The outside of a building with a sign that says "JETSET MODERN PILATES." There is a palm tree on the right under a clear blue sky.

JETSET Pilates

By: Alyssa Bice

JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. —Just off Third Street and 14th Avenue, JETSET Pilates is working to reshape how residents think about fitness—blending strength training, mindfulness, and community into a single workout experience. 

Founded by a mother-and-daughter team, the studio offers reformer-based Pilates classes for people of all fitness levels. Tori Tocco, franchise owner of JETSET Pilates, was a founding member at JETSET in South Florida. Tocco’s partner and mother, Sammi, owned a pilates studio in South Florida before COVID-19. Unfortunately, it closed during the pandemic, but their background knowledge and long-term love for pilates became the foundation of their franchise in Jacksonville.  

“I went to UNF, I graduated and moved back to South Florida,” said Tocco. “The day I moved home, I knew I wanted to move back to Jacksonville. I thought there was a great opportunity in this market, and I wanted to bring health and wellness to this community.” 

JETSET Pilates offers a full-body, low-impact workout that focuses on strengthening the core, improving balance, and increasing flexibility. 

“Most people think that pilates is just stretching and flowy, rather than an actual workout,” said Melo Thomas, JETSET’s lead instructor.  

“It’s intense, but it’s intense in the best ways,” said Thomas.  

JETSET accommodates all fitness levels through spring adjustments on the reformer, stability poles, and in-class modifications. 

“Don’t be intimidated,” she said. “The reformer looks scary, but it’s not. Our instructors go over everything in detail, and we want to make you feel as comfortable as possible. Clients will see results quickly if they’re consistent.” 

With a growing client base and a focus on wellness-centered community, the studio continues to expand its presence as more than a tool for physical health. 

“Pilates helps with mental health a lot,” Thomas said. “In day-to-day life, we tend to think about the next moment, and when you’re in here, you’re thinking about your movement and the way your body is moving.”