A fast-growing Pilates chain known for strapping rowing machines and stationary bikes onto traditional reformers is setting up shop in three Greater Boston neighborhoods. STRONG Pilates is opening studios in Boston's Back Bay and Fenway neighborhoods and in Cambridge's Kendall Square, marking the brand's first-ever presence in Massachusetts.
Three Studios, One Massachusetts Debut
According to MassLive, STRONG Pilates is opening new studios in Boston's Back Bay neighborhood, Fenway neighborhood and Cambridge's Kendall Square. The exact addresses have also surfaced: What Now Boston reports the locations will be 10 Park Plaza in Back Bay, 650 Beacon Street in the Fenway, and 165 Main Street in Kendall Square. All three Massachusetts studios are being franchised by Momentic Studios, per the same outlet.
Opening-day details remain a moving target. MassLive's report states the Back Bay and Fenway locations are slated to open Nov. 14, 2026, while What Now Boston says those same two studios are on track to open Saturday, November 7, 2026. A press release published by Fitt Insider instead described Back Bay and Fenway as set to open in October. As for Kendall Square, the station's report notes the opening date has not yet been announced.
What the Workout Actually Looks Like
STRONG Pilates is built around a 45-minute, full-body workout that blends Pilates-inspired movement with two signature machines: the Rowformer and the Bikeformer. Per the Back Bay studio's own listing, the company's website describes the Rowformer as a reformer with a rower attached, and the Bikeformer as a reformer with a bike attached.
Classes rotate through upper-body, lower-body, core and full-body programming, emphasizing strength conditioning, training longevity and community building, the station's report notes. The Fenway studio is expected to occupy roughly 2,302 square feet at One Kenmore Square, according to Boston Real Estate Times.
From an Australian Startup to a Global Franchise
The brand traces back to October 2019, when founders Michael Ramsey and Mark Armstrong identified a gap in the fitness industry for a long-term, sustainable, safe and no-impact workout model. STRONG Pilates has since become Australia's fastest-growing Pilates brand, per the same account, before expanding well beyond its home market.
By September 2026, the company counted more than 130 active studios across 15 countries and over 60,500 members, according to the original report. That figure is not universally consistent across coverage: What Now Boston put the count at over 120 studios across 15 countries as of early September, while Franchise Times described the brand as having more than 130 units in 14 countries. A company spokesperson told MassLive the brand is on track to surpass 150 operating studios globally by January 2027.
A Crowded, Fast-Expanding Pilates Market
STRONG's Boston-area arrival lands amid a broader boutique-fitness boom. Pilates is now the primary modality for more than 43% of boutique fitness studios, according to Mariana Tek's 2026 report, and the same report found that studios are increasingly functioning as social third spaces where members feel a sense of belonging, connection and community rather than simple workout venues.
Momentic Studios has signed agreements to develop more than 96 fitness studios across nine exclusive territories over the next five years, What Now Boston reports. Elsewhere in the sector, Franchise Times notes that competitor Studio Pilates International has more than 130 units open worldwide, with about 25 located in the United States — a sign of how crowded the reformer-based fitness space has become as brands race to plant flags in new cities.
