When fitness entrepreneur Liz Merrill broke her femur two years ago, she didn’t imagine the injury would change the course of her career. “I just kind of stumbled into Pilates as a way to recover,” she recalls. “And I became obsessed with it. It really helped me, both in my recovery and in my fitness overall.”
At the time, Merrill was already a well-known figure in San Diego’s fitness scene. Alongside her husband, Nick Merrill, she had built Sweat Circuit into a strength-focused group fitness brand with four San Diego locations (Del Mar, Coronado, Otay Ranch, and Imperial Beach) plus their flagship studio in Bellevue, Washington. But Pilates opened a new door.
“I realized once I got into Pilates that there was this whole world out there I never knew existed,” Merrill says. “Coronado didn’t have anything like it, and I saw women driving off-island to take classes. So I decided to bring my new obsession home.”
The Beginning of b • long
In 2024, Merrill opened b•long Pilates in Coronado, a modern Pilates studio that blends the precision of traditional Pilates with the intensity and flow of contemporary movement. Using the XFormer machine, classes emphasize slow, controlled movement to strengthen the smaller, stabilizing muscles often missed by traditional weightlifting. But what truly sets b•long apart, Merrill says, is the community.
“When I was going over the bridge to take classes at the big brands, what I felt was missing was that sense of community and a sense of regardless of your fitness level or your age, you could feel welcomed and you were met where you are,” she explains. “We have 84-year-olds and high schoolers both getting great workouts, and both being served for their needs. It’s for everybody” Merrill says proudly.
Each class is designed to meet clients where they are: from the challenging Strength & Core sessions to gentler Stretch & Flow formats and fully restorative options. “Our needs change daily,” Merrill adds. “We wanted to respond to how clients feel in the moment.”
A Coastal Brand on the Rise
b•long Pilates Founder Liz Merrill (second from left)
After a successful first year in Coronado, Merrill is expanding the brand north to Carlsbad Village, a natural next step for what she envisions as a coastal lifestyle brand. The new studio will offer the same signature modern Pilates experience, with one thoughtful addition: on-site childcare.
“We’ve been received with so much enthusiasm already,” says Merrill. “There’s nothing like us in Carlsbad, and we’re excited to welcome a community that feels so similar to Coronado.”
To celebrate the opening, b•long is offering Founding Memberships ($229 /month) for a limited time. Members can also sign up for a dual membership between Sweat Circuit and b•long. “Lifting weights safely, building muscle, and maintaining strength — especially for women as we age — is essential,” she says.
Between Sweat Circuit and b•long Pilates, Merrill has built something bigger than a fitness brand — she’s created a movement rooted in longevity, inclusivity, and strength for every season of life.
b •long Pilates - Coronado, 1300 Orange Ave, Suite 220, Coronado
b •long Pilates - Carlsbad, 2832 State Street, Suite B, Carlsbad
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