In short: Pilates Day Vietnam is a community Pilates event in Ho Chi Minh City run by Nutrifort Academy. The first edition was held on 7 December 2025 in District 2, and the 2026 edition is announced for 6 December 2026. Pilates is booming in Saigon: our map lists 24 studios. The evidence is best for low back pain.
This guide was written by the team at Ōmni Space in Thảo Điền. We opened Vietnam’s first float centre (Float Vietnam, Hanoi, 2017), and we look at every wellness trend through one question: what does it do for the body and nervous system, and how strong is the evidence? Here we cover Pilates Day Vietnam, International Pilates Day, why so many studios have opened in Saigon, what the research says, and how to start well. For the longer history of yoga and Pilates in Vietnam, read our yoga and Pilates history guide. This is general information, not medical advice.
What is Pilates Day Vietnam?
Pilates Day Vietnam is a one-day community event for people who practise or teach Pilates in Vietnam. It is organised by Nutrifort Academy, a Pilates and gym-fitness training school in Ho Chi Minh City whose website names Nicole Hankins as its founder. News and sign-ups are posted on the Pilates Day Vietnam Facebook page.
- First edition (2025): Sunday 7 December 2025, at Chill Corner, 34 Đường 11, District 2, Ho Chi Minh City. The organisers’ posts mention a guest class by choreographer John Huy Trần that mixed Pilates with drumming.
- 2026 edition: the organisers’ pinned post announces Sunday 6 December 2026. Venue, programme and tickets: follow the Facebook page, as details may change.
- Calendar 2027 project: a community project picking 12 people with their own Pilates story; the top 12 win tickets to the 2026 event.
Ōmni’s founder joined this first edition as an ordinary participant. Ōmni is not an organiser, sponsor or partner of Pilates Day Vietnam. What stayed with us was the feeling of a community being built on purpose: teachers, students and studios in one place, moving together.
International Pilates Day: the first Saturday of May
Pilates Day (also called World or International Pilates Day) is an annual community event held on the first Saturday of May. It was started by the Pilates Method Alliance, a professional body for Pilates teachers in the United States. Peak Pilates dates the first event to 2003 in Miami; some sources say 2004. In 2026 it fell on Saturday 2 May, and in 2027 it falls on Saturday 1 May.
Pilates Day Vietnam is separate and runs on its own date in December. So Pilates fans in Saigon now have two dates a year to mark: early May for the international day, and early December for the local community event.
The method itself is named after Joseph Hubertus Pilates, a German-born trainer who developed his system of controlled exercises in the early 20th century and later taught in New York.
Why Pilates is booming in Saigon
Nobody publishes an official count of Pilates studios in Vietnam, so we look at signals instead.
- Studios on our map. Our Saigon Wellness Map lists 24 Pilates studios that we checked as open in October 2026, almost as many as yoga studios (25). They are spread across District 1 (7), Thảo Điền (5), Phú Mỹ Hưng and District 7 (4), plus District 3, Bình Thạnh, Tân Bình, Phú Nhuận and An Phú. The map is not a complete census.
- Reformers everywhere. 18 of those 24 studios offer reformer classes, on the sliding machine with springs that most people now picture when they hear “Pilates”.
- Classes in English. At least 6 of them say they teach in English, and some also teach in Korean, which helps visitors and expats.
- Press coverage. In 2022, Việt Nam News called Pilates “a new fitness trend in HCM City”, and VnExpress reported a jump in studios after Covid. In 2024, Kenh14 described Pilates spreading from young people to office workers.
- Big online communities. In October 2026 the Facebook group “NGHIỆN PILATES – Cộng Đồng Pilates Việt Nam” had about 72,000 members.
- Teacher training. Power Pilates, BASI and STOTT PILATES-trained teachers all work in the city, and Power Pilates scheduled a continuing-education conference in Ho Chi Minh City for September 2026.
Why now? Press reports link the boom to the end of lockdowns, interest in low-impact strength work, and Korean celebrity influence. Our own view from Thảo Điền: people want training that feels controlled and calm, not punishing. Pilates fits that mood.
What does the evidence say?
We rate each claim with the Ōmni Evidence Scale. Most Pilates studies are small, and many compare Pilates with doing nothing rather than with other exercise. Keep that in mind.
Low back pain. This is the best-studied use. A 2015 Cochrane review (10 trials, 510 people) found that Pilates reduced pain and disability more than minimal care, with few side effects, mostly mild muscle soreness. It found no clear sign that Pilates beats other types of exercise. A 2020 network meta-analysis (a method that compares many treatments at once) ranked Pilates highly for back pain, but its authors rated the evidence as low quality, and other researchers questioned its unusually large effect sizes.
Ōmni Evidence Scale: Promising. Several controlled trials and a Cochrane review show benefit for everyday low back pain, but the evidence is low to moderate quality and other exercise may work as well.
Core and posture. A 2024 systematic review of 13 studies (783 people) concluded that Pilates can help with posture problems. Results were mixed, most studies had fewer than 50 people, and posture was often measured from photos, which is not very precise.
Ōmni Evidence Scale: Early evidence. Small studies point the right way, but methods vary too much for firm conclusions.
Mood, anxiety and energy. A 2018 meta-analysis (gathering the results of many studies to see the overall trend) of 8 publications found large drops in depressive and anxiety symptoms and fatigue after Pilates programmes. But the trials were few and small, and most compared Pilates with no exercise at all. Any regular movement tends to lift mood, so we cannot yet say Pilates is special here.
Ōmni Evidence Scale: Early evidence. Encouraging results, but from a handful of small trials without active comparison groups.
How to choose a studio and your first class
- Ask about certification. Which school trained the teacher (for example Power Pilates, BASI, STOTT PILATES), and was it a full comprehensive course or a weekend workshop? Equipment brand matters less than training.
- Mat or reformer? Mat classes use your body weight on the floor and are usually cheaper. Reformer classes use springs that can make moves easier or harder, and feel more guided. Many beginners start with a few private or small-group reformer sessions to learn the basics, then add mat work.
- Check class size. Some Saigon studios cap reformer classes at 3 or 4 people. Smaller classes mean the teacher can watch your form.
- Tell them your history. A good teacher asks about injuries, back pain, pregnancy and surgery before your first class.
- Ask about language. If you are a visitor, check that the class is taught in English or another language you know.
- Try before you buy. Book one trial or intro session before a long package.
What does it cost? Prices change often, so treat these as examples published by studios on their own websites (October 2026), not as a market average: classes from 250,000 VND at one Thảo Điền studio; 790,000 VND for a single drop-in group class at a District 3 studio, falling to about 256,000 VND per session in packages; a 50-minute private intro for 500,000 VND in Bình Thạnh; and a beginner offer of two reformer sessions plus one mat class for 1,200,000 VND in District 1. Back in 2022, Việt Nam News reported sessions from 300,000 to 1,300,000 VND. Always confirm with the studio.
Recovery: where float, sauna and cold plunge fit
Pilates is about control: you hold your body steady and breathe on purpose. Recovery is the other half. Many people like to pair a training week with something that asks nothing of them. Here is what we can and cannot say honestly.
Cold plunge after strength work: mind the timing. In a 2015 study, 21 men did strength training twice a week for 12 weeks. Those who sat in cold water for 10 minutes after each session gained less muscle and strength than those who did an easy active cool-down. A 2024 meta-analysis of 8 studies found a small negative effect of cold water on muscle growth. These studies used weight training, not Pilates, so we do not know how much it matters for a reformer class. If building strength is your goal, keep the cold plunge away from right after training, or save it for rest days.
Ōmni Evidence Scale: Promising (that cold water right after strength training may blunt gains). Controlled trials and a meta-analysis agree on the direction, though the effect is small.
Sauna and float as recovery. We know of no good studies on saunas or floating as recovery after Pilates specifically. What people tell us is simpler: an infrared sauna feels warm and loosening, and a float in warm, quiet salt water is a rare chance to switch off. For how heat and cold work together, read our guide to contrast therapy.
Ōmni Evidence Scale: No good evidence yet (for sauna or float as Pilates recovery). Enjoy them for rest and relaxation, not as a proven performance tool.
At Ōmni Space in Thảo Điền, the infrared sauna runs at 45–55°C for 45 minutes and the cold plunge at 11–15°C for 30 minutes. Each is 450,000 VND on its own or +200,000 VND with a float; sauna and cold plunge together are 900,000 VND. Floats start at 1,500,000 VND for 60 minutes. We are open 9:00–21:00 every day. See all services.
Safety notes
- If you are pregnant, recovering from surgery, or have a spine, joint or heart condition, talk to your doctor first and choose a teacher trained for your situation.
- Back pain that is sharp, new, getting worse or spreading down the leg needs a doctor before exercise.
- Reformer springs and moving carriages can hurt you if set up wrongly. Learn the machine with a teacher watching.
- Heat and cold are not for everyone. Skip sauna and cold plunge if you are pregnant, have a heart condition or high blood pressure without your doctor’s OK, or have been drinking alcohol.
- Saigon is hot and humid. Drink water before and after class.
Where to try it in Saigon
These Pilates studios are all on our Saigon Wellness Map, which has addresses and links. We have not tested them, and this is not a ranking.
- Thảo Điền and An Phú: UFiTU Pilates+, FourT Pilates Thảo Điền, Olaben Studio, Leejiwon Pilates Studio, Re:Form Pilates, CARE Personal Pilates.
- District 1: Pilatesaigon, Line Pilates Nguyễn Huệ, Aurise Pilates Club, CHI Pilates, T.Pilates, Pour Vous Pilates, R&D Pilates.
- District 3 and Phú Nhuận: Top Pilates, BC Pilates, MBS Pilates (Phan Xích Long).
- Bình Thạnh: Ori Pilates, FourT Pilates Landmark.
- District 7 and Phú Mỹ Hưng: Line Pilates Phú Mỹ Hưng, MBS Pilates Hoàng Văn Thái, Kira Pilates, HOTBODY Pilates Studio.
- Tân Bình: MBS Pilates Cộng Hòa, Form Fit Pilates.
- Community: Pilates Day Vietnam each December, and International Pilates Day on the first Saturday of May.
Training in Thảo Điền? Ōmni is a short walk or ride from several of these studios, if you want to add a float or sauna on a rest day.
FAQ
When is Pilates Day Vietnam 2026?
The organisers have announced Sunday 6 December 2026 in Ho Chi Minh City. Check the Pilates Day Vietnam Facebook page for the venue, programme and registration.
Who organises Pilates Day Vietnam?
Nutrifort Academy, a Pilates and gym-fitness training school in Ho Chi Minh City. Its 2025 edition took place on 7 December 2025 at Chill Corner in District 2.
When is International Pilates Day?
The first Saturday of May every year, started by the Pilates Method Alliance in the early 2000s. In 2027 it falls on Saturday 1 May.
Is Pilates good for back pain?
For everyday low back pain, a Cochrane review found Pilates reduces pain and disability compared with minimal care, but not clearly more than other exercise. See a doctor first if pain is sharp, new or spreads down the leg.
Should I start with mat or reformer Pilates?
Either works. Reformer springs guide your movement and many beginners like a few private or small-group sessions first. Mat classes are usually cheaper and easy to practise at home.
Can I do a cold plunge right after Pilates?
You can, but studies on weight training suggest cold water right after a session may slightly reduce strength and muscle gains. If that matters to you, plunge on rest days or well apart from training.
Sources
- Pilates Day Vietnam. Official Facebook page (accessed October 2026).
- Nutrifort Academy. Official website.
- Peak Pilates. How do you celebrate Pilates Day?
- Studio Pilates. World Pilates Day.
- Việt Nam News. Pilates a new fitness trend in HCM City, 20 February 2022.
- VnExpress. Chi tiền triệu cho một buổi tập pilates, 31 October 2022.
- Kenh14. Pilates: xu hướng tập luyện bền vững, 29 July 2024.
- Power Pilates. Continuing Education Conference, Ho Chi Minh City, September 2026.
- Yamato TP et al. Pilates for low back pain. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2015.
- Owen PJ et al. Which specific modes of exercise training are most effective for treating low back pain? Network meta-analysis. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2020.
- Li F et al. Effects of Pilates on body posture: a systematic review. Archives of Rehabilitation Research and Clinical Translation, 2024.
- Fleming KM, Herring MP. The effects of Pilates on mental health outcomes: a meta-analysis of controlled trials. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 2018.
- Roberts LA et al. Post-exercise cold water immersion attenuates acute anabolic signalling and long-term adaptations in muscle to strength training. Journal of Physiology, 2015.
- Piñero A et al. Throwing cold water on muscle growth: a systematic review with meta-analysis of the effects of post-exercise cold water immersion on resistance training-induced hypertrophy. European Journal of Sport Science, 2024.
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