I Tested New York's Referral-Only Tera Pilates Studio - Here’s My Honest Take ...Middle East

When it comes to New York City fitness studios, I liken myself to a seasoned sleuth - a PI for the Pilates era. I've emerged from inferno-esque mat classes, shed tears, exorcised inner demons, and unleashed cathartic screams in pursuit of that euphoric post-workout buzz everyone is talking about.

And while I revel in testing the buzziest NYC "it" classes and avant-garde methods, those usually aren't the ones I return to. When it comes to consistency, I'm a firm believer in the notion that our habits shape the story of our lives. So I go back to the studios with good vibes (ie, no stressed check-in or locker-room energy) - the ones that leave me feeling stronger in my body at 40. In the content economy and noise pollution we're faced with on a daily basis, these 45- to 55-minute classes are a chance for me to tune out the world and tune in to my body. And of all the workout genres I've tried in my 17 years of New York living, no practice has sculpted my body and liberated my mind like reformer Pilates. This is the workout that's stuck for me, freeing me from years of barre-class fatigue (for the other barre lovers out there, I see you and invite you to try adding a reformer Pilates class to your routine).

Turns out, I'm not alone in discovering the magic of Pilates, as I live in a city that now has as many Pilates studios as trending latte flavors. But amidst the list of studios to try, there's one on repeat within my fitness circle: the referral-only, wait-listed Tera Pilates. Describing its format as athletic contemporary Pilates, Tera offers up a hardcore workout whose results would inspire a Michelangelo sculpture, in a friendly, chic setting. It's the brainchild of Pilates instructor Georgia Wood Murphy - a former college athlete, avid Pilates student, and corporate consultant who transitioned to teaching in 2020 in Houston. After moving to New York, she maintained her corporate gig while still teaching. She worked at several studios downtown before leaving her corporate career to open Tera in 2024.

The name Tera was derived from the Latin word statera, which means balance, a concept Murphy says is intrinsic to everything she does. She explains, "Tera is rooted in balance - it's in our name, our DNA, it's in everything we do."

But does the studio really live up to the hype? Read on for my thoughts.

What sets Tera apart?

1. A referral-only, intimate community

Tera's appeal starts with its small community (the studio's membership is currently full, but it does have a wait list). Smaller classes ensure individual attention and avoid the typical stressed-out NYC fitness class vibes. "I created the environment that I needed when I moved to New York - a small community that goes beyond mindful movement, fostered by our intimate practice," Murphy says.

Tera isn't just a community, though - it's a club. "For the 'club' aspect," Murphy shares, "we also offer mat classes at Fouquet's, EMS [electrical muscle stimulation] workouts in the studio, and other exclusive happenings. Because we're a smaller, boutique studio, you see the same faces each week. Small talk often leads to friendships."

The studio also has an online studio membership at $45 a month, with a mix of mat and reformer Pilates, plus "focus area" classes.

2. The studio itself

The studio, tucked away in an unmarked SoHo walkup, feels like the home of a secret society. You'll know you're there when you spot the signature garnet-red door. Inside, light floods the space via skylights and large windows. The decor and details are expertly curated by Murphy; think Byredo Tulipe hand lotion, Sidia products, Happier Grocer soap in the bathroom, and a calming color palette.

What Is the Tera Workout Like?

I'm a 40-year-old intermediate Pilates student and highly active individual. But Tera offered up an unexpected, hardcore burn. I took four classes, and each was formatted differently, which kept it fresh and interesting. These were some of my favorite aspects of the class:

The abs series is killer.

Each class began with a muscle-trembling, "I don't think I can make it" abs series. Remarkably, I loved each one, and I usually despise the abs portion of a class. What sets Tera apart here is the variety and pace, which kept me engaged. We used gray pilates balls for supportive crunches, added resistance handles for an arm bonus, and maneuvered our bodies every which way in tabletop position. Just when I thought it was over, the instructor would add, "And we're gonna hold that curl and little pulses, up an inch, down an inch." At the point of pure fatigue, we'd switch to the next abs exercise.

Nothing beats the chair burn.

Every class included the Pilates chair, aka the Wunda Chair, a wooden piece of equipment with a pedal step. This was a new experience for me, even though I've been to many other Pilates studios. It felt like an additional core, arm, and oblique burn, deceptively easy in the first few seconds and then growing increasingly challenging and sweat-inducing.

Every exercise counts.

Tera's reformer lunges are unlike any other studio's lunges - they included ankle weights paired with swirly hand weights that looked like Keith Haring art. The lunges are full-body focused; I immediately felt them in my inner thighs, glutes, and traps. But my favorite exercise of the whole class was during the arms portion; it used a wooden roll-down bar that's connected to springs. You mimic kneading sourdough while positioned on the side of the reformer in a squat position, and my triceps burned like no other.

The jumpboard was both joyful and effective.

One of the best parts of class was the jumpboard section; the board was magically placed at the end of the reformer while I was doing chair. This segment of the class was the cardio and plyometric section and gave me an endorphin-boosting, childlike feeling. The jumpboard is the Pilates version of a trampoline: you push off the board for a cardio boost, but you're simultaneously working your core and glutes, with cathartic karate kicks and booty-building bounces. For an additional resistance challenge, we wore ankle weights during jumpboard. This went from "Wheeee!" to "When is this over?" within three reps. All I can say is, OW.

Is Tera Pilates Worth It?

After four classes, my abs feel like they've been corseted by a Skims bodysuit, and it's not just the abs - it's the sneaky inner thighs and triceps that have also started talking to me again. If you can get off the wait list (or don't mind streaming the classes at home), Tera Pilates is for anyone who relishes a kickass workout with a high-vibe aura. Also, the online classes look bomb and I will be trying them out during my summer travel. Who knew getting stronger could feel so damn chic?

Micaela English (she/her) is a lifestyle writer based in Brooklyn who's passionate about travel trends, beauty, sobriety, and wellness-based longevity. Micaela spent six years as an editor at Town & Country and has since written for Vogue, Glamour, Oprah Daily, The Zoe Report, Bustle, Well+Good, Quest, and more.

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