Double the Fun! New ‘Duo’ Concept Pairs Pilates and Coffee

Double the Fun! New ‘Duo’ Concept Pairs Pilates and Coffee

Rise and shine! There's a new spot where Houstonians can get their day started on the right foot — with a workout and some caffeine, of course. DUO Coffee & Pilates opens next month on Westheimer at Greenbriar.


"Coffee is the one moment out of day that we always knew we wanted to be our time together," says Karman Lovely, who launched the concept with her husband, Marcus. "Even if it's five minutes, or if it's no minutes and we're running out the door, it's a moment we can connect. And pilates and yoga is something we all need. So why not put those two things together? Every day, people think of those two things; whether it's coffee or tea, and exercise."

The couple has owned Restored Motion Pilates & Yoga (just a few blocks from DUO) for five years, and recently outgrew the space. Last year, they hosted a pilates trip to Costa Rica, which doubled as a celebration for Karman finishing cancer treatment. "That trip changed probably both of our lives," says Marcus. "So we decided to merge both aspects of ourselves that we're most passionate about. Karman had spine surgery years ago, so she really got into pilates. And I travel a lot and I'm always in coffee shops."



The fitness studio will have six reformer machines, as well as classical and contemporary pilates and yoga, "so everyone can come and find a class that suits them," says Karman, who comes from a dance background. The light and airy space boasts 15-foot ceilings; the interior will be almost entirely white, with pops of soothing blue and lots of green, leafy plants. DUO is currently running a pre-opening special: Two weeks of unlimited yoga and mat pilates classes for $45, or unlimited reformer classes for $80.

As for the coffee? "We'll be using coffee by Tenfold [tenfoldcoffee.com]," says Marcus, who helped launch the Heights-area coffee biz, "and we'll be serving pastries, bowls and kombucha from Bayou City Bucha [bayoucitybucha.com], along with juices."

As they prepare to officially open their doors in a few weeks, the Lovelys want to familiarize Houstonians with their brand and what types of workouts to expect. They've been hosting pop-up classes at Buffalo Bayou Brewing Co. [buffbrew.com] on Sunday mornings at 10, and on Tuesday nights at sunset. "Come, bring a friend, and we'll have yoga and beer for you," says Karman.

Food
Exclusive Furniture’s Sam Zavary Credits Luck, Hard Work and ‘Mom’s Prayers’ for His Success

How did you get to where you are today? I am a firm believer that hard work and having dreams that you strive to achieve will motivate and inspire people to achieve their potential. Working hard, dreaming, and making sure to take advantage of every opportunity is something I learned at a young age. I credit God and God’s grace firstly, but I know that success is a direct result of hard work. I tell my podcast subscribers and followers to continue setting goals, evolving, improving, and planning, and I practice what I preach. I am proud to have started my business in the fastest growing major city in the United States, and I attribute a lot of the success of Exclusive Furniture to the family culture we create in the best city — Houston’s diversity, philanthropy, and innovation have helped me achieve a lot of the milestones in the furniture business (and the “low prices”) you see today!

Keep Reading Show less

HOLIDAY CHEER IS coming to Bandista, the Four Seasons hotel’s swanky speakeasy, in the form of a fun collab with Nashville bar Four Walls.

Keep Reading Show less
Food

You’ve eaten at Nancy’s Hustle, Tiny Champions, Better Luck Tomorrow, Milton’s and Lee’s Den. Now, you can explore the private warehouse of the design firm that created those spaces!

Keep Reading Show less