Let me be honest with you. Walking into a fitness studio as a plus size woman is its own workout. Before you even touch a piece of equipment, you have already done the mental reps. Will the reformer hold my weight? Will the instructor look at me sideways? Will I be the only one who looks like me in the room?
So when I heard that Forza Pilates, a boutique pilates studio in Franklin, Tennessee, was hosting plus size Pilates classes specifically designed for bodies like mine, I was curious. Hopeful, even. And yes, a little skeptical.
Spoiler alert: I did not need to be.
Getting Dressed Was Already an Act of Intention
Before I even walked through the door, I had a decision to make. What do you wear to a class you genuinely cannot predict? I reached for my turquoise fitness set from Torrid’s activewear line, which goes up to a size 30 and was built with plus size bodies in mind from the very first stitch. The fabric moved with me in all the right ways and, honestly, putting it on felt intentional. Like armor, but make it cute.
That matters more than people think. For plus size women, finding activewear that actually fits and supports high-waisted leggings that stay up, sports bras that do not wage war on your ribcage, sets that do not treat your body as an afterthought has historically been an uphill battle.
Research has confirmed that roughly 67 percent of American women are plus size, yet many activewear brands have been notoriously slow to serve them. Torrid has been in this lane since 2015, and it shows.
Getting dressed that morning was its own small act of defiance. If I was going to show up, I was going to show up fully.
About Forza Pilates and the Studio That Started It All
Forza Pilates was founded by Sydney Dumler, a Denver-turned-Nashville wellness entrepreneur who opened the flagship in Soho House Nashville in December 2023. The brand has since expanded to a second public studio in Franklin, Tennessee . In under three years, Forza has become one of the most talked-about boutique Pilates studios in Middle Tennessee.
The space itself is genuinely beautiful. Think gold-frame mirrors, natural light, warm tones, and the kind of intentional design that makes you want to stand up straighter just walking in. It could easily feel intimidating. But that feeling starts to shift the moment you understand what the studio is actually trying to do.
“Building Forza was, and still is, an act of love. Plus Size Pilates started as a way to honor my best friend and create a space she deserved but never found.”
Sydney Dumler, Founder of Forza Pilates
That quote stopped me in my tracks. Because this was not a studio that added a plus size class as a PR move. It was built out of love, and you can feel it.
What a Plus Size Pilates Class Actually Looks Like
I visited the Franklin location for a private session led by Sydney, alongside Ashton Evans, a plus size ambassador for the studio. From the moment we started moving, I noticed something was different. I was not bracing myself the way I usually do in fitness spaces.
The reformers themselves are part of why. Sydney was deliberate about the equipment from day one.
“It was essential to invest in reformers that felt sturdy and inclusive. We looked for equipment with wider carriages and adjustable settings to accommodate different heights and body types.”
That level of care shows up everywhere. The class moved at a pace that let you keep up without feeling overwhelmed. Modifications were built in, not treated as consolation prizes. And the language in the room? Not a single cue that made me want to disappear.
“Training our instructors on inclusive cueing is a core part of what we do. We focus on positive language and body neutrality to create a supportive environment for all bodies.”
This aligns with what researchers have found about size-inclusive fitness spaces: when weight-neutral practices are used and judgment is absent, plus size women experience real enhancements in well-being, self-worth, and belonging. Forza is not just doing the feel-good work. It is doing the right work.
The Moment That Shifted Everything
There was one moment mid-class that I keep coming back to. I was in the middle of a challenging movement, the kind where your body starts negotiating with you about whether to stop. I could feel myself slipping into that familiar headspace, ready to tap out. Then I heard Sydney’s voice encouraging me to keep going, telling me I could do it.
It did not feel like generic instruction. It felt personal. Like someone reaching out and physically pulling you through something you were not sure you could finish on your own.
I kept going. And something shifted.
By the end of class, I was not thinking about how I looked or whether I was doing everything right. I was thinking about how proud I was that my body could do this at all. That is not a feeling I have walked away from a fitness class with before.
From Student to Studio Ambassador: Ashton Evans’ Story
Ashton Evans knows this feeling well. Before finding Forza, fitness was not something she felt connected to. The gym felt uncomfortable. She was always aware of how visible she was in those spaces, and not in a good way. The only movement she genuinely enjoyed was dancing, where she felt free to take up space without apology.
Her first Pilates class at Forza challenged her expectations. It was hard. But it left her with something she had not expected.
“I felt hopeful.”
That word. Hopeful. It mirrored my own experience so closely that I had to sit with it for a second.
Within a year, Ashton went from student to ambassador, now helping other plus size women find the same sense of community and comfort that she found. Because that is how this kind of change actually works. You find your people, and then you become someone else’s.
Why This Matters Beyond One Studio in Tennessee
Here is the thing. According to The Curvy Fashionista’s own reporting, 68 percent of women in the U.S. wear a size 14 and above. That is the majority. And yet the fitness industry has historically designed spaces, equipment, and language for a very different body in mind.
What Forza is doing is not niche. It is necessary.
“We have been hosting this series for nearly two years. I would love to see it expand by inspiring other studios to adopt similar programs.”
Sydney is not just running plus size classes. She is making a case for what every studio should be doing. And her vision is bigger than Franklin.
“I wish more people understood that plus size individuals deserve the same access and respect as anyone else. Movement should feel empowering.”
Full stop.
The After-Workout Selfie and What It Meant
By the end of class, my sweat felt earned. That turquoise Torrid set had held up through every movement and, honestly, so had I. I caught myself doing something I do not usually do after a workout. I paused. I let out a slow breath and just sat in that feeling for a moment. Not rushing to grab my things. Not already thinking about the next task on my list.
Just present.
I felt lighter, happier, and genuinely empowered. Not because someone told me I should. Because my body showed up for me and I finally showed up for it in a space that was actually built for us both.
If you want to shop the look, Torrid’s activewear line is linked below. Because what you wear into a room like this matters. And you deserve to walk in looking like the main character.
Ready to Try It?
Forza Pilates holds monthly plus size Pilates classes at both the Nashville and Franklin locations. You can explore class offerings and book directly at forza-pilates.com. Whether you are brand new to Pilates or just looking for a space that actually gets it, this is your sign.
And if you are not in Middle Tennessee, take this as your permission slip to demand more from the fitness spaces around you. The right studio exists. And if it does not yet, maybe you are the one who builds it.
