THE ROOM HUMS with energy. Music pumps through the speakers, guiding the rhythm of each movement. A group of eager fitness enthusiasts grip the handlebars of their rowformers, their faces a mix of determination and exhilaration. This isn’t your average Pilates class, this is STRONG Pilates, a high-intensity, low-impact fusion of strength training, cardio and reformer Pilates that is redefining the way we train.
Michael Ramsey and Mark Armstrong, the co-founders of STRONG Pilates, never set out to reinvent the fitness industry. A former personal trainer and F45 franchisee, he was forced to tone down his training routine after breaking his ankle. In his rehab, he discovered the power of Pilates but found that something was missing.
“My old housemate at the time showed me this Rowformer on Instagram,” Ramsey recalls during a chat with Men’s Health. “So, Mark and I jumped on a plane to go to the US and try the machine, and it was the most incredible, exhilarating endorphin rush that I’ve ever had in a workout.”
That rush sparked an idea. Ramsey and Armstrong negotiated the rights to the Rowformer, a machine that merges a traditional Pilates reformer with a rowing machine. From there, STRONG Pilates was born. “With the Rowformer, we’ve literally attached a rower to a reformer, and we also have a Bikeformer,” Ramsey explains. “The big difference that really makes us stand out is the combination of cardio, strength training and conditioning with Pilates.”
For years, Pilates has carried a reputation as a workout primarily favoured by women. But STRONG Pilates is rewriting that narrative. Ramsey has seen a significant uptick in male participants, thanks to the workout’s intensity and effectiveness in building strength. “Our programming enables you to do a lot of the stuff you’d do at a gym, like progressive overload, so you’re actually building muscle,” he says. “I think what’s also attracted men to STRONG is that we’re very gender-neutral in our branding. We don’t make it out to be something that’s specifically for men or women.”
The proof is in the numbers. STRONG Pilates has doubled its male audience in the past three years, a feat that Ramsey attributes to the brand’s acquisition of high-profile ambassadors like NRL stars Nicho Hynes and Shaun Johnson, AFL veterans Travis Boak and Nat Fyfe. NBA player Zach Collins is also a big fan of STRONG, after being among the first to trial it in the USA.
According to Ramsey, the appeal of STRONG lies in its ability to allow people to train harder, more often, without their bodies breaking down. “What it also gives you is the ability to train more because it’s all low impact,” Ramsey emphasises. “We don’t do running or jumping or crazy heavy lifting, which allows people to train more often without getting injured.”
A STRONG Pilates class runs for 45 minutes and blends strength, endurance and mobility work. There are different classes to cater to the different goals of attendees. If building strength is your aim, a STRONG Loaded class, which features heavy springs, heavy dumbbells and a focus on time under tension would be the best pick. STRONG Sweat is all about – you guessed it – sweat. With high-intensity, high volume movements to burn calories and increase endurance. For a more well-rounded full-body workout, STRONG Body is the best option.
Innovation is central to STRONG’s strategy, with cutting-edge tech infused into every class. Ramsey doesn’t plan on slowing down, either, arguing that continual innovation is what makes STRONG thrive. “I’m a firm believer in the innovation life cycle. If you stop innovating, you will recess and you’ll die,” he says. “It’s super important that we keep innovating.”
For those still on the fence about giving STRONG a try, Ramsey has a simple message: “If longevity is super important to you, if your time is super important to you, if community motivation is super important to you and you want your body to be stronger forever, get into STRONG.”
Take it from us, STRONG Pilates isn’t just another fitness trend. It’s a smarter way to train; one that challenges, strengthens and builds resilience in a way traditional workouts often fail to do. It helped our April cover star Khanh Ong get into the best shape of his life, and for men looking to level up their fitness without breaking their bodies, it might just be the missing piece of the puzzle.
Find out more about STRONG Pilates here.
