Discover a New Kind of Pilates Workout at Mighty Pilates in Sherman Oaks.

Working with clients to get long, lean muscles and a strong core is an integral goal at any pilates studio. But at Mighty Pilates in Sherman Oaks, there’s another objective that lies not so much in the end game—but the present. Owner Cricket Wardein takes a creative, somewhat sensual, approach to the pilates experience—and it works.

When you walk into Mighty Pilates, you can’t help but notice, it smells good, damn good. That’s because there is a small oil diffuser emitting botanical, oil-scented mist near the entry. And on the way out, clients can cool down with mildly fragranced, chilled towels.

“Most people don’t have time every day to work out and hit the spa. So we try to bring some of the spa vibes to the studio with great tunes, everything you need to get ready, filtered electrolyte water and cold lemon, and eucalyptus and lavender scented towels. And on Friday nights, we serve champagne after class to celebrate a week of hard work,” shares Cricket.

Hard work is something Cricket appreciates. As a former top-tier digital marketing strategist, she moved up the ladder quickly. But after her daughter was born, she needed a schedule that worked with motherhood. The first Mighty Pilates opened in San Francisco, the second in Santa Monica, and in 2017, it debuted on the Boulevard. “I live in the Valley, and I can actually walk to work,” Cricket quips.

Classes, held in a large, airy space with bright blue walls on one side and a large window facing the street on another, are a modern mash-up. Most combine classical Pilates (on a reformer) with “various toys to give it more intensity.” Jump Board and TRX are two of the more challenging classes, but there are also ones for beginners. “We don’t dictate a set cookie-cutter class; that gets boring after a few sessions. Each instructor integrates their own style and we love offering the variety.”