To everyone at In & Up Pilates

Many, many thanks for making me stronger, healthier and more fit than I ever thought I could be.

I started coming to In & Up Pilates about two years ago. I’d injured my lower back and my doctor suggested Pilates as a way to prevent injuries in the future. I have to say, I was skeptical. I was still in a lot of pain from my injury, and I’d never been one to do much exercising. I really couldn’t imagine how an exercise class was going to do anything to help my back pain. Pilates — and In & Up Pilates in particular — helped me more than I could have imagined.

I started with the three-class private intro series with Stephanie, the studio’s owner. She began teaching me the basics of Pilates, tailoring my classes to take into account my injury and fitness level. I realized pretty quickly that Pilates wasn’t like any other exercise program. You really have to think about what you’re doing, which keeps the workouts interesting and allows you to use the basic principles of Pilates even after you leave class. For me, the focus at the beginning was how a strong core can alleviate back pain and prevent future injuries. After my intro series, Stephanie directed me to another instructor at the studio, Dara, for more private lessons. Dara picked right up where Stephanie left off and worked with me twice a week — well, I was doing a lot of the working, because Pilates is an amazing workout! After a few months, I noticed that for the first time in at least a year, my back pain was really under control. Then I started noticing some other things — muscles! As I approached my 40th birthday, I had better muscle tone and was in better shape than I’d ever been.

Now I’m a regular at the studio, and Pilates is an important part of my life. Two or three days a week, I come to the studio to see Dara, Ana or Stephanie for a challenging, interesting workout that’s full of variety. Plus, the body awareness and strength I’ve gained in Pilates carries over into the rest of my life. I’m more motivated to go to the gym and I get more out of my workouts there. My posture has improved. Pilates has even made me a better skier.

One of the best things about Pilates is that you never really learn everything; you can always progress to another level with new exercises and variations in class and special workshops at the studio. I’m really looking forward to learning more at In & Up Pilates. Thanks again!

— Deborah