A few weeks ago, Pilates Pro got a first look at STOTT PILATES’ brand-new New York City training center. It’s housed inside a downtown branch of New York Sports Club, a New York City health club. The facility, which is fully stocked with STOTT PILATES’ latest equipment, will be a busy place—it will serve both club members and teachers in training.

Moira and Lindsay Merrithew, founders of STOTT PILATES, flew in from Toronto to unveil the studio to instructors and media. Moira (the blur in the photo at left) led a Pilates demonstration and showed off some of the unique features of the equipment.

This partnership between a health club and Pilates corporation is a sign of Pilates’ continued growth in popularity among general fitness enthusiasts. According to Allyson Donnelly, director of group exercise for New York Sports Clubs, Pilates is the third most popular group class, behind Spinning and yoga, at Town Sports International, which owns New York Sports Club and operates 146 clubs the New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. areas. And, she says, the average mat class attendee is getting savvier. She has noticed higher participation and retention in classes taught by the better, more educated instructors. Her members also want more than just mat classes. Many get hooked on an instructor who motivates them to progress to equipment classes and private sessions. Donnelly has learned that those popular teachers translate into Pilates profits, and now pays them more to keep them around.

Instructor training at the new location is already underway. Click here to see the latest schedule.