By Iris Vitelli & Gary Nager
Although Wesley Chapel residents Nathan and Ayesha Philyaw also own locations in New Tampa and Carrollwood, there’s no doubt that their Club Pilates franchise in The Shops at Wiregrass in Wesley Chapel is their largest and most popular.
“This is what we call a double studio,” Nathan says. “Our Wiregrass location has two separate studios, each with twelve Pilates reformer machines, plus a separate studio with two more machines for private and semi-private lessons. During peak times in the mornings and after-work hours, we usually have both studios going with often-full classes.”
The reformer is the foundation of the Club Pilates experience. It uses your own body weight, combined with adjustable spring tension, to create resistance through controlled movements, which help build strength and stability without pounding the joints or spine.
The equipment traces its roots back to Joseph Pilates, who developed his method during World War I while living in England, where he used bed springs to help rehabilitate injured soldiers. After emigrating to New York City in the 1920s, Pilates refined his apparatus further and opened his first studio, laying the groundwork for the reformer-based practice that is still used by Pilates studios around the world today. The springs provide resistance for both upper and lower body work while allowing movements to stay controlled and joint-friendly.
The Wiregrass club also has a larger lobby area, with a larger retail shop and more room for hosting members-only events than the other two locations the Philyaws own. “We bring in vendors from time to time, like a smoothie shop,” Ayesha says. “We love being part of the community and one of the benefits of boutique fitness locations like this is that you’re not just working out here, you’re part of a family where our members feel at home.”
All three Club Pilates studios owned by the Philyaws also offer free Pilates “mat” classes at various locations throughout the Tampa Bay community, such as at “cancer walks at Raymond James Stadium, to help everybody warm up before the walk,” Nathan says, “as well as at Armature Works and other locations. We basically offer free mat classes someplace around the area almost every weekend.”
Part of why Pilates works for so many people, including those with injuries, is not just the reformer machines but also the additional equipment used throughout the class. There also is a springboard wall that includes a ballet bar which, for beginner classes, is used for stretching, which is great for between sequences.
For more challenging elements, tools like the Bosu ball and hand weights are incorporated. Bosu balls looks like inflatable rubber domes on flat platforms. They can be added to exercises like squats, push-ups, or planks, increasing difficulty without adding impact. There also are TRX (Total Resistance eXercise) suspension straps, developed by U.S. Navy SEAL Randy Hetrick, which use your body weight to build strength, balance and flexibility.
Club Pilates trainers go through a 500- hour certification — and the company has its own certification program — although you can work for Club Pilates if you’ve been certified by another qualified Pilates training facility. But, Club Pilates trainers also offer thoughtful modifications, injury-awareness guidance and individualized support. Classes are not scripted, so no two are exactly the same, which allows each instructor to adapt to the needs of the people in the room.
“And, even if an instructor comes to us already certified someplace else,” Ayesha says, “we put them through something called ‘bridge’ training, just to make sure they’re in line with our Club Pilates standards.”
Classes are offered at progressive levels from Level 1 through 2.5, allowing participants to build strength, confidence and technique gradually. For those who need or prefer more individualized attention, private and semi-private sessions also are available.
For gentle, rehabilitative movement, there are classes like Center + Balance and Reformer Flow 1. As members progress, classes such as Reformer Flow 1.5 and Reformer 2 introduce more complex sequences. Specialty formats like Control, Suspend and Cardio Sculpt incorporate balance challenges, functional strength and cardiovascular elements.
Melissa Boetjer, the regional manager for the three Club Pilates studios owned by Nathan and Ayesha, says that Club Pilates is rooted in the original principles of Joseph Pilates. “We believe,” says Melissa, “that Pilates should be accessible to everyone, regardless of age, fitness level, or physical limitations.”
Neighborhood News correspondent Iris Vitelli had this to say about her experience when she took a class at the New Tampa ocation in Tampa Palms:
I stood outside the New Tampa Club Pilates location in the Shoppes at Amberly plaza in Tampa Palms with a familiar mixture of hope and hesitation. Years ago, a car accident left me with a fragile back, and every time I have tried to exercise beyond walking or swimming, pain would chase me. Over time, I stopped trying.
So, when I was given the opportunity to take a class at Club Pilates and write about my experience, I accepted the challenge. I wanted to push myself and work hard, but I was afraid of paying for it later with pain, especially in muscles I had neglected for so long.
Walking inside, I noticed the rows of Pilates reformer machines lined up neatly across the room. I had done some research prior to visiting Club Pilates, so I knew that the reformers have a bench-like frame, sliding platforms and adjustable springs. I looked at these machines and it felt as if they were looking back at me, quietly saying, “I’m waiting for you and I will twist your body into a pretzel.”
My instructor, Mackenzie, introduced me to the equipment by explaining how the springs worked and walked me through what the class would include. When I shared my concerns about my back, she told me about her own experience after having an accident and the back issues that followed. “Pilates,” she explained, “was the only thing I could do and what was recommended for my rehabilitation.”
The class began with lights turned low, and the only thing I heard was the smooth sound of Mackenzie’s voice guiding us from one movement to the next.
I spent the entire 50-minute class moving slowly and deliberately, completing light stretches and resistance work, when something remarkable happened. I felt safe. I felt supported. My muscles were engaged, not strained. To my surprise, I actually felt good.
I’ll admit that 50 minutes sounded like a long time to me. But, once the class began, I lost track of time entirely. And, when it ended, I felt proud of myself.
Before class, MacKenzie had asked me to let her know if I experienced any pain during the session. It never got to that point. At one moment, when I was lying flat on the reformer, my back felt some discomfort, but not pain. That distinction alone felt significant to me.
She explained that the precise, slow movements of Pilates help create muscle around affected areas, while strengthening the core, which in turn supports the back. Not only did it help with her post-accident pain, she also fell in love with it enough to become an instructor.
A Little History + Membership Info
The first Club Pilates opened in 2007 in San Diego, CA, and the brand started franchising in 2012. Nathan and Ayesha opened their Carrollwood and Wesley Chapel franchises in 2017 (although it was in a different location at the mall at that time, having moved to its current Paseo Dr. location in May of 2025) and they opened their New Tampa Club Pilates in 2019.
“People in this community have known us for nearly a decade,” Nathan says. “Our members are very loyal to us and our amazing staff. We know there are other Pilates studios popping up around the area, but with our 4.8-star (out of 5) Google rating on more than 150 reviews, we know people love this location.”
Ayesha adds, “Club Pilates is true Pilates. All of our classes follow basic Pilates structures and foundations, so I think that’s one thing that makes Club Pilates studios stand out. And, as far as our studios are concerned, what really makes us stand out is our amazing staff.” “A lot of our instructors have been with us five years, six year, nine years,” Nathan says. “Our instructors keep our members happy.”
In fact, in a very recent 5-star Google review, member Sebnem T. says, “The Club Pilates studio at Wiregrass is the best club I have ever attended. The staff are always helpful and happy to help anytime — their positive energy carries out to the rest of the facility. I love so many instructors there, I have hard time scheduling my classes. I typically take 6-8 classes per week and enjoy every single class. I have completed 460 classes and see the changes throughout my body. I feel blessed to be part of Club Pilates!”
Ayesha also noted that because Club Pilates Wiregrass members have nearby access to the mall’s only parking garage, “where they can always find parking, even during the holiday season. And, our members don’t mind parking there and getting a few steps in as a warmup.”
The Philyaws, who have two children, are both retired pharmacists who say they were drawn to Club Pilates because of its focus on health, wellness and helping people improve their quality of life.
Their franchises are among more than 1,200 Club Pilates studios throughout the U.S. today, including about 115 in Florida.
The company offers a Club Pilates Passport, which allows members to use all of the studios in the U.S. This is great for “snowbirds” who live in another city but come to Florida for a few months every year. You can purchase single classes at Club Pilates, as well as monthly and yearly memberships, which will provide significant savings when you pay in full. With an annual membership, members can take unlimited classes at all three locations. You can pay for the whole year or monthly, but must commit to a full year for unlimited classes.
The Club Pilates app gives you access to a points system. Join for free and earn points by taking classes, which can unlock free classes and other rewards. Take four classes in your first four weeks of enrolling and unlock 400 bonus points. Take eight classes in your first four weeks of enrolling and unlock 800 bonus points. Members can redeem these points for retail discounts and special rewards like a 90-day booking window. Celebrate your birthday with a complimentary class. And yes, your first class is free of charge, with no obligation to continue.
Club Pilates Wiregrass is located at 28330 Paseo Dr. It is open Mon.-Fri., 7:30 a.m.–8 p.m.; 7:30 a.m.-8 p.m. on Sat. & 8 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sun. For info, call (813) 607-6655. Club Pilates New Tampa is at 15341 Amberly Dr. For info, call (813) 461-6010. To schedule a free class at either location, visit ClubPilates.com/location/newtampa.com, or follow on Facebook, Instagram, X and TikTok.