OUR STUDIO

OUR ORIGIN

Flex in the City was founded in 2016 by Julette Jones, whose training and teaching have shaped how Pilates is taught in Cork ever since. The studio is kitted out with industry-leading equipment from Balanced Body and ARREGON Pilates. We offer group classes and private lessons, and our teachers are trained to the highest standards. They are not just excellent teachers, but are genuinely passionate about the work and generously pass on their knowledge to students and teachers in training.

Flex is a method, not just a workout. Pilates is a full-body conditioning system that builds strength, flexibility, power and endurance, while realigning and rebalancing the body. It strengthens what's weak and stretches what's tight. It teaches you to breathe fully and deeply, and allows muscles that have been chronically "on" to finally release. At Flex, Pilates brings your body back to health, back to life.

OUR STUDIOS

Flex in the City was built on a simple belief: Pilates is a complete system of movement, one that deserves to be taught with real skill and real depth, by teachers who are not just Pilates enthusiasts, but who have dedicated themselves to hours of rigorous study.

That's why we run two studios under one Penrose Wharf roof. In our Classical Studio, you'll learn Joseph Pilates' original method in full: mat, reformer, Cadillac, tower, chairs, barrels. The whole system of Pilates is available to you, introduced by our skilled teachers in levels (you will start with ‘Foundations’ if you are a beginner or new to the studio or the classical repertoire) . This is where you learn the why behind the work, not just the what. This is where you can use Pilates to address exactly what your body needs every time.

In our Contemporary Reformer Studio, you'll find that same lineage brought to life in fresh, ever-changing reformer classes. These classes mixed level, creatively sequenced, built for people who want a brilliant workout grounded in real technique.

Come for either. Stay for both. Every class you take here is built on the same foundation: proper training, real expertise, and a genuine interest in how the body moves. We always suggest starting with private lesson or a Foundations class in the Classical Studio. This will set you up for the most success and best experience in any class. If you are not sure the best way to start, please get in touch and the team will guide you to the best path for you.

THE CLASSICAL STUDIO

Don’t just do Pilates - learn it!

Our Classical Studio is where Pilates is taught in full: the original mat, reformer, cadillac tower, chairs and barrels, taught 1:1 or in small groups, at a level that suits your experience.

This isn't a slower or fancier version of a reformer class. It's the whole system, as Joseph Pilates created it: the order, the precision, the logic that connects one exercise to the next, all taught by teachers who have trained over years, not weekends.

If you've ever wondered what Pilates actually is — beyond a great core workout — this is where you find out. This is for people who want to be totally present in the moment, to engage their mind as much as their body and who want to learn the work so they can master it, and work independently.

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THE REFORMER STUDIO

Rooted in tradition: where the method meets the moment

Our Reformer Studio takes the same classical repertoire and lets it move. The classes are mixed-level and are open to everyone, as the teacher will tailor the exercises to everyone in the room, so no matter where you are at on your Pilates journey, you will be appropriately challenged and supported.

Every class draws on the same principles, precision and lineage as our Classical Studio, just expressed with more variety as the classes are different every time .

It's Pilates for people who want to move well, work hard, to switch off and be guided by their teacher every step of the way. The exercise sequences change but rest assured, the commitment to quality never does.

FIND US AT PENROSE WHARF

Our Penrose Wharf studio is a beautiful space, tucked away from the bustle of the city centre. With high ceilings and lots of natural light, the feeling of space will inspire you to breathe deeply and to stretch, leaving you feeling like you are floating on air.

Find us at Penrose Wharf, 41 Alfred St, Victorian Quarter, Cork (T23EF89)

There are lots of great nearby spots to grab a coffee or breakfast/lunch after class! We love Naturally Nourished, Happy Days Deli, 5 Points and Cork Coffee Roasters. And the perfect perch for catching up with a friend after a Friday evening class? We love MacCurtain St. Wine Cellar!

 
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MEET TEAM FLEX

  • Julette is the owner of Flex in the City, which she founded in 2016. Julette sees private clients, particularly those with persistent lower back pain and she leads the education programme at Flex in the City, training new teachers and guiding them through their apprenticeship as they become the best teachers in the industry.

    Julette has trained with Polestar Pilates, Balanced Body and Stott, and she has taken workshops and continuing education with leaders in the Pilates world.

    Julette specialises in working with those brand new to Pilates and advanced clients and particularly people who come to Pilates with persistent pain. She has a Masters in pain psychology and is passionate about helping people to move beyond their pain and be able to live the life they had before pain stopped them in their tracks.

    "I adore Pilates, how it makes me feel, and how I see it transform others when I'm guiding them through a session, especially people who have been living with any sort of chronic pain. Pilates has allowed me to feel both in control and at ease in my body, there is just nothing else that compares for me. "

  • Mary joined the Flex teaching team in 2023 after completing her advanced teacher training and teaches early morning and weekend classes.

    "I initially took up Pilates after I had my 2nd child, 11 years ago. I was after two c-sections and had diastasis recti - a fact I ignored and hit the gym hard which ended up with me injuring some muscles in my back. I hated not exercising but my normal routine wasn’t an option, so I decided I would give Pilates a go… Not wanting to sound corny, but it changed my life, it taught me to move better in everyday life, repairing my core, I became stronger at the gym and understood my body and could now challenge it correctly. Pilates also helped me to slow down and become present in my movement, connecting my mind and body.

    I adore Pilates and love teaching it, it’s fantastic to see people getting stronger and more confident in themselves. Pilates is like magic - it’s the only activity I do that I always enjoy doing. It’s mentally uplifting and physically empowering"

  • Martha has a genuine, infectious passion for Pilates and since joining the Flex team in 2021, has gained an almost cult following! She gently guides you through some of the most challenging classes with ease and patience and you will leave feeling 10 feet tall.

    "My advice, especially if it’s your first time doing Pilates is to embrace being a beginner. It’s a wonderful time to really learn about yourself and your body. There’s no competition  during your time at Flex, not with anyone else, or even yourself. 

    PIilates is life changing! You'll get stronger, more efficient and more confident even after your first class. Progress isn’t always linear and that’s what makes it the most exciting."

  • Cat joined the Flex teaching team in 2024, following on from her advanced apprenticeship training with Julette. From Belfast originally, don't let the soft accent fool you - Cat's classes will remind you that Pilates is most definitely a workout! Expect a strong focus on form and alignment, and to leave feeling energised!

    "My favourite thing about Pilates is knowing that it is setting me up for a stronger body later in life. I'm a major desk-worker, I could easily sit at the desk for 12/13 hours a day in my corporate job and I'm aware that even though I'll go to the gym and try to walk as much as I can, that's still a very small portion of the day that I'm actually moving and not just hunched over a desk. So for me, knowing that Pilates is all about strengthening the whole body for a more upright posture and learning how to maintain good posture and alignment, so I'm getting myself strong now to keep myself strong later in life, that's what's important to me and what sets Pilates apart (and above!). "

  • Chloe joined the teaching team at Flex in 2020 and also holds a Personal Training qualification and has a special interest in flexibility training.

    "Pilates is not just stretching, although it can be part of it, Pilates is so much more. The strength, balance and coordination that you get from Pilates is like no other, it is the complete body and mind exercise system! For anyone thinking about starting Pilates, taking the first step and coming to the studio is the hardest part. From there, you can embrace the newness of it all. You’ll find that movement isn’t always intimidating, at Flex you have a safe space to explore movement, moving as slowly or as quickly as you need knowing that we’re here to guide and assist."

  • If you are already a Pilates teacher and want to join the team, or you are thinking about a career in Pilates, get in touch.

    At Flex in the City, we have developed one of the most comprehensive teacher training programs, and this is an ideal pathway for a career change into full time Pilates teaching, or if you would like to teach a couple of classes a week in addition to your current role.