Husband-and-wife duo Hunter and Jordyn Herrera own Flo. The mat Pilates studio opened its doors in June is located at 940 East Lincoln Road. There are hot workouts at 90 degrees, and it isn’t your typical strength training.
“You stay pretty low and controlled on your mat. It’s technical. You lift three- or five-pound weights,” said Jordyn.
Three Pilates classes are offered. One is called “Hot Mat Pilates.” You can experience Pilates in a heated environment. It’s supposed to help you stretch, elevate your heart rate, and open your muscles quicker.
There’s “Upbeat Hot Pilates,” which is a high-energy class with heat and an upbeat playlist. It keeps you moving and motivated.
Then the last class is “Mat Pilates,” and it’s non-heated. It’s meant to focus on controlled movement and build core strength.
“It’s fun for me. It’s where we welcome any level, any person, male or female, any body type. It’s supposed to make you feel comfortable,” said Jordyn. “Yes, it’s a Pilates studio, but to me it’s more than that because I am just building a community and that is what’s most important to me.”
Jordyn said she and her husband opened Flo as a way to stay active. They have been married for nearly three years. She and Hunter were high school sweethearts from Idaho Falls. Jordyn was a cheerleader and grew up dancing. Hunter was a football player, baseball player, and he wrestled.
“Once we both graduated high school, we kind of had to find a new routine. We had to find what our new normal was rather than just going to practice every day,” Jordyn said. “We both fell in love with traditional weight lifting at the gym.”
They moved to St. George, Utah, in 2024 and Jordyn was interested in Pilates. She grew passionate for it. She was booking classes and thinking a lot about the movements she was learning.
“I just got to thinking: moving your body should not be a punishment,” she said. “I am not moving my body because I have to; it’s because I choose to and because my body deserves to feel its best. That’s where Flo kind of came about.”
There are seven instructors, including Jordyn, and she explained the reasoning behind calling the studio Flo.
“What I teach is called a flow. Each movement is supposed to bleed into the next while your song also bleeds into the next song,” she said. “Anything we do in Pilates is called a flow. We just kind of made it our own and took the ‘w’ off.”
“It’s fun to watch people build their routines and now I have people who come at the same time every day. They meet new friends and hold each other accountable. It’s so cool. It’s been really amazing,” she said.
Jordyn wanted to have a heated pilates studio because she finds more benefits with it.
“Sweating is just a different level of a workout. You’re releasing toxins from your body. You’re getting your heart rate up while also only lifting three pounds,” she said.
Everything is also done on a mat, which is different from reformer Pilates. Mat Pilates is described online as a floor-based strengthening workout that uses your own bodyweight for resistance on a mat to build core strength, stability, flexibility, and posture.
Reformer Pilates uses a sliding carriage, spring—based resistance and straps to build core strength, flexibility, and balance.
Anyone can try out a 45-minute class for $20. People are encouraged to bring their own mats but there are some to rent at the studio for $3.
Flo provides weights, balls, blocks, and bands. There are morning and evening classes offered. Check out theidahoflo.com to learn more.
“No matter what class you are showing up to, no matter what instructor you sign up under, the workout is for you. You’re not showing up for anybody else. The instructor has no control over what you decide to do except for pushing you to your best,” Jordyn concluded.