As you stroll past the doors of Tunnel Pilates, catchy EDM remixes bump as sweaty, toned bodies walk in and out the door every hour, like clockwork. Located right on the busy Lincoln Boulevard in Venice Beach behind black-painted windows, stands the not-so-typical Tunnel Pilates. The studio is unconventional for Pilates in Los Angeles: a monochrome black studio, accompanied by cement floors and minimal light, where temperatures reach 85 degrees as instructors lead a conceptualized take on traditional pilates for 50 minutes.
Tunnel Pilates prides itself in being “not your average Pilates studio” and it is clear why. The studio was founded in May 2023 by two female co-founders who had a vision to elevate the Pilates experience in LA. The brand takes a unique approach to teaching Pilates, unlike many other studios in LA who all seemed to be adhering to the same trends. Tunnel embracing a striking, hardcore aesthetic, instead of focusing on natural light and light colored interiors like most of the studios you see popping up nearby.
Tunnel Pilates not only stands out with its bold aesthetic, but with its distinctive approach to fitness training. “We train very precisely, and it’s much more difficult to get on our schedule,” said Kelly Klein, co-founder of the small business. Each instructor who works at Tunnel undergoes a two-month training course with one of the founders themselves, whereas many studios just require a general Pilates certification. Klein says this precise training ensures consistency and concentration on form across all classes at Tunnel, which is a strong brand focus for the studio.
Every class at Tunnel is a full-body workout and guaranteed to make you feel the burn. You can expect to be dripping in sweat and feeling your best after their low-impact, high result classes.
Combining timeless yet effective moves like planks, with one-of-a-kind signature moves, these 50-minute workouts are unique to the brand. But a class at Tunnel is more than a difficult workout, it’s an experience. You can count on getting lost in the music as the instructor motivates and pushes you to your full potential. “We understand that [the experience] is the core of the brand, so we really nourish that talent and make sure that our instructors not only can cue a routine, but they can really entertain a room for 50 minutes,” said Klein.
Klein is a professionally trained dancer, experienced fitness trainer, and co-founder of Tunnel Pilates. Klein’s career began at age 19, instructing fitness in New York City before moving back home to Los Angeles during COVID. She began instructing cycling and Pilates classes, and after becoming the most popular instructor at her studio, took the leap from coaching to business-owning.
Klein felt that the Pilates industry in Los Angeles could be doing more. Opening Tunnel was a chance for her to create an environment showcasing her skill to the community. “I just wanted a more conceptualized Pilates studio that wasn’t so focused on just this machine is going to make your workout hard,” said Klein. “I wanted something that was mentally encapsulating and something that could be an escape for people, and where the music was really incorporated into the workout. These were areas I felt Pilates studios were really lacking in Los Angeles.”
After its opening in May 2023, Tunnel Pilates quickly became a hot topic amongst workout enthusiasts in LA. Whether you’re local to Venice or bar hopping in West Hollywood, you’re guaranteed to hear the buzz. Klein’s popularity as a top Pilates instructor brought over her initial clientele, but by utilizing social media marketing and partnerships, the Tunnel Pilates had all classes selling out by October. “The growth happened much quicker than I anticipated,” Klein said and attributes much of the buzz to her Instagram marketing strategies.
Partnerships with brands like Stanley and Bala Bands have gotten the word out about Tunnel’s exclusive method. Klein says that she was in awe and disbelief when the brands initially reached out and couldn’t believe they had selected her studio for such significant product launches. “Last year in January, we did this event with Bala and then Stanley Brand. They had reached out to us and picked our studio to do this very big launch of their products in Target. I just couldn’t believe that they wanted to do it at my studio,” said Klein.
As of now, the only place to experience this one-of-a-kind pilates method is in Venice Beach. In Spring 2025, Tunnel Pilates is opening a second location in Vancouver, Canada. Klein has recently relocated to Vancouver to launch the new studio. Tunnel does not expect to stop expanding there. The brand has plans and hopes to open a studio in New York City in the near future.
