Exercising with Zhang Linghe? Pilates studios in Singapore attract students with creative move, Entertainment News

Pilates studios in Singapore are integrating celebrity imagery into their fitness spaces to boost client motivation. By placing mats and posters featuring popular stars on reformer machines and walls, studios like E-Five Pilates and Blue Pilates are adopting a trend that originated in China, where practitioners report that the presence of their “celebrity crush” encourages them during workouts.

How studios are implementing the trend

E-Five Pilates has begun promoting trial sessions on the platform Xiaohongshu, featuring a rotating schedule of Chinese celebrities. The studio’s social media posts highlight a weekly lineup including Zhang Linghe, Wang Yibo, and Eddie Peng, suggesting that a different “handsome guy” can assist in training a client’s core each day. The reformer machines at the studio are currently lined with mats displaying the faces of stars such as Linghe, Xiao Zhan, and Wang Anyu.

View this post on Instagram about Zhang Linghe, Wang Yibo

From Instagram — related to Zhang Linghe, Wang Yibo

According to a representative from E-Five Pilates, this trial program will operate at their West Coast outlet for one week. The studio plans to rotate the concept to their remaining branches in Woodlands, Lavender, and East Coast following the initial trial period. Similarly, Blue Pilates at Sunshine Plaza has adopted the strategy, incorporating a poster of Blackpink’s Jennie into their class environment.

Did You Know? The trend of using celebrity imagery to motivate exercise routines began in China before being adopted by Singaporean fitness studios.

Why this trend matters in fitness

The integration of fan culture into fitness environments represents a shift toward gamifying the workout experience to increase client engagement. By utilizing visual stimuli linked to pop culture, these studios aim to make the physical exertion of pilates, such as holding a plank, more tolerable for their members. The accessibility of these materials is further underscored by the fact that consumers can purchase similar celebrity-branded mats via the Chinese e-commerce app Taobao.

Expert Insight: Samantha Carter observes that this trend highlights the growing intersection between digital fandom and physical wellness. By leveraging the emotional connection fans have with celebrities, studios may see higher retention rates during trial periods as the workout environment becomes a personalized “fangirl’s paradise.”

What could happen next

If the trial sessions at E-Five Pilates and Blue Pilates prove successful in attracting new sign-ups, other fitness centers in the region may adopt similar visual marketing strategies to differentiate their classes. It is possible that the demand for customized workout gear featuring celebrity imagery will continue to rise on e-commerce platforms like Taobao, as fitness enthusiasts seek to replicate these studio environments in their home workout spaces.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where did this pilates trend originate?
The trend began in China, where netizens reported that viewing celebrity images provided motivation during their pilates sessions.

Which celebrities are currently featured in Singaporean studios?
Studios have featured stars including Zhang Linghe, Wang Yibo, Eddie Peng, Xiao Zhan, Wang Anyu, and Blackpink’s Jennie.

Can individuals buy these mats for home use?
Yes, similar mats featuring celebrity images are available for purchase on the Chinese e-commerce app Taobao.

Would you be more motivated to complete a workout if your favorite celebrity was featured in your gym space?