In the West Bank, the massive amount of curiosity around Pilates has seemingly been unmet, until now, as an upcoming studio called Lovell Up Pilates is already seeing a tidal wave of interest before it even opens its doors in August.
“I have 550 people on the waitlist right now and a lot of them have like never done Pilates before,” owner Krista Dobronich told What Now New Orleans. She added that chose the location at 710 Barataria Blvd. in Marrero to tap into the area’s changing demographics and residential growth.
“Marrero is up and coming,” she explained. “There’s a lot of neighborhoods being built, a lot of young people moving in and then it’s eight minutes away from Old Gretna, which is also a popular area.”
Lovell Up Pilates will focus exclusively on Reformer Pilates, a version of the exercise that utilizes a specialized machine with springs and pulleys to provide resistance. Because the equipment can look intimidating to newcomers, Dobronich is structuring the studio’s launch to be as accessible as possible.
“Safety’s important so I’m just starting with beginner classes at first so that everybody can feel comfortable on the reformer before they move up to more difficult exercises,” she said.
Beyond general fitness, Dobronich emphasized that pilates is a versatile tool for those recovering from physical setbacks. The low-impact nature of the reformer makes it an ideal environment for physical maintenance and injury prevention.
“The good thing about Pilates is that it was used for rehabilitation so there’s so many modifications, it can be easy on all injuries,” Dobronich said. “We are certified to deal with people with certain injuries, whether it’s back, neck, wrist, or shoulders.”
The studio is currently undergoing final preparations for its debut. Dobronich plans to hold the first official classes on Aug. 15, followed by a grand opening celebration. The event is expected to feature local vendors, including Rougabrew Coffee. To help ease the nerves of the pilates-curious, the grand opening will also include 15-minute live demonstrations on the reformers.
