09/21/09

pilates at its best

by Elizabeth Halifax

knowledgable, attentive and experienced trainers.

After a one hour session you come away feeling envigorated, and ready to face the world!

• Pros: great space, central location.
• Cons: Parking!

08/17/09

A studio that lives up to its name

by MarieS

I have been going to the Body Gallery regularly since October 2007. It is a quiet, serene and cozy studio. The place lives up to its name “The art of Personalized Pilates”. My trainer, Jody, designs each session depending on how my body feels. Some days, I am stiffer (arthritis) and we do more stretching, some days I feel great and she works me out! I always feel like I am her only client, that’s how focused on me she is. As a result of my weekly visits, my body is much stronger, more flexible and looks a lot better. My arms and legs have long, strong muscles, my abs are finally getting strong! I have never liked exercise and now, I cannot live without my Pilates session. I joke that I feel just as good after Pilates than I do after a massage! I highly recommend the Body Gallery to anyone looking for personalized training.

• Pros: Personalized training
• Cons: parking can be difficult

08/14/09

One of the best...and I should know

by pisonof

I've studied Pilates for 11 years and have had more than 18 instructors in the US, Canada and France, so I know what makes a great teacher. Cassidy Moore, owner of the Body Gallery and my current instructor since December 2008, is one of the very few outstanding teachers I have had the pleasure to work with. Cassidy takes her work seriously. I am interested in the nuances of the Pilates method, not a mindless workout, and she provides the rigor that I require. She is the only teacher I've studied with who methodically builds a session to culminate in an advanced or super-advanced Pilates exercise. She does this by having me perform exercises during the hour that are components of, and lead up to, the "big one". When it is time to perform the advanced move, I understand it in my body and am able to perform with grace, control, and precision.

This is the quietest studio I have ever worked out in: there is always jazz, classical or other lovely music in the background, paintings or drawings from up and coming artists on the walls and sunlight streaming in through the curtains. Since there is at most one other trainer working with a client at the same time, one can really concentrate on the work at hand. It is a wonderful space made even more special by the quality of the instruction -- the studio really lives up to its title: The Art of Personalize Pilates.

• Pros: personalized attention; attention to detail; tranquil space
• Cons: absolutely none