Meet Karen Seidman: Transforming Lives Through Pilates in Paris

For years, I’ve struggled with chronic lower back, shoulder, and neck pain—often so severe it disrupted my daily life. I’ve tried it all: cortisone injections, anti-inflammatories, painkillers, and a long list of specialists—physiotherapists, osteopaths, rheumatologists, neurosurgeons, and acupuncturists. While these treatments offered temporary relief, nothing seemed to prevent the pain from coming back. Then I discovered Pilates, and everything changed.

Originally developed by Joseph Pilates to help ballet dancers recover from injury, Pilates is now embraced by people of all ages and fitness levels. It focuses on building core strength, lengthening and strengthening muscles, and improving posture through precise, controlled movements. After a few years of practicing at Studio 15 Pilates in Paris, I’ve experienced remarkable results. By combining Pilates workouts once or twice a week with walking and cardio workouts at the gym, I’ve not only reduced joint pain but also increased my strength and flexibility. Pilates has truly transformed my body.

Curious to learn more, I sat down with Karen Seidman, the dynamic founder of Studio 15 in the 15th arrondissement of Paris. We discussed the unique benefits of Pilates, how it stands apart from other exercise methods, and Karen’s inspiring journey in starting her studio. She also shared valuable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Karen, please tell us what you were doing before you moved to Paris and how you started your own Pilates studio? 

My Pilates journey began after a 17-year career as a flight attendant with TWA/American Airlines. Pilates was becoming popular many years ago in the US and once I tried it, I was hooked. I discovered this method in 2002 in South Florida while participating in classes on the mat and on the equipment. The intelligent and creative exercises were so challenging and different from other forms of movement that I knew it would become more popular as time went on. The principles of Pilates help people of all ages and can be adapted to all populations. 

I knew I wanted to be part of the Pilates community to bring awareness to this exercise method. There were many teacher training certifications available but I pursued a comprehensive program with leading instructors that entailed more than 350 hours of study and practice. In 2006, I was awarded a contract to run a Pilates and exercise program in a spa in Aventura, Florida. The program consisted of various Pilates and fitness classes and we were a team of instructors that offered classes throughout the week.

What was the turning point that led you to setting up your own studio in Paris?

In 2008, my family and I moved back to Paris for my husband’s company (after being gone for nine years).  I decided to pursue my passion for Pilates and took additional training to better my French so that I could teach more fluently in the language. After several years of teaching at a studio in Neuilly-sur-Seine, I felt ready to open my first studio.

The opportunity was ripe and I was eager to share my passion for the method. In 2012, Studio 15 Pilates became reality in a 100 square meter location in the 15th arrondissement. In 2023, the studio transferred to a new location and clients can now take classes in our bigger 220 square meter facility with added machines and equipment.

When we last spoke a few years ago, the Pilates Method was still relatively new to people in France. Have you seen an increased awareness of Pilates or more studios opening in recent years? 

It’s great to see so many people interested in Pilates these days!  Many people stop by our studio to inquire about the benefits of Pilates and what the classes entail.  They also ask about the various machines and mat classes and how they can all benefit them. There are more studios available to people in Paris nowadays because of the increased demand.

How is Pilates different from yoga, which seems to be more widely known around Paris?

Many people appreciate both Pilates and yoga. Pilates can incorporate more props like the foam roller, the Pilates Arc and various other accessories to help strengthen and stretch muscles. The main focus is on the core muscles and also on the breath to help maintain the stability of the spine, which is needed in many exercises.

What are the main benefits of Pilates? Can anyone take it up?

Pilates can help many people in bringing awareness to their bodies of how they are moving, standing and breathing in daily life among other things. There is no age limit in doing Pilates and even people with certain health and physical limitations can benefit from the method.

 

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Aside from the classic mat classes, in which you incorporate fun tools, you also offer courses on the MOTR, the reformer and tower machines. Can you tell us what to expect from those courses, and the differences between them?

Our studio offers many varieties of Pilates classes including the Reformer, Tower and MOTR. The MOTR enhances and challenges your balance in many ways using straps attached to an apparatus that looks like a foam roller. The Tower enables you to use a flat surface to either sit, stand, kneel and/or lay supine to perform exercises using springs attached to a frame. They are both challenging and fun!

As a woman entrepreneur and fitness expert, what advice would you give to other women looking to start their own business or pursue a career in wellness?

The first question I would ask is, “What is your passion?” The second would be, “How many hours are you prepared to work to achieve your goal?” There have been many 10 to 12 hour days for me over these past years to bring Studio 15 Pilates to where it is now. There have been many weeks working daily, including Saturdays and Sundays. However, it was all worth it and I still look forward to going to the studio. That is something I would tell women to consider. How much effort are you willing to make to bring your dream to fruition?

What’s next for you and Studio15 Pilates? Do you have any exciting plans or goals for the future that you’d like to share?

There are many ideas in the works, including our own teacher training program, new and exciting classes and more retreats to come. Our annual retreat to Greece has been a success and we will continue to plan those going forward. We were also recently featured in ELLE magazine. More to come, so stay tuned!