Whether you’re a pilates guru or are in the market for a new workout routine, look no further than District Pilates (1302 Ninth St. NW) in Shaw. Owner Bailey Rizer has been a DC resident for over 12 years and started in the fitness industry as a manager and instructor at VIDA.
Rizer then worked as an instructor at a local pilates studio before opening District Pilates in 2015, winning First Runner Up honors in the annual Best New Shaw Business competition. District Pilates won the Best Pilates Studio award from the Washington City Paper in 2018, 2019 and 2020.
With a second Reformer studio in Petworth (4011 Georgia Ave. NW) and a separate Chair studio above the Reformer space in Shaw, District Pilates offers a variety of classes for beginners and advanced students, truly something for everyone. Rizer said she has many regulars and even individuals who have been taking classes with her for over 11 years.
Rizer is proud that her studios provide a welcoming, inclusive community. “Our studio is super inclusive, we have all types of instructors in terms of background, body type and athletic ability,” Rizer noted. “We’re all students, we’re all kind of like a family.”
The studio documents injuries and can help adapt workouts to fit the needs and goals of clients, regardless of their ability level or familiarity with pilates. “Working out, especially in DC, can be intimidating,” Rizer observed. “We really pride ourselves on that no-judgment type of deal, and pilates in general really is for everybody.”
Rizer hopes to open studios on Capitol Hill, H Street and Northeast DC. She enjoys managing the studios, as well as teaching students each week.
The studios offer a variety of classes throughout the day at different levels. Students can view the class schedule and pricing and learn more about pilates on the website, www.districtpilatesdc.com.
Sarah Payne is a general assignment reporter for Capital Community News. She can be reached at sarahp@hillrag.com.
