Behind the Scenes With Sydney Dumler of Forza Pilates

For Sydney Dumler,the past two years have been momentous. The 27-year-old wellness entrepreneur and instructor opened her luxury reformer studio, Forza Pilates, in December 2023. Since then, Forza’s name has ricocheted through Nashville’s fitness community — as both a top workout spot and an attention-grabbing lifestyle brand. The stunning studio, complete with gold-frame mirrors, wooden beams and peaceful earth tones, has been frequented by locals and tourists, featured in national publications, and even visited by pop star Sabrina Carpenter. 

Sydney believes workouts can be both beautiful and functional. Her signature Forza Method celebrates strength in all forms, combining focused muscle training and lengthening reformer exercises to create lasting results. After witnessing the impact of her flagship Wedgewood-Houston location, she opened Forza Atelier inside Soho House Nashville, providing members with expert training and concierge services. 

Despite Forza’s initial success, Sydney isn’t planning to slow down. She’s launched fragrance and clothing lines, hosted wellness retreats, organized exclusive pop-ups and even created her own “Expensive” smoothie, served at SunLife Organics. When we spoke in September, Sydney was days away from launching the Forza Digital platform, which makes her method accessible nationwide. She also revealed to Nfocus that she’s opening a third studio in Franklin this winter. 

How did you create the Forza Method?

I have a background in fitness and programming. ... I became really passionate about not just teaching clients fitness, but teaching instructors how to teach clients. 

When I got into Pilates, I realized there was a big need from both sides. As a client, I wanted more spaces to go to that were in [Wedgewood-Houston]. And as an instructor, I felt like there was a need for [something] more consistent [and] contemporary. 

So I started building the Forza Method … making sure that sequencing, timing and cueing are all done effectively and in a way that makes each exercise accessible to someone who wants something more supportive or more challenging.

What do you consider the difference between a gym and a sporting club? Where does Forza fall?

I don’t like going to the gym because I feel like it’s a male-dominated space, for one, but it’s more of an in-and-out experience. You’re going on your own time. I like the structure of group fitness, but I think in the Pilates industry, it’s not always common that there’s a community aspect to it. 

When I’ve taught at studios in the past, I was the only person working, so it made it really hard to greet people. We actually have a front desk staff here specifically to greet people, make sure they have everything they need and that they know their way around the studio and reformer. 

I think our events also give people an excuse to not just run out to work. On a Saturday, if they come in, you might have a coffee cart or table for a local brand set up — making it not just a gym, but more of a space to gather.

What inspired you to create Forza’s lifestyle brand? 

Until I was 25, I had the most random jobs ever. I was a nanny, a retail buyer, a yoga instructor [and] I worked at a smoothie shop. ... Then I opened a studio and was like, “Wait. All of my worlds are colliding.”

Then it’s these weird, full-circle moments — that SunLife wanted to partner, or that ... we made a candle and people liked it. I feel like it’s all meant to happen now.

How will Forza Digital enhance your brand?

It started as a workout app. But because Forza is more than just a workout — it’s really a lifestyle brand — it felt more in line with the brand to have it not just encompass workouts. It’s actually a content platform where we’re curating blog posts about [fashion] and we’re working with our creators and ambassadors on skincare routines and smoothie recipes — things that are already part of the brand — and building that into a subscription platform. 

What advice would you give to young female entrepreneurs?

You know best. It’s easy to seek advice from people, but I think if someone is truly building a business out of passion and need, you should trust yourself and your gut. 

With my business, I think I definitely know what’s best, because I built it for someone like me — who’s living in this neighborhood, who’s active and is looking for a more luxurious experience that has more friendliness. If the business is authentic to you, trust yourself to make decisions.