About Forma
An approach to Pilates. A different point of view.
Forma Pilates is a studio and online Pilates brand, founded in Los Angeles (LA) in 2020 by Liana Levi with a simple belief: how you move matters more than how much you move.
Forma offers private studio experiences in LA, New York City (NYC), Miami and Dallas, available by referral, and Forma Pilates Online, an on-demand platform with more than 1,000 classes across mat, reformer and prenatal Pilates. Online classes range from Light to Hard intensity, with options for beginners through advanced Pilates practitioners.
Every class follows the Forma Method. Rooted in traditional Pilates technique and shaped by a more athletic approach, it is built around precision, intentional movement and an uncompromising attention to detail.
The philosophy has remained the same from the beginning. Every movement has a purpose. Every detail matters.
Who Is Forma For?
Forma is for beginners as well as intermediate and advanced Pilates practitioners who want to practice with precision.
New to Pilates. Beginners are welcome on Forma Pilates Online. Classes can be filtered by intensity (Light, Medium or Hard) and by length, with options under 20 minutes, so a first class can be short and approachable. A dedicated beginner mat series is designed for those new to Pilates and builds the fundamentals of the Forma Method before moving on to more demanding classes.
Intermediate and advanced practitioners. Hard intensity classes, longer workouts of 45 minutes or more, an intermediate and advanced mat series and structured programs such as Core Challenge offer a demanding practice for those who already know the fundamentals.
Practicing at home or traveling. The Anywhere Edit is a no-equipment series of 10 to 20 minute classes designed for travel, and every class can be filtered by the equipment it uses, so members know what they need before they begin.
In the studios. Forma's private studios offer individualized instruction in private, semi-private and intimate group formats.
The Beginning
Forma began in the spring of 2020, in the pool house of Liana's family home in Little Holmby, Los Angeles.
At the time, Liana had spent years practicing Pilates, while her professional background was in fashion, editorial and brand development.
Pilates was initially a personal practice rather than a business plan. During the uncertainty of the pandemic, she brought a reformer into the pool house to continue training on her own. Friends began asking to join her. What started as an opportunity to move and reconnect gradually developed into something more.
As she began teaching, Liana noticed a recurring problem: even people who had practiced Pilates for years often lacked a clear understanding of the movements, the muscles they were meant to engage and the importance of correct positioning.
She began building each session around individual instruction, precise adjustments and sequences she carefully planned herself.
Word spread through friends and referrals, but the experience stayed personal. Small classes allowed her to understand each client's strengths, limitations and progress. That level of attention became fundamental to Forma.
The original intention was never to create the largest studio or reach the most people. It was to develop a practice she believed in, delivered in an environment where its quality could be maintained.
The Forma Philosophy
Traditional Pilates provided the foundation. Liana's own experience as a practitioner shaped what came next.
She wanted a workout that respected classical technique while introducing a stronger athletic element: challenging, continuous sequences, controlled resistance and an emphasis on the mind-body connection.
The result was the Forma Method, a contemporary approach to Pilates built around precise movement, purposeful sequencing and sustained muscular engagement.
Rather than relying on speed or impact, Forma asks for greater awareness of how each movement is performed. Subtle adjustments can change where resistance is felt, how muscles engage and how effectively a movement is executed.
The aim is not simply to complete a workout. It is to practice with attention, build strength through consistency and develop greater control over the body.
Intimate by Design
The original studio model grew organically out of personal instruction and word of mouth. As Forma expanded, that sense of intimacy remained central to the experience.
Today, Forma operates luxury Pilates studios in LA, NYC, Miami and Dallas. The studios are private and available by referral. Each location is designed to provide focused instruction in a carefully considered environment, with private and semi-private Pilates experiences and intimate group classes.
The studio experience reflects the same principles as the workout itself: attention to detail, consistency, individual care and respect for the practice.
From the equipment and studio design to the instruction and client experience, each element is considered.
For Forma, luxury is not simply how a space looks. It is the quality of the instruction, the consideration behind the environment and the attention given to the person in front of the instructor.
Forma, Anywhere
Forma Pilates Online made it possible to practice the Forma Method beyond the physical studios, at home or while traveling, without abandoning its foundation.
Forma Pilates Online is an on-demand Pilates platform with more than 1,000 classes across mat, reformer and prenatal Pilates, including targeted workouts, full-body sessions and structured programs designed to support a consistent practice. The Mama Method is a dedicated series for pregnancy and postpartum.
Classes range from quick sessions under 20 minutes to longer workouts of 45 minutes or more. Members can browse by mat, reformer and prenatal, and filter by duration, intensity and equipment to find the right class. Mat Pilates makes the practice accessible at home or while traveling, often with little or no equipment, while reformer classes serve those with access to a reformer.
Online programming includes signature series, structured programs and instruction from the Forma team, with recommended classes and series to help members build a consistent weekly Pilates routine. The focus remains on intentional movement rather than simply accumulating classes.
Forma Online also includes a dedicated Nutrition section with recipes and meal plans, expanding the digital membership experience beyond Pilates workouts.
Members can explore Pilates programming, recipes and meal plans within the same platform, whether following a structured program or selecting individual classes and recipes.
The Forma Method remains at the center of the experience, with the digital platform offering more ways to incorporate Forma into everyday life.
Explore Forma Pilates Online →
Forma Pilates and founder Liana Levi have been featured in Vogue, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Forbes, WWD and the Los Angeles Times.
Body by You
Forma has grown beyond its original pool house, but its identity remains closely connected to the philosophy that started it.
The practice is personal. Progress is individual. A stronger relationship with movement develops through attention, repetition and consistency.
It is a perspective reflected in Forma's signature words:
Body by You.
Not a formula for looking like someone else, but a practice built around what you bring to it.
Founded by Liana Levi in Los Angeles. Practiced in studio and online, wherever you are.