SĀRAI is Netherlands' first self-service pilates concept

Melda Kirdi (30) and Gamze Demir (32) know the hectic rhythm of modern city life through their careers in the financial sector. They saw around them how people are constantly 'on' and do not take a moment to really come to themselves. That observation became the basis for SĀRAI, the Netherlands' first self-service pilates reformer concept on Hoogstraat.

SĀRAI combines the benefits of reformer pilates with the freedom of on-demand fitness. Members can train independently in a high-end environment, guided by touchscreens and wireless headphones with access to seven hundred video classes, from relaxation and recovery to intense workouts. The central coffee bar is the heart of the studio, a place where visitors meet, enjoy a matcha or coffee and flip open their laptops to work out in peace.

Gamze: "What makes our wellness concept so powerful is that we remove barriers for people who feel insecure in a pilates studio and have no time due to fixed class times or waiting lists. With 12 professional reformer machines spread over two floors and hundreds of specialist programmes, led by certified instructors, we offer a personal and professional experience for beginners and advanced pilates.''

SĀRAI creates a place where visitors move and recharge on their own terms and feel connected to a community of like-minded people. ''We are a place for those who want to make her day intentional. Our self-service reformer pilates concept is the heart of our experience, but around it we build a complete lifestyle environment with a coffee bar, changing rooms and workstations that invite to linger,'' says Melda.

Gamze added: "Our studio is designed as a quiet, luxurious and stylish environment where guests can retreat from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. You feel the name SĀRAI, Turkish for 'palace', immediately: terracotta-coloured accents, lots of plants and an abundance of natural light make the studio a serene and stylish place.''