By: Advika Anand and Hayley Strahs

Graphics Editor and Editor-in-Chief

As Los Gatos’s newest Pilates spot, Astral Studio has already become a local hit. Between its dreamy aesthetic and tempo-inspired workout classes, this downtown establishment is a noteworthy and lively addition to the community.

Longtime Los Gatos resident and Astral Studio owner Stephanie Bean has been a personal trainer for eleven years, starting her fitness career at Bay Club Courtside. After teaching and taking Pilates classes for a few years, Bean envisioned founding a welcoming and intentionally non-heated studio. Bean explained, “My idea was to do a mat Pilates type of class but also to build a community space.” Over the course of a few years, Bean designed the studio’s minimalist interior and worked out the logistics of launching her business.

For Bean, Los Gatos was the perfect place to open Astral Studio. Nestled between Manresa Bread and Bride & Bustle, the business lies in the heart of downtown; however, Astral Studio attracts customers from across the Bay Area. Reflecting on her affinity for Los Gatos, Bean remarked, “You can walk down the street and see ten people you know. There’s no other place that I’ve ever lived where I’ve had that type of community.” 

Currently, Astral Studio offers one type of Pilates class, Sculpt, a rhythmically based fusion of mat Pilates and strength training. Bean especially enjoys formatting her workouts to incorporate musical elements, creating a “choreography” for the workout. She added, “I think that’s what really builds that kind of community feeling…with everyone doing it together, moving the same way, at the same time.” In the near future, Bean hopes to add more classes, including Strength, structured around heavy weights; Stretch, focused on yoga; and Sweat, a musically-driven class with an emphasis on cardio. She envisions her studio as a hub containing classes that appeal to everyone.

Looking ahead, Bean hopes Astral Studio will continue to grow as a space rooted in representation, accessibility, and vibrancy. Describing herself as a curvy woman of color, she recalls not always feeling welcome in fitness settings, thus her commitment to creating a studio where no one feels out of place. Her diverse instructors, accessible pricing, and warm environment reflect her belief that “anyone can come here and feel beautiful while doing something good for themselves.” Whether seeing clients exuding confidence after challenging class or making a “girl’s day out” with their friends, the most rewarding part for Bean is witnessing people come together to engage in fitness. Bean loves being part of their happiness and wants newcomers to feel the same joy. Her advice for first-timers is simply to come as you are and show yourself kindness. She reminds her classes that movement should be like play, and she hopes Astral Studio remains a place where people learn, laugh, and have fun as they move.