A new fitness option is preparing to open its doors in Cottage Grove, bringing reformer Pilates, strength training and private instruction to Oak Park Commons.
Club Pilates Cottage Grove will hold a four-day soft opening Thursday through Sunday, Sept. 17-20, at 7420 80th St. S., Suite 203. The studio is located in Oak Park Commons and can be accessed from the upper parking lot.
During the soft opening, the studio will offer free 30-minute introductory classes, giving residents a chance to try Pilates, meet instructors and see the new facility before settling into a regular workout routine. New member specials are also being offered before the opening and during the four-day event.
The Cottage Grove studio is locally owned by Topher Nelson and will be managed by fitness and nutrition professional Laura Scheper. The location is expected to add 10 to 15 jobs in Cottage Grove and will be open seven days a week.
Nelson said he believes the area is a good fit for the Pilates concept.
“The people in the Cottage Grove area are very health conscious and eager for opportunities to improve their well-being. Club Pilates is an incredible community and venue to help people build life-long fitness and be more active,” Nelson said.
Pilates combines controlled movements with an emphasis on strength, posture, balance and flexibility. The workouts are designed to be low impact, allowing participants with different experience and fitness levels to take part.
The Cottage Grove location will feature a variety of specialized equipment rather than relying on one type of workout. Group classes will use Pilates reformers, EXO chairs, TRX equipment, Springboard and Barre.
The reformer, one of the pieces of equipment most closely associated with Pilates, allows participants to perform exercises using adjustable resistance. Other equipment and class formats give instructors additional ways to vary workouts and target different areas of the body.
For those who prefer individual instruction, the Cottage Grove studio will also have a separate, fully equipped room dedicated to private training.
The studio is designed to offer dozens of group classes in a light and bright setting, giving members the option to choose workouts based on their fitness level and goals. The company promotes Pilates as a total-body strength-training option that can help participants improve movement while remaining low impact.
Club Pilates also operates its own 450-hour teacher training program. The program prepares instructors to teach group reformer Pilates classes while also covering TRX, Triggerpoint and Barre methods.
The company was founded in 2007 and has grown into a large international Pilates provider. Club Pilates currently has more than 1,300 locations in the United States, with additional studios continuing to open.
The Cottage Grove studio will be the 19th Club Pilates location in the Twin Cities area. Nearby studios are already operating in Woodbury, Eagan and the Highland Park neighborhood of St. Paul.
For Cottage Grove residents, the opening adds another choice to a growing range of fitness options in the community, particularly for people looking for strength training without the higher impact associated with some traditional workouts.
The introductory classes during the Sept. 17-20 soft opening are intended for people who want to see what Pilates is about before committing to a regular class schedule. Participants will be able to experience some of the movements, learn about the equipment and explore the studio.
After the soft opening, the Cottage Grove location plans to maintain a seven-day schedule, with both group classes and private training available.
Residents interested in the free introductory classes, membership options or opening specials can contact the Cottage Grove studio at 651-404-2360.