By Ripples Turquand
Right off Henderson sits a quaint Pilates studio. Step inside and you’ll be greeted by co-founders Renata Bridges and Rachel Schwandt, the visionaries behind The Niche Method—the newest and hottest referral-based Pilates studio, which opened in August 2025. With its air of exclusivity and serene atmosphere, it’s no wonder there’s already a waitlist to get in.
In an era where mental and physical wellness take center stage, the demand for spaces like this has never been higher. Whether it’s trying the latest Pilates studio, going on “hot girl walks,” or experimenting with healthy recipes, self-care has become a cultural movement. As American fashion designer Rick Owens once said, “Working out is modern couture. No outfit is going to make you look or feel as good as having a fit body.”
But instead of drawing inspiration from Owens, I look to Lydia Longoria. I’ve followed her from O2 Dallas to Forma Pilates, and now to Niche, chasing her signature ab workouts that leave me trembling as I step off the reformer.
As one of her loyal students, I sat down with Lydia for a Q&A to talk all things Pilates, mental and physical health, and the art of turning passion into a career
Tell us a little about yourself. Where are you from? What brought you to Dallas?
My name’s Lydia Longoria! I’m originally from Houston, Texas, more specifically, a small town north of Houston called Tomball. I came to Dallas because I was a TCU girl – I know, controversial – and I started working in corporate after graduation in Dallas. I’ve stayed ever since.
What drew you to pilates? What has helped turn your passion into a business?
I’ve always been really into health, wellness, and fitness, and I’ve done Pilates for many years. I had actually moved to Costa Rica for my corporate job, where I had a lot of time alone to think about life. What made me passionate? And what set my heart on fire?
While I was there, I would drive 45 minutes to take pilates completely in Spanish with a bunch of elderly ladies, and it was the highlight of my day, every single day. After spending some time really evaluating what I wanted to do with my life, my best friend joked that I should teach pilates. I refused to because I just didn’t think there would be any money in it. I didn’t know what it would be like to chase that dream. I was scared. And I ended up coming back from Costa Rica after a year, and I got in a really bad car accident. That car accident launched a whole new mission for me to heal myself. That turned into a mission to help heal others through me.
What’s your mission at Niche?
Niche is a referral-only private pilates studio that was opened by two of my dear friends, Rachel and Renata. At Niche, we teach a more athletic style of pilates. Each instructor is unique in execution, but has the common goal of moving your body in a safe and effective way that you’ve probably never experienced before. We’re very big into community and love our Niche girls!
How do you curate your environment? Customers are drawn to good vibes, and most importantly, a good workout. Spill your secrets.
I think it’s about meeting people where they are, and with kindness. You know, of course, I think as an instructor, discipline is extremely important, but also, I think there is room for levity within practice. I want people to leave feeling good about themselves, not feeling worse. I maintain a calm, peaceful environment, but one where people leave feeling accomplished and proud of their accomplishment. I think that’s the middle ground that we have to seek out.
How do you balance work and personal life?
Oh, man. Good question. My work feels like my social life, if we’re being honest. I have the dream job; I get to go in, hang out with my friends and clients who have become friends. I get to talk and enjoy their company. This makes work very social for me. It can be very difficult sometimes because it always feels like you’re extroverted, you’re chatting, you’re on all the time. For me, it’s more about taking care of myself and reserving time to unwind, unplug, and put my own practice first. But I’m very naturally a social person. I have no problem going from the studio out to dinner with friends; it almost feels the same in a way. Maybe just different outfits, you know what I mean?
What gets you up every morning?
Well, it’s my dog who has to go to the bathroom 90% of the time. But honestly, I just love what I do. It’s truly pure love and pure joy out of finding my vocation. If you had asked me five years ago when I was waking up to go to the office and, you know, waking up at five in the morning was just an absolute terror for me. But I now wake up and I get to experience love every day, and I get to help people. That is what really drives me, just total love for what I do.
What’s your best piece of advice for an aspiring pilates princess?
I mean, just go for it. It can be a really intimidating environment, and I don’t want anyone to ever feel that way. The number one thing is to rip the Band-Aid off, take that first step to walk through the studio, and be open and honest with your instructor. Especially if you’re nervous, share that with your instructor so that they can help you. I think it also comes down to finding someone that you connect with on a personal level as an instructor, someone that you feel teaches in a way that you understand and that you’re drawn to, whether that’s more of a disciplinarian or more of someone who’s soothing and calm. There are all sorts of teaching styles out there. The next step is to be consistent with it. Consistency breeds results. Being a pilates princess to me is less about the aesthetic and more about the feeling on the inside, and you don’t achieve that feeling until you start to really take the time to dedicate to your practice.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
From the world around me. I think walking through life with eyes wide open is where you’ll find inspiration. It can be in the smallest bits – looking at girls on the street or looking at different pieces of art. Just being open-minded and walking through life with an open heart will help draw in and attract that inspiration. I’m very fortunate to be surrounded by really great people, friends, and mentors both in and out of the pilates industry. It’s just about being open to receiving, and you’ll find inspiration anywhere.
What is your biggest health secret?
Drink water. Drink it. I know it sucks. Find a way to get water in. I also believe in the power of walking. Getting our steps in is so important. It’s great, not only for your physical health, but also for your mental health. Listen to a podcast or your favorite playlist while walking, or going with a friend and catching up. That’s really therapeutic and wonderful for the soul. The third thing, and this is crazy, is getting lots of fiber. Everybody talks about protein, and protein is so important, especially for women. But I think we’ve neglected our fiber. If you look at the studies, our generation’s not dying of lack of protein; they’re dying of colorectal cancer. So when people ask me how I maintain my figure, I say I eat a lot of fiber. So, get your veggies in.
How has pilates shaped the way you see fitness?
It’s taught me to slow down and connect within myself. For so long, I was so consumed with the idea of pushing the heaviest weight, running the fastest mile, and getting my heart rate up to the maximum amount I could. And moving into a practice that focuses on control and precision, and connecting your mind and your muscle, has taught me a lot more about what it means to move and to be within myself. I don’t have to stress my body in order to have an effective workout. I do believe in the power of lifting weights. I think that’s really important, and I tie that in with pilates.
So I’m definitely not negating the importance of lifting weights, especially for women; it’s good for longevity, bone density, and building muscle mass. But you don’t have to be throwing around the maximum amount of weight. You don’t have to hurt yourself in the gym to achieve results. You should take care of your nervous system just as much as you’re taking care of your musculoskeletal system. And pilates really helps with that.
Ready to start your Pilates princess era? Join The Niche Method using this link.
