Pangyo Pilates studio with a 1:1 50-minute trial: Pom Pilates

Why I went looking for a Pilates studio in Pangyo at almost fifty

This year.. I'm finally turning fifty.. which means.. the countdown to menopause has officially begun..

So this year, I had my own little plan to get my body into decent shape before menopause hit, and the first step was.. weight loss.. I'd already started taking medication for high cholesterol, and since last year my HbA1c had crossed 6..

Fear that I might not get the old age I dream of if things kept going this way pushed me to start with weight loss.. I already knew exercise and diet alone wouldn't cut it, so I spent ages weighing Mounjaro against the Korean medicine clinic diet that had worked for me getting rid of over 7 years of postpartum weight.. and decided to try the herbal medicine route one more time..

Earlier this year, over a month and a half, alongside the medicine I had to keep a regular meal schedule and diet, half-body baths 3+ times a week, 30+ minutes of walking a day, drinking 1.5L+ of hot water daily, fasting after 6pm, and going to bed early — and since I'm strongly J-type, I stuck to it at a 95%+ compliance rate as always..

Successfully lost about 6kg.. I always wonder whether it was really the herbal medicine or whether I'd have lost it anyway without it, but oddly, without spending money, that 180-degree lifestyle switch feels impossible — which made me reflect a bit on why that is..

Anyway.. my part-time teaching job at school happened to start right after I'd lost the weight nicely, so seeing teachers I hadn't seen in a year, I got told I looked prettier.. one teacher even said I gave off Jun Ji-hyun vibes, haha..

Since then.. I've cut out soda completely and have been maintaining well, fluctuating within 1-2kg.. but even though I lost weight, my belly fat won't budge, my upper arms keep sagging, my butt keeps disappearing, I can't even hang from a pull-up bar for 10 seconds, and my stamina has dropped drastically..

Things clothes can hide but never actually fix are still piling up.. and everyone kept recommending Pilates in unison.. I used to brush it off, but hearing it right before turning fifty made me think, maybe I really do need to do this now.. so I searched right away~ Oh.. there are way more studios nearby than I expected.. haha, so many it's hard to choose.. it's funny how you don't notice these things until you actually care? haha

So, based on distance from home and reviews, I chose Pom Pilates in Pangyo, which offers a 1:1 trial class. To cut to the chase.. very satisfied!!

Here's my review of the 1:1, 50-minute trial class taught directly by the director, starting with the points I liked most~~

Where Pom Pilates is in Seopangyo, and what the studio and parking are like

Pom Pilates is on the 5th floor of Nakseng Building at 154 Seopangyo-ro. It's right next to Wuruwuru Pangyo, a dim sum restaurant I frequent since moving to Pangyo, so it's easy to find, and I liked that there's plenty of parking..

The changing room, sink area, hair ties, and beverage station are simple and clean.. only the necessary things, laid out just right. I also liked that the cleanser is from Aesop..

I'm a total beginner so I don't know the equipment in detail yet, but I was told Pom Pilates' equipment is all genuine Canadian Merrithew (STOTT PILATES) gear.. I don't know much, but it definitely looked good, haha

One wall is all windows, so you can exercise while looking out at a refreshing view, which I liked..

I also liked that group classes are capped at 4:1..

I liked the overall studio interior too..

Inside the 1:1 50-minute trial class at Pom Pilates: Cadillac and reformer

The 1:1 trial at Pom Pilates was a 50-minute class taught directly by the director. Before class, she checked in on my personal condition and any requests, then we started with breathing, engaging the core in a standing posture, and stretching..

Just holding the posture and breathing already had me breaking into a sweat.. so I got a little nervous it might be too hard, but the class began with 2-3 moves on a piece of equipment I'd only ever known by name — the Cadillac..

Then 3-4 moves on something whose name was even more unfamiliar — the reformer..

There wasn't a dull moment as I just followed the director's instructions, and before I knew it, the 50 minutes were over!

There was a moderate amount of muscle stimulation, and I could tell I might have some soreness the next day, but it wasn't overwhelming — nor did it feel too easy at all.. reviews had said a lot of people feel refreshed after class, and that's exactly how I felt.

Honestly.. it was like a state of moderation that's neither too much nor too little, haha

Since every class is taught only by the director herself, this could really set it apart from places where a different teacher runs each class..

Trial prices and payment: three 1:1 sessions for ₩165,000

Pom Pilates offers a one-time trial for beginners on all of its 1:1, 2:1, and 4:1 classes, priced over 40% below the regular rate. I especially liked the beginner package that lets you try 1:1 classes three times, which felt like a thoughtful touch.. and you can pay with local currency for an extra 6-10% discount effect, which is another plus!

Who should book a trial at Pom Pilates in Pangyo?

I visited as part of a sponsored campaign, but my real goal wasn't a one-off trial — I was looking for a Pilates studio I could actually keep attending going forward, and personally I was satisfied enough that I'm planning to start with the 3-session 1:1 trial (₩165,000)..

• Anyone who wants a studio fully equipped with genuine Canadian Merrithew equipment
• Anyone who wants to exercise with a green view through a full glass wall
• Anyone looking for a small studio (group classes capped at 4:1)
• Pilates beginners who want to keep learning from one steady teacher

If you're looking for Pilates in Pangyo with these priorities in mind, you'll probably like Pom Pilates — that's my review, done!