Fit Buddha

After visiting multiple friends who owned SPX studios, Marcus and Eva Kettles decided that imitation would be the sincerest show of devotion to Santa Barbara's fitness scene. The pair quickly laid plans for their own business, channeling their entrepreneurial backgrounds—Marcus had owned a New York City production company, and Eva had run a successful restaurant and holistic medicine practice—to launch the project. Today, you can find them overseeing an array of Megaformer machines inside Fit Buddha's eastern-themed exercise zone, where guests bolster their bodies during signature SPX classes–all without the burden of membership fees.

The 40-minute SPX workout and its signature Megaformer machine draws from focused Pilates techniques, cardio drills, and strength training to create a full-body conditioning routine. By melding effective intensity, cardio, and endurance training, the Megaformer delivers a more complete workout than traditional Pilates. Energizing music syncs up with the class circuit, which can deviate from the SPX formula to include stationary cycling and nonstationary naptime. The studio also houses wellness and nutrition centers that espouse the anti-aging benefits of infrared saunas alongside wholesome sips from protein shakes.