Gyms, clubs, hotels and wellness centres increasingly add Pilates because it extends the membership offer, appeals to clients who do not use conventional gym equipment, and makes productive use of floor area. A Pilates department is not a room with equipment, however. It is a service with its own standards of teaching, safety, scheduling and revenue, and it succeeds or fails on the quality of those standards. This guide sets out the decisions that a facility should take, in order, before adding Pilates.
Why facilities add Pilates
- Differentiation and retention: a Pilates offer can distinguish the facility and give existing members a reason to stay.
- New client segments: clients who prefer low-impact, instructor-led work, those returning to exercise, and those seeking an alternative to the gym floor.
- Revenue per area: instructor-led sessions in a small room can earn more per square metre than unused or low-yield space, when the room is planned and priced correctly.
- Premium services: private and semi-private sessions provide a higher-value product alongside group classes.
Choose the model
| Model | Description | Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Mat studio room | A multipurpose room for mat classes, with props | Lowest investment; limited premium revenue |
| Reformer room | A dedicated room with group reformer stations | Higher investment and higher yield per class; needs trained instructors and a fixed timetable |
| Studio within the facility | A branded Pilates studio with its own booking, pricing and standards | Strongest identity; requires clear separation of the offer from the general membership |
| Hotel or resort programme | Classes and private sessions for guests, residents and external members | Demand varies by season; guest and resident needs differ from those of local members |
| Operator partnership | The facility provides the space; an independent operator runs the service | Transfers operating burden; requires a clear agreement on standards, revenue and brand |
Analyse space, members and demand
Before any investment, the facility assesses the profile of its members or guests, the times at which demand is expected, and the space that can be allocated. The room needs adequate floor area for the planned number of stations, with the manufacturer’s clearances (see How Many Reformers Does a Pilates Studio Need?), as well as ventilation, acoustic separation from other activities, storage, and convenient access to changing facilities. A room that is shared with other activities should be planned so that equipment can be stored safely and the timetable does not conflict.
Confirm licensing and approvals
A facility that already holds a licence should confirm with its licensing authority and, in Dubai, with the Dubai Sports Council whether the addition of Pilates classes or private sessions requires an amendment to its licensed activities or any further authorisation, and whether the instructors must be entered in the Dubai Sports Council register. No official source consulted names a specific licence activity for Pilates, so written confirmation should be obtained before the investment is made. The position at the date of publication, with sources, is recorded in How to Open a Pilates Studio in Dubai and the guide to the Dubai Sports Council permit.
Design the revenue model
The facility decides whether Pilates is included in the general membership, offered as a premium add-on, or sold by the class or the pack. Each choice affects utilisation and revenue differently. A class included in the membership increases perceived value but limits direct revenue; a premium product earns more per client but reaches fewer. Private and semi-private sessions are priced by instructor time and the opportunity cost of the room. The method for deriving prices and structuring packs is described in Pilates Studio Pricing and Membership Models.
Plan the team and the standards
The quality of the department depends on its instructors. The facility should define the qualifications it requires, the number of instructors needed for the timetable with cover for absence, the remuneration model, and the standards of teaching and safety that all instructors follow. Where qualified instructors are not readily available, the facility may educate its own team; see Hiring and Training Instructors for a New Pilates Studio.
Launch and review
- Set a launch timetable that matches the demand observed in the member or guest analysis.
- Run introductory sessions for members or guests before the full timetable begins.
- Record bookings, occupancy by slot, conversion to paid products and retention from the first week.
- Review the results after the first 90 days and adjust the timetable, pricing and staffing.
Professional support
Code Pilates Consultancy advises entrepreneurs, investors, gyms, clubs and hotels on studio planning, from the investment decision to the first 90 days. Sessions are led personally by Barış Özdemir, are held online or on site in Dubai, in Turkish or English, and are followed by a written action plan within 48 hours. The Pilates integration for facilities, covering space, member profile and demand analysis, the group reformer, mat and private session concept, the revenue model, pricing and packages, and the team structure, is one of the principal strategy session topics. The available topics are listed on the Pilates studio consultancy page.
This guide is general information and does not constitute legal, tax or financial advice. Licensing requirements are determined by the competent authorities and may change.
Frequently asked questions
To differentiate its offer, reach clients who do not use conventional gym equipment, make productive use of floor area and add a premium service. The department must have its own standards to achieve these benefits.
This should be confirmed in writing with the licensing authority and, in Dubai, with the Dubai Sports Council before the investment is made, including whether instructors must be entered in the register.
Each approach has different effects on perceived value and direct revenue. The decision should follow the member analysis and the pricing method, and should be reviewed after the first 90 days.
Yes. In an operator partnership the facility provides the space and an independent operator runs the service, with a clear agreement on standards, revenue and brand.
Yes. The Pilates integration for facilities is offered as a strategy session, followed by a written action plan within 48 hours.
About Code Pilates Academy
Prepared by Code Pilates Academy, a private international Pilates teacher-training school and studio consultancy founded by Barış Özdemir, NCPT.
