{"id":529561,"date":"2026-04-14T02:06:10","date_gmt":"2026-04-14T02:06:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/529561\/"},"modified":"2026-04-14T02:06:10","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T02:06:10","slug":"solidcore-launches-innovation-lab-tests-heated-mat-format","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/529561\/","title":{"rendered":"Solidcore Launches Innovation Lab, Tests Heated Mat Format"},"content":{"rendered":"

The boutique fitness giant is piloting a new conditioning format for two weeks at its Navy Yard studio, testing whether there\u2019s room to grow beyond the reformer<\/p>\n

Solidcore is testing the edges of its blue-light universe, carefully, and not without a dose of controversy.<\/p>\n

The L Catteron-backed boutique fitness brand, known for its obsessive fan base and waitlists, is launching an Innovation Lab this spring.<\/p>\n

The lab will serve as a two-week testing program at its Navy Yard studio in Washington, D.C., a dual-room location that gives Solidcore a dedicated space to experiment with new concepts alongside its member community.<\/p>\n

The first concept is a heated, mat-based conditioning format meant to complement Solidcore\u2019s signature workout. The format is currently unnamed and will be tested in a separate room within the Navy Yard studio, one of Solidcore\u2019s nearly 170 U.S. studios.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Chief commercial officer Anne Smith tells Athletech News the new format was inspired by conversations with members, those who want Solidcore seven days a week but are looking for different ways to either activate intensity or support recovery between sessions on the machine.<\/p>\n

The off-machine concept will combine dynamic bodyweight exercises, isometric holds and the use of dumbbells and additional equipment.<\/p>\n

\u201cAny decision we make about readiness for a wider rollout of this modality will be based on the Solidcore standards of excellence,\u201d Smith said. \u201cThat\u2019s why this phase of product development is so fundamental \u2014 we intend to listen and learn before we launch.\u201d<\/p>\n

While the near-term focus is on executing a successful test, the concept could eventually take shape as net-new standalone locations or future multi-room studio formats, Smith added.<\/p>\n

\"\"credit: Solidcore<\/p>\n

The announcement of the Innovation Lab didn\u2019t land without some turbulence. Fitness and wellness entrepreneur, investor<\/a> and\u00a0philanthropist<\/a>\u00a0Anne Mahlum, who founded Solidcore in 2013 and\u00a0sold her stake in 2023<\/a>, took to Instagram to share an email she sent to Solidcore leadership.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome unsolicited advice,\u201d she phrased it, acknowledging in her letter that her opinion carries no formal weight or vote but comes from concern as the brand\u2019s founder<\/a>. She pointed to cautionary examples of boutique brands that chased new formats, generated early enthusiasm and ultimately failed to hold their core customers.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cSolidcore is not just a noun, it is a verb,\u201d she wrote, adding that a heated mat concept was \u201ca slap in the face\u201d to the brand\u2019s most loyal member.<\/p>\n

Mahlum also questioned Solidcore\u2019s pace of growth, noting the brand is currently opening roughly 25 studios a year \u2014 the same pace as 2018 \u2014 while now commanding significantly more capital and resources.<\/p>\n

\"AnneAnne Mahlum (middle) speaks at the Athletech News Innovation Summit 2025 (credit: Flickman Media)<\/p>\n

Solidcore CEO Bryan Myers, who joined the boutique fitness brand in 2018, also took to social media, seemingly in response to Mahlum and the brand\u2019s devotees.<\/p>\n

On growth, he noted that Solidcore is tracking toward 40+ new studios over the next 12 months, with that pace accelerating each year. He also pushed back on format comparisons, adding that Solidcore\u2019s innovation agenda and growth agenda are not in competition.<\/p>\n

Perhaps most importantly \u2014 to Solidcore members, that is \u2014 he pointed out what the lab is not.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat we\u2019re testing isn\u2019t mat Pilates,\u201d Myers wrote. \u201cIt\u2019s a heated conditioning format that draws from the same hybrid philosophy that defines Solidcore itself: intensity, precision, and a method built around effectiveness.\u201d<\/p>\n

As for the reformer itself, he was unequivocal: \u201cYour favorite reformer is safe,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n

\"\"Bryan Myers (credit: Solidcore)<\/p>\n

Myers also addressed the reaction directly in a statement to Athletech News.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe passion and energy around our core product doesn\u2019t change any of our thinking \u2014 it actually reinforces it,\u201d he said. \u201cThere are many brands that have experimented with their core offering over time, and while we\u2019ve explored that ourselves, we\u2019ve consistently come back to the belief that our core product is too special and unique, and that our members value that tremendously.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The boutique fitness giant is piloting a new conditioning format for two weeks at its Navy Yard studio,…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":529562,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[46],"tags":[26359,6647,102,15770,183434,56,54,55],"class_list":{"0":"post-529561","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-fitness","8":"tag-boutique-fitness","9":"tag-fitness","10":"tag-health","11":"tag-pilates","12":"tag-solidcore","13":"tag-uk","14":"tag-united-kingdom","15":"tag-unitedkingdom"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/529561","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=529561"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/529561\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/529562"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=529561"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=529561"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=529561"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}