Puppies and Pilates Launches Structured Workout Sessions Across D.C. Region in April

Puppies and Pilates announced a structured fitness rollout across the Washington region, with instructor-led sessions set to begin April 11 at studio locations in Washington D.C., Arlington and West Springfield in Virginia, and Annapolis, Maryland.

The brand was built by Bethany Kazaba, founder of Neighborhood Retail Group, around a deliberate contrast with the novelty-event model. Each session is structured as a 45-minute instructor-led Pilates class followed by a dedicated puppy interaction period, a format designed to deliver measurable fitness value alongside the mood benefits of animal contact. Kazaba's background in health and physical education informed the decision to anchor the concept in a curriculum-driven class rather than a loosely organized experience.

Alex Perrin, owner and founder of Cut Seven and former director of coach development at [solidcore], came on as Director of Operations and lead architect of the Pilates curriculum. The company has emphasized vetted instructors across all partner locations, which include CUTSEVEN in Washington D.C. as well as Precision Pilates and additional studio hosts in the suburban markets. Sessions are being offered as limited-seat, premium wellness events, with pre-registration available for specific April time slots at each location.

Puppies for the sessions will be sourced through rescue partnerships in select markets, with trained handlers overseeing the animal interaction segments. Some partner event pages note a puppy-socialization or adoption window following the workout, giving local rescue organizations a channel for adoption visibility tied directly to the fitness format.

Animal welfare logistics will be a focal point as the concept scales. The company's materials reference carefully selected puppies, controlled interaction time, and studio hygiene protocols, but details that welfare advocates typically require, including vaccination status, handler-to-dog ratios, and rest-break schedules, will be worth tracking as operations begin across the four markets.

By grounding the class structure in a Pilates curriculum with credentialed instructors rather than leaning on puppy time as the primary draw, Puppies and Pilates is making the case that animal-assisted fitness can hold up as a repeatable, community-rooted offering. Whether the rescue partnerships translate into measurable adoption outcomes will be a key indicator of whether the model delivers beyond the momentum of its April debut.