{"id":37490,"date":"2026-04-03T05:00:52","date_gmt":"2026-04-03T05:00:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/2026\/04\/03\/plus-size-pilates-classes-done-great-yes-they-exist\/"},"modified":"2026-04-03T05:01:09","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T05:01:09","slug":"plus-size-pilates-classes-done-great-yes-they-exist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/2026\/04\/03\/plus-size-pilates-classes-done-great-yes-they-exist\/","title":{"rendered":"Plus Size Pilates Classes Done Great? yes, they exist"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\n<\/p>\n<div xmlns:default=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:default1=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n<p>Let me be honest with you. As a plus-size woman, walking into a fitness studio is its own workout. Before you even touch a piece of equipment, you&#8217;ve already done the mental repetition. Will the reformer handle my load? Will the instructor look at me sideways? Will I be the only person in the room who looks like me?<\/p>\n<p>so when i heard this <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.forza-pilates.com\/\">forza pilates<\/a>When a boutique Pilates studio in Franklin, Tennessee, was hosting plus size Pilates classes designed specifically for bodies like mine, I was intrigued. Hopeful, even. And yes, a little skeptical.<\/p>\n<p>Spoiler alert: I didn&#8217;t need to do that.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<p>\n<iframe title=\"TCF X Forza Pilates_As... Magic Episode | Mar 04, 2026\" width=\"801\" height=\"451\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/3JHKyd6TKOU?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Wearing clothes was already an act of intention<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Before I walked through the door, I had a decision to make. What will you wear to class that you can&#8217;t really predict? I reached for my turquoise fitness set <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.torrid.com\/category\/activewear\">Torrid&#8217;s activewear line<\/a>Which goes up to sizes 30 and was designed with plus size bodies in mind from the very first stitch. The fabric moved me in all the right ways and, honestly, it felt intentional to wear. Like armor, but make it cute.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-video\"><video height=\"1080\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1920 \/ 1080;\" width=\"1920\" controls=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/thecurvyfashionista.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/riverside_c0652__-apr-01-2026-001_jerilyn_harpers-st.mp4\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">jerry is trying <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.torrid.com\/product\/tru-performance-core-active-sports-bra-with-piping\/44925904-28811.html?cgid=Clothing_Active#start=1\">TRU Performance Core Active Sports Bra with Piping<\/a><strong> <\/strong>And <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.torrid.com\/product\/tru-performance-core-v-band-active-legging\/44930647-28811.html?cgid=Clothing_Active#start=2\">TRU Performance Core V-Band Activewear Leggings<\/a>  from hot<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>It matters more than people think. For plus-size women, finding activewear that actually fits and provides support, high-waisted leggings that stay up, sports bras that don&#8217;t dig into your ribs, sets that don&#8217;t dig into your body has historically been an uphill battle.<\/p>\n<p>Research has done <a rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.racked.com\/2018\/7\/10\/17550018\/activewear-brands-plus-size-women\">Confirmed<\/a> Nearly 67 percent of American women are plus size, yet many activewear brands have been painfully slow to serve them. Torrid has been in this lane since 2015, and it shows.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Pre-workout selfie! <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Getting ready that morning was its own little act of defiance. If I was going to show up, I was going to show up completely.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About Forza Pilates and the studio that started it all<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>forza pilates was <a rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nfocusmagazine.com\/people-places\/behind-the-scenes-with-sydney-dumler-of-forza-pilates\/article_bfb89564-6ddb-4337-920b-756ce3928417.html\">Founded by Sidney Dumler<\/a>Denver-turned-Nashville wellness entrepreneur who opened the Soho House Nashville flagship in December 2023. The brand has since expanded to a second public studio in Franklin, Tennessee. In less than three years, Forza has become one of the most sought-after boutique Pilates studios in Middle Tennessee.<\/p>\n<p>The place itself is truly beautiful. Think gold-framed mirrors, natural light, warm colors, and the kind of intentional design that inspires you to stand straight when walking by. This can easily seem intimidating. But that feeling starts to change the moment you understand what the studio is really trying to do.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned=\"\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DU30KnaEjZm\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:750px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\"\/>\n<p><em>&#8220;The creation of Forza was and still is an act of love. Plus Size Pilates began to honor my best friend and create a space she deserved but never got.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Sydney Dumler, Founder of Forza Pilates<\/p>\n<p>That quote stopped me in my tracks. Because this wasn&#8217;t a studio that added a plus size class as a PR move. It&#8217;s made with love, and you can feel it.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What a Plus Size Pilates Class Really Looks Like<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>I visited the Franklin location for a private session led by Sydney, along with the studio&#8217;s Plus Size Ambassador Ashton Evans. From the moment we started moving, I noticed something was different. I was not preparing myself the way I usually do in fitness areas.<\/p>\n<p>The reformers themselves are part of the why. Sidney had been discussing the equipment from day one.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned=\"\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DKLXLJLuwMd\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:750px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\"\/>\n<p><em>&#8220;It was essential to invest in reformers that felt sturdy and inclusive. We looked for devices with wide carriages and adjustable settings to accommodate different heights and body types.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<p>That level of care is visible everywhere. The class moved at a pace that kept you moving forward without feeling overwhelmed. While amendments were made, they were not treated as consolation prizes. And the language in the room? Not a single sign that would have induced me to disappear.<\/p>\n<p><em>&#8220;Training our trainers on inclusive cueing is a core part of our work. We focus on positive language and body neutrality to create a supportive environment for all bodies.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<p>what it aligns with <a rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tandfonline.com\/doi\/full\/10.1080\/02701367.2021.1983515\">Researchers have found<\/a> About size-inclusive fitness spaces: When weight-neutral practices are used and judgment is absent, plus-size women experience real increases in well-being, self-worth, and belonging. Forza isn&#8217;t just about feeling good. It is working fine.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>the moment that changed everything<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>There was a moment in the middle of class that I remember again and again. I was in the middle of a challenging movement, the way your body starts to communicate with you about whether to stop or not. I could feel myself slipping into that familiar headspace, ready to tap out. Then I heard Sydney&#8217;s voice encouraging me to keep going, telling me I could do this.<\/p>\n<p>This did not seem like normal instructions. It felt personal. As if someone is reaching out to you and physically pulling you to do something you weren&#8217;t sure you could accomplish on your own.<\/p>\n<p>I kept walking. And something changed.<\/p>\n<p>By the end of the class, I wasn&#8217;t thinking about how I looked or whether I was doing everything right. I was thinking how proud I was that my body could do that. It doesn&#8217;t feel like I just walked out of a fitness class.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/thecurvyfashionista.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_0603-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"plus size pilates \" class=\"wp-image-167907\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thecurvyfashionista.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_0603-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/thecurvyfashionista.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_0603-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/thecurvyfashionista.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_0603-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/thecurvyfashionista.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_0603-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/thecurvyfashionista.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_0603-38x50.jpg 38w, https:\/\/thecurvyfashionista.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_0603-75x100.jpg 75w, https:\/\/thecurvyfashionista.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_0603-scaled.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Ashton Evans and Jerry Harper <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>From Student to Studio Ambassador: The Story of Ashton Evans<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Ashton Evans knows this feeling well. Before finding Forza, fitness wasn&#8217;t something she felt connected to. Felt uncomfortable in the gym. She was always aware of how visible she was in those places, and not in a good way. The only activity she really enjoyed was dancing, where she felt free to take place without apology.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/thecurvyfashionista.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_1768-768x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"Plus Size Pilates Classes\" class=\"wp-image-167830\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thecurvyfashionista.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_1768-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/thecurvyfashionista.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_1768-225x300.jpeg 225w, https:\/\/thecurvyfashionista.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_1768-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, https:\/\/thecurvyfashionista.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_1768-1536x2048.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/thecurvyfashionista.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_1768-38x50.jpeg 38w, https:\/\/thecurvyfashionista.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_1768-75x100.jpeg 75w, https:\/\/thecurvyfashionista.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_1768-scaled.jpeg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Image via Ashton Evans<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Her first Pilates class in Forza challenged her expectations. It was difficult. But it gave him something he didn&#8217;t expect.<\/p>\n<p><em>&#8220;I felt hope.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<p>That word. Hopeful. It mirrored my own experience so closely that I had to sit with it for a second.<\/p>\n<p>Within a year, Ashton went from student to ambassador, now helping other older women find the same sense of community and comfort she did. Because that&#8217;s how this type of change actually works. You find your people, and then you become someone else.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why it matters beyond a studio in Tennessee<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The thing is this. According to The Curvy Fashionista&#8217;s own reporting, 68 percent of women in America wear size 14 and above. That is the majority. And yet the fitness industry has historically designed spaces, equipment, and language with very different bodies in mind.<\/p>\n<p>What Forza is doing isn&#8217;t typical. This is necessary.<\/p>\n<p><em>&#8220;We&#8217;ve been hosting this series for almost two years. I&#8217;d love to see it expand by inspiring other studios to adopt similar programs.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s not just plus size classes being held in Sydney. She&#8217;s making a case for what every studio should do. And his vision is bigger than Franklin&#8217;s.<\/p>\n<p><em>&#8220;I want more people to understand that plus-sized people deserve the same access and respect as everyone else. The movement should feel empowering.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Full stop.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Post-Workout Selfie and What It Means<\/strong><\/h2>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/thecurvyfashionista.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_0006-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Plus Size Pilates Classes\" class=\"wp-image-167829\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thecurvyfashionista.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_0006-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/thecurvyfashionista.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_0006-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/thecurvyfashionista.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_0006-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/thecurvyfashionista.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_0006-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/thecurvyfashionista.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_0006-38x50.jpg 38w, https:\/\/thecurvyfashionista.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_0006-75x100.jpg 75w, https:\/\/thecurvyfashionista.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_0006-scaled.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>By the end of the class, my hard-earned money was felt. That turquoise Torrid set held up during every activity and honestly, so did I. I found myself doing things I don&#8217;t usually do after a workout. I stopped. I exhaled slowly and just sat in that feeling for a moment. In no hurry to snatch my things. Not thinking about the next task on my list right now.<\/p>\n<p>Just submit.<\/p>\n<p>I felt light, happy and really empowered. Not because anyone told me I should. Because my body showed up for me and I finally came for her in the place that was truly created for the two of us.<\/p>\n<p>If you want to shop the look, Torrid&#8217;s activewear line is linked below. Because what you wear matters in a room like this. And you deserve to look like the main character.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Ready to try it?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Forza Pilates holds monthly plus size Pilates classes in both the Nashville and Franklin locations. You can explore class offerings and book directly here <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.forza-pilates.com\/\">forza-pilates.com<\/a>. Whether you&#8217;re brand new to Pilates or just looking for a place that really gets it, this is your sign.<\/p>\n<p>And if you&#8217;re not in Middle Tennessee, take this as your permission slip to demand more from fitness places near you. The right studio exists. And if it hasn&#8217;t happened yet, you might be the one who makes it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Let me be honest with you. As a plus-size woman, walking into a fitness studio is its own workout. Before you even touch a piece of equipment, you&#8217;ve already done the mental repetition. Will the reformer handle my load? Will the instructor look at me sideways? Will I be the only person in the room<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":37492,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[59],"tags":[4598,3377,246,15169,9938],"class_list":["post-37490","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-daily-bread","tag-classes","tag-exist","tag-great","tag-pilates","tag-size"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37490","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=37490"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37490\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":37493,"href":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37490\/revisions\/37493"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/37492"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=37490"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=37490"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=37490"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}