At Nofar Method, the Studio Is Part of the Workout
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
Most Pilates studios are designed around what clients see when they walk through the door. More important to founder Nofar Hagag is what they see when they look up. At Nofar Method, sculptural Tom Dixon pendants hang overhead, casting a warm glow across the room turning the ceiling into part of the studio experience.
“The lighting was one of the details I cared about most because it can completely change the way you experience a space,” Hagag says. “In Pilates, you spend so much time looking up at the ceiling that I wanted what you see above to be part of the experience too.”
Hagag, a former NCAA Division I water polo player, founded Nofar Method with the goal of creating a Pilates workout that was both challenging and personal. Its 50-minute classes divide time between the Reformer and Cadillac, creating a method that builds strength, control and endurance. The studios, located in New York City (Flatiron and Tribeca) as well as Miami Beach, offer a calmer contrast to the intensity of the workout, which has clients like Brooke Shields and Paulina Porizkova returning.
Soft colors, warm lighting and natural elements run throughout each location. While the studios share a common look, Hagag chose different colors and finishes for the pendants to give each one its own personality. “Their sculptural shapes draw your eye and bring so much character to the room,” she says. “They’re beautiful even when they’re not illuminated, and when they are, the warm glow transforms the room and creates this beautiful sense of calm and intimacy.”
Hagag’s vision came from years spent exercising in different studios, taking note of how each space made her feel and what she might do differently one day. “In the beginning, I didn’t have the budget to create everything I imagined, so the studios evolved little by little,” she says. “As I was able to afford more, I kept adding elements that felt special to me and made the space feel more complete.”
One of those additions was the Himalayan Pink Salt wall, which has since become a recognizable feature in all Nofar Method studios. She was drawn to the natural quality of salt and its history in wellness, particularly its association with relaxation and respiratory health. Illuminated from within, the wall brings warmth and texture to the room without making it feel overly designed.
“I want clients to feel welcomed and comfortable and to be able to leave some of the outside world at the door,” she says. “For me, the physical environment is an important part of the experience. The lighting, the energy, the music and the overall environment all contribute to how a client feels.”
A great instructor may be the reason someone tries a fitness studio, but the setting often shapes whether they enjoy being there to then return. Lighting that is too bright, music that overwhelms or a room that feels cold can work against even the strongest class. At Nofar Method, those details are treated with the same care as the workout.
