STRONG Pilates, the boutique fitness franchise redefining Pilates across the globe, today announced the opening of its Lakeview, Chicago studio on June 6, 2026. Located at 3730 N. Southport Ave., the studio marks STRONG Pilates’ Chicago debut and its latest U.S. expansion milestone as the brand accelerates toward more than 40 American locations by year-end. With 47,000 members worldwide, $60 million in net revenue over the past 12 months, and ClassPass rankings of #3 in Australia and #15 worldwide, STRONG Pilates enters Chicago at the height of its momentum.
Co-founded by Australian fitness entrepreneurs Michael Ramsey and Mark Armstrong in 2019, STRONG Pilates has grown from a bold fitness concept into a worldwide network of more than 116 studios across 14 countries. The Lakeview studio is brought to Chicago by Momentic Studios, a wellness-forward franchisee partner driving STRONG Pilates’ expansion into fitness-oriented, culturally vibrant communities. Spanning 3,800 square feet, the studio features lockers, restrooms with amenities, and ample street parking.
“Chicago is a city that takes fitness culture seriously, and we couldn’t think of a better home than Lakeview for STRONG Pilates’ entry into this market,” said founder Michael Ramsey. “At STRONG Pilates, we don’t just open studios. We foster communities built around a workout you can’t find anywhere else — Pilates, strength, and cardio combined in one session. Our goal in Chicago is the same one we’ve had since the beginning: build a space where people challenge themselves, elevate each other, and walk out stronger than they walked in.”
A Workout Built Differently
STRONG Pilates is more than traditional pilates. Built around the brand’s proprietary Rowformer and Bikeformer, each 45-minute class seamlessly blends Pilates-inspired resistance training, cardio, and strength into a single low-impact, full-body workout. Programming rotates daily through targeted focus areas, including upper body, lower body, core, obliques, and full-body combinations, to support longevity in training and prioritize injury prevention. Instructor-led classes are enhanced by visual cueing technology displayed on movement screens throughout the studio, while every instructor is trained to accommodate individual injuries and movement restrictions. Anchoring the Lakeview experience is a high-caliber instructor roster with deep roots in Chicago’s fitness community, ready to meet the city where its fitness culture is headed.
The Lakeview opening is far more than an expansion milestone. It signals a long-term investment in Chicago’s wellness community. STRONG Pilates arrives in Chicago with undeniable momentum and its sights set on becoming the city’s defining fitness experience for years to come. The Lakeview studio is in active presale, offering new clients 14 days of unlimited classes for $49 – the brand’s lowest available pricing.
Co-founded in 2019 by Michael Ramsey and Mark Armstrong, STRONG Pilates is an Australian-founded fitness format that combines Pilates with cardio and strength training via the exclusive Rowformer and Bikeformer (a Reformer with a rower or bike attached).
Designed for longevity in training, STRONG offers a low-impact, high-intensity full-body workout, which has been embraced by over 47,000 members worldwide. The fitness franchise has seen incredible growth over the past year, with over 116 operating studios across 14 countries and a further 200 confirmed to open.
Learn more at www.strongpilates.co or follow @strong_lakeview on Instagram.
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