Strong Pilates To Open Studios in Maryland, Virginia

The Australia-founded franchise continues to push into the U.S. market, announcing plans to bring eight studios to the Mid-Atlantic just a month after making its California debut

Strong Pilates is accelerating its U.S. expansion, announcing plans to open eight new studios across Maryland and Virginia as the Australia-founded boutique fitness brand looks to build a stronger foothold along the East Coast and the entire United States.

Each state will receive four locations, with Maryland studios slated for Gaithersburg, Silver Spring, Rockville and Bethesda, and Virginia sites planned for Tysons Corner, Rosslyn, Reston and Old Town. The first Maryland location is expected to open later this year.

The Mid-Atlantic push marks the next step in Strong Pilates’ U.S. expansion plans. 

The brand currently operates eight studios across New York, New Jersey, Texas and California, with more than 155 additional franchise locations in development nationwide over the next several years. Key target markets include Los Angeles, New York City, Boston, Chicago, Nashville, Dallas, Houston and Minneapolis, the brand says. 

“As we prepare for significant expansion across the country, establishing a strong footprint in key East Coast markets is essential,” said Strong Pilates co-founder Michael Ramsey. “Maryland and Virginia are both high-potential markets, with engaged fitness communities and franchise partners who truly understand our brand vision.”

Founded in 2019 by Ramsey and Mark Armstrong, Strong Pilates has emerged as a contender in the increasingly crowded Pilates category thanks to a hybrid positioning that’s helped differentiate it during a period of surging demand for the modality. 

Rather than relying on traditional reformer-only programming, Strong centers its offering around proprietary Rowformer and Bikeformer machines, which integrate rowing and cycling into reformer-based Pilates inside 45-minute, full-body workouts. 

credit: Strong Pilates

Strong recently made its California entry with a West Hollywood studio. In the U.S., the brand has stated its intention to scale quickly across major metropolitan markets through a franchise-led model. 

Strong’s growth comes amid a broader Pilates boom that shows little sign of slowing. According to ClassPass’ 2025 report, Pilates reservations surged 66% year-over-year and were the top-booked modality for the third year in a row, reinforcing the modality’s position as the top boutique fitness offering. 

Globally, Strong Pilates currently counts more than 110 operating studios across 14 countries, with a pipeline of over 200 additional locations.