If your spine is inflexibly stiff at 30, you are old. If it is completely flexible at 60, you are young.”
– Joseph Pilates
Pilates, originally called Contrology, was developed by Joseph Pilates in the early 20th century. As a child, he suffered from asthma, rickets and other ailments. This made him turn to exercises and fitness. No one could have imagined that once a sickly kid would become an avid skier, diver, gymnast, and boxer. He studied many forms of exercise and was influenced by the Greek ideal of balance of mind, body and spirit. He developed and refined his method for four years while being held at Knockaloe internment camp in 1912 by the British during World War I due to his German citizenship. He claimed that all of his trainees survived an influenza epidemic in England in 1918 and owed this to his exercise system.
In 1926, Joseph came to the USA. He, along with his wife Clara, ran ‘Studio for Body Contrology’ on 8th Ave in New York City for nearly 50 years. The studio attracted all kinds of celebrities – dancers, actors, opera singers, boxers, Olympic athletes. In 1967, Clara took over after his death at the age of 83. After she passed away, her long-time student, Romana Kryzanowska continued the legacy.
Many of his students opened their studios and many of them brought various additions to the original system. The original six principles were concentration, control, center, flow, precision, and breathing. With newer perspectives and practices, three more were added to the list–postural alignment, stamina and relaxation.
Pilates was once considered the workout for elites. However, it entered the mainstream in the 80s and has been going strong since then.
Pilates is still considered “for women” by many men who think if they go for anything other than the gym, their masculinity might come under scrutiny. Well, you are missing so much! It is a full-body workout. It won’t give you a bulky body but a more athletic, lean and toned look. It strengthens your muscles, builds your core strength, improves flexibility, posture and blood circulation, reduces the risk of injuries and assists with the healing, promotes better spinal health, prevents lower back pain and boosts your energy. Pilates gives your body a long and lean shape and is very adaptable to your body needs. It helps create a body-mind relationship hence boosting your mental wellness along with physical health.
Thinking of giving it a try? Ask for some pie, latte while we list down the best Pilates studios in your neighborhood.
Brooklyn Pilates Project
43 9th St, Brooklyn
Brooklyn Pilates Project is an intimate, appointment-based, Classical Pilates studio located in the heart of Gowanus. Sessions are driven by each individual’s personal needs, postural alignment, fitness goals, as well as the mechanical, habitual and injury-related challenges. It offers you private and semi-private sessions. Equipment includes Reformer, Tower Unit, Mat and Chair, Barrels and various small props.
Private session price ranges from $90 (single class), $850 (10 classes), $2400 (30 classes). Semi-private sessions are $65, $600, $1650 respectively. Tower Classes, that utilize the Tower and the Mat, are offered twice weekly, Tuesday and Wednesday morning at 9 am.
It also offers ‘Pilates for The Four Trimesters’ – a unique, customized wellness program to support moms-to-be through the pregnancy and postpartum period. Prior reservation required.
Kara Fitzpatrick, the owner, specializes in injury-related challenges and has a particular interest in supporting women through pregnancy and the postpartum period.
Pilates Garage
441 3rd Ave, Brooklyn
Located on the border of Park Slope and Gowanus, Pilates Garage sets a relaxed tone to your work-out under the guidance of fully-certified instructors. They offer Pilates for all ages- kids, teens, seniors and even moms-to-be. The teachers are primed to make the Pilates method useful for any age and state of fitness or wellness. They use the principles from Alexander technique as well. They also have a physical therapist in-residence two days at the studio who teaches Feldenkrais technique for healing and often hosts workshops for the public. The class size is 8 people. You can sign up on the website.
New joiners can avail intro package of 3 Pilates lessons for $210. You can follow them on Instagram where they will soon be announcing their holiday special offers.
They listen to clients’ needs and adapt their skills to create a workout that allows each person to find more strength and ease.
Align Brooklyn
579 5th Ave 2nd floor, Brooklyn
A vibrant, cozy place welcomes you on 5th Avenue with a wide range of wellness offerings. Pilates and Pilates-inspired classes include Align Core, Align Fusion, Align Define. All the teachers are highly skilled to modify your regime according to your injury or needs. They also offer Pilates for and after pregnancy. They are committed to providing balanced, science-based and functional wellness programs.
Align is owned by a chiropractor who is a specialist in posture, myofascial therapy, exercise rehab and movement and hence the clients get the highest quality fitness.
They offer both private and group sessions with the apparatus. A new student one-week unlimited trial membership is for just $35. They also giveaway a monthly Unlimited Wellness Membership, you can fill the application on their website.
Club Pilates
336, Flatbush Ave, Brooklyn
A newbie in town, Club Pilates is a contemporary Reformer Pilates studio with the belief that “Every Body needs Pilates!”. They mix core Pilates methodology with non-traditional Pilates equipment to offer variety and to progress movement patterns.
Single Classes are $35. Their signature class is the Reformer Flow class. They currently offer 3 levels of intensity (1, 1.5, 2) and will probably add a 4th level soon, as the members are getting stronger! They have 6 additional fusion classes. These range from something more restorative, like Center & Balance class, or more high intensity like Cardio Sculpt class! Free 30 min intro classes are run weekly on Fridays at 10:30 am and Saturdays at 2 pm for folks who are brand new to the practice and need some extra support in getting started. They are bringing equipment based Pilates to the masses in a more affordable and group-oriented way.
Bend and Bloom Yoga
708, Sackett Street, Brooklyn
If you are looking for something that combines the wisdom of yoga with principles of core Pilates, Bend and Bloom Yoga is the place to go. They offer a Ground-control class that has exercises specifically designed with yogis and athletes in mind to train the body for deep and balanced strength, the optimal range of motion, injury prevention and recovery. Core Yoga Foundations class is yoga-based with an emphasis on core activation and integration.
New Students can avail 3 classes for $30 (validity for 30 days). Returning students may drop-in at $20 per class or purchase a class package at a discounted rate. Unlimited memberships are $135 per month.
Bend & Bloom offers a mindful approach to core integration. They support social action organizations and are eco-conscious. The studio is made with eco-friendly products and utilizes energy-efficient stuff.
BodyTonic Pilates Gym
150 5th Ave, Brooklyn
BodyTonic just celebrated its 20th anniversary; that’s how long they’ve been creating stronger core! Jennifer DeLuca, the owner, was trained by a student of Joseph Pilates. She has trained several teachers here and is associated with SC Gjoa Youth Soccer designing Injury Prevention and Recovery Program. You can listen to her podcast called BodyTonic Radio on SoundCloud.
They have been featured in NY Times, The Washington Post, Time Out New York, Body+ (Japan), Glamour and others.
Gratz equipment, the original Pilates apparatus and Reformer Tower Chair classes are two unique offerings of this studio. They offer private, semi-private Pilates and group (5-7 people) Pilates training. The cost of 3 group classes is $75. There are monthly membership plans which give clients discounted group classes, a discounted monthly private “tune-up” and discounts of clothing in their small boutique. The detailed rate card is there on the website. They are also offering the New York Classical Pilates
Teacher Training Program beginning in January 2020.
Body Craft Pilates
376 9th Street, Brooklyn
An innovative and holistic studio, Body Craft studio has been here for over 20 years under the experienced eye of the owner, Lana Halvorsen. They combine a “light touch” technique with the Pilates repertoire. This “light touch” technique has been inspired by myofascial and cranial sacral principles. Keen attention to detail as well as understanding clients’ requirements is their first priority. They also offer services in Massage, Heller Work, Brennan Energy Science as well as have a physical therapist working on-site who specializes in pelvic floor issues.
Private sessions range from $90 – $115. Group classes consist of 5 people or less and cost $30-$32 per class. Their upcoming workshops include ‘Self-Healing with Light Touch’ and ‘Embodied Pelvic Floor’ for self-care and healing.
No more excuses. Put your Pilates pants and get going! Gift yourself a wellness routine this festive season.
Art by Heather Heckel
Heather Heckel is an artist and educator living in New York City. In addition to the Park Slope Reader, her clients include Whole Foods Market, Kids Footlocker, Juice Pharma Worldwide, and The Renwick Hotel. Her artwork and children’s book has won international awards, and she has been published numerous times in the 3×3 Professional Illustration Magazine. Recently she has completed artist-in-residencies through the National Park Service in Arkansas, Connecticut, Washington, and California. Heather is passionate about social and environmental justice, and is an advocate for human rights and animal rights.
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Swati Singh
Swati Singh writes on spirituality that is interspersed in every element around us. She has written for many magazines and e-zines such Science of Mind, New York Spirit, Saves Wildlife, Prana World, Mind Body Green, and more. When she is not busy finding nothingness, she is here - swati2610.wordpress.com, and her social media above.