The Refinery Pilates Studio, located in Riverside, has become a growing part of the local fitness community since opening in August 2025. The studio offers a variety of fitness classes, including hot Pilates, traditional mat Pilates, sculpt and more.
Bella Luna, owner and founder of The Refinery, has lived in Riverside her entire life. After graduating from college in 2024, Luna began working in real estate before realizing she wanted to pursue a different path.
Her experience with Pilates in college and longtime interest in fitness eventually inspired her to open a studio of her own.
“I wanted to create a space where people could meet, connect, have fun, and do something they genuinely loved,” Luna said.
Building the studio came with challenges, but Luna has watched relationships develop among the people who walk through its doors. Community has remained an important part of The Refinery since its opening.
“What truly sets The Refinery apart from other studios is our sense of community. We want it to feel like a place where people can connect, not just come in for a workout,” Luna said.
That focus has extended beyond the studio through events involving the wider Riverside community. In July, The Refinery hosted its first Refinery Invitational Charity Golf Tournament, bringing together golfers, sponsors, volunteers and local businesses while supporting the CHP 840 Squad Club and the Riverside Police Department Nonprofit Foundation.
The relationships formed through The Refinery can be seen among its staff as well.
Mackenzie Hopkins, instructor at The Refinery, reflected on the people who have shaped her experience there.
“There’s a quote that says, ‘I don’t have a favorite place, I have favorite people,’ and that’s exactly how I feel about The Refinery and everyone who works and works out here,” Hopkins said. “The Refinery stays true to its authentic identity, choosing innovation over imitation while continually creating new resources for people striving to become the healthiest version of themselves.”
The studio’s reach has extended to members of the CBU community as well.
Kataleyna Prieto, senior nursing major, reflected on her first impressions of The Refinery.
“I loved the whole vibe of the studio. Everything was very clean and it was so good to see a studio where I felt comfortable in to open up nearby,” Prieto said.
Since opening just over a year ago, The Refinery has grown into more than a place to work out. The studio’s presence in Riverside shows how a local idea can develop into a space where people build relationships, support the community and pursue fitness together.
That impact was recognized on Oct. 6 during a Riverside City Council meeting, where The Refinery received the Riverside Prospers Success Recognition Award. The recognition marked another milestone for a business that began with Luna’s desire to create a place where people could connect and has since become part of the wider Riverside community.
