown in 2020. It seems like only yesterday!
Although the pandemic took a toll on all of us, so much good came out of it. People left their office jobs and took a leap of faith to start businesses, and fitness instructors took the plunge and launched their own fitness platforms. One of them was Australia-based Pilates instructor Jacqui Kingswell. She, alongside her business partner Tash Oakley, launched The Pilates Class on May 27, 2020.
Before she was a Pilates instructor, Jacqui was a professional dancer for years. She even appeared in Beyonce’s “Mine” music video, and also worked for the likes of One Direction, among other artists! Throughout her dancing career, Jacqui always came back to Pilates.
Thanks to the power of social media and content strategy, Jacqui has become one of the most sought-after Pilates trainers.
The Pilates Class currently has members from 118 countries. Tash and Jacqui have created a beautiful and inspiring community that goes beyond working out. When I first tried The Pilates Class, I was struck by Jacqui’s warmth and calm positive energy – always encouraging with a genuine smile on her face.
This was refreshing because I’ve definitely come across a few instructors who are like the Energizer Bunny, but Jacqui strikes the perfect balance. She’s encouraging without overdoing it. Every time I take her class, I feel so much calmness emanating through the computer screen! On the website, you can also see very touching weight-loss testimonials.
In 2023, Jacqui announced The Pilates Class world tour in six cities that included LA, Melbourne, Sydney, New York, Toronto and London – all of which are completely sold out!
So, how did The Pilates Class come about? In an interview with Forbes.com, Jacqui shared the story. She said:
“Our launch story is definitely an emotional one and something I reflect on a lot. When the pandemic hit, I remember sitting in my car crying to my husband because I was essentially jobless. Pilates studios had shut down and I, like so many others, was out of work. I had built business plans and come close to opening my own studio in the past, but obviously, there was something different in store for me – The Pilates Class.”
She continued: “I started my online classes, called Jacqui Kingswell Classes. This was a private Instagram page where I would upload classes for members, including Tash! This is really where we saw the demand for a larger platform — which became The Pilates Class.”
Jacqui began training Tash in 2019.
“Tash, being a close friend and student at the time, approached me about launching a global online brand that would showcase my specific method of teaching through an online subscription platform.”
“We had such a beautiful synergy, and because so many of her beliefs about health and wellness align with my own, I knew she would be the perfect partner. The launch was definitely a whirlwind. We conceptualized and created an entire brand within one month, which meant a lot of late nights and early mornings.”
Leveraging organic social media outreach and Tash’s marketing background, The Pilates Class expanded its reach by promoting the platform on billboards in cities like LA, New York, London, and Sydney.
I found out about The Pilates Class only a few months ago, so I’m incredibly late to the party. To say that I love it is a big understatement. The signature Full Body class is based on the foundational Joseph Pilates method, but The Pilates Class takes it up a notch with yoga, boxing punches, and other challenging core exercises. Although it might look like a simple mat Pilates class, the burn is so good and you’ll feel it in your entire body!
The Full Body and Slow Burn classes are my favorite. In these classes, Jacqui focuses on the mind-body connection, emphasizing the importance of breathing. Before this post went live, I took Jacqui’s online mat Pilates class without equipment… I sweat so much!
The Pilates Class offers something for every level, including prenatal, beginner-friendly, and injury-friendly workouts, as well as reformer classes.
With the online platform, there are some classes where you can even work out in your sweatpants! The classes are labeled according to intensity: Chill, Satisfying and Intense.
The Chill classes are for grounding yourself, like a nice short meditation session or recovery class with nice deep stretches. The Satisfying classes are all about lengthening and sculpting the body, and the Intense classes get your heart rate up with cardio bursts and more challenging moves.
In April 2023, The Pilates Class opened its first in-person studio in West Hollywood.
In an interview with WWD.com, Tash said: “Our multimillion-dollar revenue is attributed to our exponential growth year-on-year within these areas of the business. We are so excited to have Los Angeles be our very first location and plan to replicate the experience in additional markets across the globe. We want our members to feel like they have as many options and as much flexibility as possible and are very excited to see them training at other locations as they pop-up.”
So… How was the experience going to differ from the online classes? Was it going to be the same? I was intrigued! When I first went there on April 24, the studio had only been open for a week. I signed up for the Full Body Pilates class.
The studio was located directly across from LA’s beloved Urth Caffé.
Jacqui and Tash did a commendable job. The white storefront and palm tree immediately evoked a sense of calm. I felt like I was about to enter an oasis. Once I walked in, I could feel the essence of The Pilates Class, which is warm, welcoming and inviting. The white accents and the natural sunlight radiating through the window made me want to work out even more.
Before reaching the locker rooms and restroom, I passed a separate room with several Pilates reformers, which could also be booked for semi-private reformer classes.
Once I got settled on my mat, a girl next to me started to make conversation. She told me she had taken her first class with Alyssa the previous week and that she wasn’t able to walk straight for a few days.
Alyssa O’Neal, who is from Australia, was also my instructor that day. I loved her cues and her energy!
We first started with cat-cow stretches, followed by an intense series of planks and downward dogs. About 10 minutes in, I was already sweating. “That was only the warmup,” said Alyssa.
Unlike the online platform, where you can choose a class based on how you’re feeling, at the in-person classes, there’s no way out! I like this because you’re not paying for the exact same full-body workout that you can do at home.
When I work out at home, I usually use 2-lb dumbbells. At the Pilates Class, the minimum weight is 3 lbs, which, at one point I had to drop. It got way too challenging, especially during the lunge series, which included a core rotation exercise with arm lifts on the side. My arms are tired just thinking about it. Oh yeah, did I mention that we also had resistance bands on?
I read a few reviews on the ClassPass app in which people mentioned that, although the classes are designed for all levels, they’re still very intense. Note, intense doesn’t mean straining your body or doing crazy cardio — they’re challenging, but in a fun way.
After the warmup, we moved on to more plank sequences, squats, side planks and Pilates exercises that targeted our core and challenged our balance.
The Pilates Class takes the cake as the most challenging mat pilates class in LA! You can find mat pilates classes in hot yoga/pilates studios and certain gyms, but the majority of pilates studios in LA are taught on reformers.
My face was beet red after the class, and this wasn’t even a heated room! I definitely underestimated how challenging this was going to be. “Are you having fun?” said Alyssa, as we were all huffing and puffing.
Energy Boost Class
When I signed up for this class, Marlyn Ortiz was the instructor that day. She was so nice and welcoming. I loved her cues, the moves, and her overall energy. But for me, this class wasn’t nearly as intense as the other one. I expected to break a sweat like I did in Alyssa’s class, but I didn’t. Again, this all depends on the instructor and your fitness level!
Before starting, Marlyn told me that we were going to do some cardio, but that it wasn’t going to be super crazy. On the online platform, I always break a sweat when I do the Intense classes like this one, so that’s what I was expecting: a feel-good, sweaty burn. Nonetheless, I had a great workout!
In the in-person classes, you’ll find some of the equipment Jacqui uses, which is also available for sale on The Pilates Class website: resistance bands, ankle weights and mats with the imprinted logo.
Jacqui now lives part-time in LA. Alyssa told me that you can request to have a private reformer session with her, but that she gets a lot of requests. If you’re lucky, Jacqui sometimes teaches at the studio! Before this post went live, she taught her first group class. However, you have to keep an eye on Instagram because the spots filled up in no time!
All in all, The Pilates Class is definitely my new favorite pilates workout studio, and I can’t wait to book my next class! Most pilates classes in LA are about $35, and this one is $39. The class is pricey, but considering the location of the studio and how different it is from the online classes, it is worth every penny. You’ll still get amazing results by doing the online classes, but there’s something about the in-person classes that you can’t get at home: the accountability from the instructors, the interaction, the equipment, and of course, the fully immersive experience at the studio.
While I definitely don’t see myself going there every week, once or twice a month is a good balance. The girl that sat next to me in the beginning of the class said she likes to come once a week. “With the job that I have, it’s more convenient for me to do the classes at home most of the time.”
Also, since the intensity level of the in-person classes is turned up a few notches, this is not a place I see myself going every day. In the online classes, they have a weekly schedule and challenges where the intensity is balanced out so that you can do a class every day. The length of the classes also varies.
The Pilates Class online membership is $29 per month after a seven-day free trial.
The Pilates Class (in-person studio) @thetpcstudio
Book your class here!
Address: 608 Westmount Dr, West Hollywood, CA 90069
The Pilates Class IG @thepilatesclass and Website
Have you ever tried The Pilates Class?
