Blog - The Pilates Studio

New Class Series for 2020

OUR WINTER CLASS SERIES BEGIN SOON ...

Next Series Series Starts: January 9, 2020

Still Standing

Pilates for balance and fall prevention.

Over this six week series you will progressively challenge your balance & coordination, as well as strengthen & condition muscles that promote proper gait.

More Info

Our Winter Series start January 8th and February 26th

Pilates for Riders

Over the six week series you'll learn ways to improve posture in the saddle, strengthen legs & abdominals and increase hip mobility.

More Info

2 Series starting in January

Beginner Reformer

Your instructor will introduce you to all the parts and pieces of the Reformer and teach you exercises that will leave you completely confident to sign up for any of our regular weekly Reformer and/or Reformer/Tower classes.

more info

Our 4 week series starts 1/4/2020

Konnector Reformer

Bring your Reformer workout to the next level.
The Konnector utilizes a 1 rope pulley system that facilitates full-body integration and stronger core activation in dynamic new ways.

more info

“

I skied for the 1st time a few years ago. I was amazed with how great I did. I contribute doing pilates regularly to my success on the slopes!

Jennifer U.

“

Because I've been doing Pilates I'm now able to work in the ICU without tripping over tubes! My patients are safer because my balance is better.

Cindy B.

“

I had a private session today with Kristy. It was just what I needed! She introduced me to some new exercises in order to challenge me. She gave clear, helpful cues and pushed me to reach my full potential. Working with Kristy will definitely help to improve my performance and inner-confidence that I am doing each exercise correctly in order to achieve maximum benefits from my pilates practice.

Susan H.

Beginner Reformer Series

Does the idea of getting to the gym in the New Year leave you feeling.....bleh?

Us too.

That's why we want to ask you this question........

Are you ready to fall in love with your exercise?

2 Six Week Series start in early January.

We create and teach goal based classes that give you the workout you need,
to get the results you want,
doing exercise you love.

Important information about our software

For months we have been working very hard with our software vendor, Wellness Living. We have been letting them know of the problems that we have been having, and communicating all of our frustration on your behalf. Despite our sincere belief that the issues we have raised should be fixed by the vendor, we could not get them to agree.

Unfortunately, last week we came to the conclusion with the vendor that we cannot move forward together. While we hoped to work out a short-term agreement with them, the outcome is that we will be switching to a new system within a matter of weeks.

We realize the timing of this change is unfortunate, especially since we’ve recently been making a push for you to buy packages online. We can assure you, however, that we are working diligently to make the transition as smooth as possible for you and our dedicated staff. We will be sending out additional information with everything you need to know as we get closer to the transition.

What Happens Next?

We have determined that the Mindbody system has the right mix of features and ease of use for our client’ needs. Their strong industry reputation, their dedication to continuing to enhance their software over the past few years, and their experience working with larger studios like ours serves to reinforce that belief.

Mindbody is working with us to transfer all key data in Wellness Living to their system. This will make the transition as seamless as possible, since schedules, purchases, and bookings will be migrated automatically. For security reasons we cannot migrate credit card data. We will be closing our credit card processing account with Wellness Living and opening a new one with Mindbody. Your credit Card information will be reentered at your next transaction and we will work closely with you to make that process as simple as possible.

How Does This Effect Me Today?

For now there is nothing for you to do. For the next two weeks you will continue using Wellness Living as you have been. We will send further emails and post details of action steps that need to be taken in the future. We will also be available to show you everything you need to know about the new software when the time comes.

If you have any immediate questions or concerns, please direct them to Katrina. She will be will be handling all of your questions, which will allow Laurie and Mark to focus on the transition of our software system.

Plingo

You've just gotten into your fall routine. After a hectic summer you're back to your regular Pilates routine and you feel GREAT! It's amazing how tall and strong you feel when you do Pilates 3-4x a week.

But now the holidays. They come faster every year. There's 4pm darkness, holiday travel, school events, work parties, snowy weather..it goes on. Your Pilates routine slips.

We get it. That's why we play PLINGO in November!

All you need to do to play is get your Plingo card at the studio. Do what the card says (i.e take a mat class, do Pilates on a Monday, Try a new instructor, etc). Not only will you stay on track but you'll have a blast doing it. PLUS: You could win a $500 studio credit!

Click for more info.

Nate Olson Pilates Instructor

Nate Olson NCPT

Pilates Instructor

Book a ClASS

Nate Olson credits the Pilates method with reversing the ill effects of a sedentary lifestyle and helping him return to healthy movement and physical fitness.

As a Polestar certified Pilates instructor, he takes great satisfaction in guiding others along the same path towards health and wellbeing.

Nate calls himself an "all-around" runner who enjoys exploring different distances from sprints to the half marathon. Lower leg injuries in high school put him off running for many years, but he started running again as part of a "life reboot" coinciding with his introduction to Pilates.

He realized that healthy movement was a big part of what he was missing, and that the forward motion of running helped him in all aspects of my life. Feeling firsthand the changes that the Runity method produced in his running mechanics was what interested him to become a Runity coach.

The emphasis on helping runners of all ages and abilities is what he appreciates most about the Runity program. The relationship between Pilates and running has helped him better understand the biomechanics involved in running, and provided invaluable cross-training to improve flexibility, posture and body awareness.

Leave Nate a Review!

Click Here

“

I am so grateful that my dr. referred me to Katrina and the Pilates Studio. I have had 2 back surgeries and Katrina has been amazing at helping me to work through some fear and apprehension to gain strength again. I totally respect her expertise as she works with so many of us who have our own story working on our individual programs. I take her small group class and have met some great people who are part of the group as well! I have also taken classes with Nate and Kathy - both super! And Kay, another staff person, has been so supportive in understanding both the physical and emotional part of this recovery journey. Everyone is behind you and I'm feeling stronger every day! Thanks, Katrina (and all!)

Carmela P.

Melissa H.

Pilates has helped me stay injury free and has improved my running form so that I can be a more efficient and stronger runner. Nate has given me so many tools that I can take with me when I do independent sessions. His ability to analyze my running form and make small changes to my form has made a huge impact.

Carmela P.

Jennifer U.

Nate has great energy. He always incorporates participants requests and keeps class fresh by showing us new things and utilizing different props.

Kristy Powell Pilates Instructor

Kristy Powell

Pilates Instructor

Book a ClASS

Kristy is classically trained and comes to The Pilates Studio with over fifteen years of Pilates-teaching experience.

She began her instructor training while in her first year at the College of Charleston after returning from Budapest, Hungary, where she trained with the Hungarian National Ballet.

Kristy completed a rigorous two-year classical Pilates certification, rich in anatomy and bio-mechanical mindfulness, with Karen Sanzo of Pilates Unlimited in Dallas, Texas.

Kristy enjoys teaching a wide variety of bodies, abilities, and life stages, including persons with acute or chronic injury, various physical limitations, athletes, pre- and post-partum persons, those with specific physical goals in mind, and those with a simple desire to move mindfully and sweat.

Since becoming a certified Pilates instructor, Kristy has facilitated multiple full-apparatus and Mat instructor certification programs, educating classical Pilates instructors who now teach both regionally around the northeast and internationally. Additionally, Kristy created a Pilates curriculum for asthmatics in partnership with researchers from the Yale University School of Medicine. She developed the professional instructional video that was used as the primary intervention method in this study. Kristy has also pursued various opportunities for continuing education to deepen her specialization in pelvic-floor rehabilitation and the post-partum body.

Kristy approaches every Pilates session she teaches open and curious about how her clients will arrive, settle, and develop over the shared hour. She holds a profound reverence for both the space she shares with her clients and her clients’ dedication and commitment to their personal wellness. Kristy especially appreciates the therapeutic aspects of Pilates (she holds a Master of Counseling). She knows Pilates to be physically transformational through her own rehabilitation after an ankle injury ended her professional ballet career. Having been an instructor of Pilates ever since this injury (and a practitioner of Pilates since she was 13), Kristy intimately knows the ways in which Pilates meets a body where it is at, always providing room for growth, healing, and transformation.

Leave Kristy a Review!

Click Here

Susan D.

I loved the "more than just the core" reformer class. It is very similar to Kristy's standard reformer classes but she gives very detailed cue-ing around the extra core moves she introduces to the class. As with all of Kristy's classes, you are super clear about how to do each part of each move. Yes, it's intense, but let's get real: that's what you are signing up for!! A strong core!! When it's over, you feel tight as a drum and very proud. I'd recommend this class to anyone who enjoys Kristy's reformer classes, or if you are new to the studio, know that we had two new students the day I took the class and they did great!

The next day I felt great, like a car after a tuneup. That surprised me, because I've lifted weights with a trainer before where I couldn't lift my hands to wash my hair in the shower for the whole week following my workout. This isn't that.

Can't wait for next week!

Sarah H.

Kristy is a great addition to the studio. Though she's a new face here, she's clearly very experienced at practicing and teaching Pilates. She brings a great amount of knowledge and different perspective to her classes and private sessions. She's very friendly, enthusiastic, and supportive. Her classes and private sessions have given me lots of wonderful tips to take into every time I practice, highlighting the specifics of the breath, rhythm, and target area for every exercise. She always manages to fit a lot of movement of all different types into each session, and leave me feeling like I've had a wonderful workout.

Denise T.

Pilates has changed my life. Training with Kristy for 7 months has been great. She is extremely dedicated and I love “classical” Pilates. My balance has improved so much when walking and my body feels much stronger. Everyone should sign up for a session with Kristy. Thanks, Kristy

New Prices & Payment Policies

Hello and Happy Fall,

We hope that your fall is getting off to a great start! We have some important updates to share with you today, as we continue to make sure you have the best possible Pilates experience.

Update on Rates

Like all businesses, we periodically need to adjust our prices due to higher costs. Things like studio supplies, utilities, and rent have become more expensive over the past couple of years. In order to maintain a thriving studio with great classes, instructors, and equipment we need to raise our prices. New pricing will begin to go into effect on October 15th. The changes are detailed on our website (http://thepilatesstudioinhadley.com/2019priceincrease/) and we’ll also have information available in the studio.

To make this adjustment easier for you, we have decided that our prices will remain at the current rates until Jan. 1, 2020 when booking online or via the app. We have worked hard to make it easy and convenient for you to book sessions and classes as well as make payments online from your computer, tablet or phone and we want to encourage everyone to familiarize themselves with these tools! We have recorded very short tutorials that will help you step by step here.

There are a couple of other benefits of booking and paying online. First, it allows our instructors to spend more time focusing on the great Pilates work they do with you, rather than administrative tasks. It will also give you more control about when you want to pay for your upcoming visits. And you know that traffic jam at the front desk at the end of every hour? Well, we think that’ll go away, too, as more people take advantage of our online tools!!

To quickly recap the pricing changes:

When buying online, rates will increase on January 1, 2020. You will always receive a discount off the regular prices when you buy online.
When purchasing at the front desk, rates will increase on October 15, 2019.

Helpful information: http://thepilatesstudioinhadley.com/2019priceincrease/ And
https://thepilatesstudioinhadley.com/wltutorials/

Update on Payment Policy

We want our instructors to focus 99% of their time on serving you rather than on administrative tasks that take them away from caring for you. One area we’ve identified over time as a distraction from customer service is related to our payment policies. So we are making some changes to our payment policies to streamline our service to you.

Unpaid Visits: Unpaid visits will be now be charged as a single class/session. They cannot be included in a package. This policy change will be effective as of October 15, 2019.
1. For example, Jamie forgot her wallet and can’t pay for Tuesdays visit. When she comes next week she will need to pay full price for that class or session.
2. To help you keep track of when you need to renew a package, you will receive reminder emails when your package is running low, giving you plenty of time to keep your packages current. Notifications will be sent:
  1. When there is 1 class/session left, and
  2. When there are 0 classes/sessions left, and
  3. When the package is expiring in 60, 30 days and 10 days
We will now offer Auto-Renew for your purchases through the website and online app. This convenient feature sets packages to automatically renew when they expire or when all of the sessions/classes have been used up.
1. Auto renew requires a credit card be stored on the client’s account in our secure studio management software.
2. You have complete control to turn auto-renew off or on at anytime by updating a simple setting in your profile.
3. By using auto-renew you will always get the best discount on package prices.
4. If any of your packages are coming up on their expiration date (a year from purchase) you will be notified 3 times via email or text message, depending on what notification preferences you have set in your account.

Thank you so much for your continued support of The Pilates Studio! We love being able to serve you as you become stronger, more balanced, and healthier!! This community makes our job so fulfilling and delightful - we are forever grateful for you.

Thank you! Thank you!! Thank you!!!

Katrina and Laurie

PS: There will be no changes to our 10 20 30 Challenge for the time being. If you want the absolute best class rates and amazing results be sure to check it out here.

Taking the Plunge, Become a Pilates Teacher: Part 4

I met Emily as a sophomore in the Dance department at The University of Hartford. She was a bright and creative thinker, and I recognized someone as geeky as myself! Her questions were wonderful, and I had my eye on her. I knew she would be a perfect candidate for The Polestar Pilates Comprehensive series. I was excited by Emily’s curiosity and her unwillingness to accept a black and white version of events. I always knew from Emily I would also get asked, “What if?….”

Become a Pilates Instructor

Whenever I am asked a question by a Polestar Pilates Student students laugh at me because my answers always start with, “Well it depends…” or “Hmmm I could see that, but what if we thought of it from another viewpoint?” or “What would that change?” I love teaching the Polestar Pilates Comprehensive series because I am not teaching rules and recipes. I am teaching ideas and creating structures for cri

Become a Pilates Instructor

tical thinking. During the Polestar Pilates Series we are looking at the people in front of us and deciding what is best? as to opposed to what is right? When I met Emily, I knew that she had the reverence for thought that Polestar loves?

At Polestar there is structure, but malleable curious structure, imagine a playground with ideas, laughter, and fun. Imagine a creative look at Pilates so that its benefits can grow and thrive with every creative mind that finds it.

Emily’s energy to become a Pilates Instructor was that of an instant friend. She jumped into the material and the relationships at the studio that honored the play of movement. She laughed and inquired, created and analyzed, and completely grasped the spirit that is Polestar Pilates. She is now working and thriving in New York, spreading the information that can change people’s movement lives.

Taking the Plunge: Become a Pilates Instructor: Part 3

About last year at this time, I got a phone call from the Polestar Pilates Office. They were telling me about a student that wanted to join our current comprehensive series on the third weekend. One of the things I love about Polestar is the flexibility of the course. This student was going to join us on the third weekend and make up the first two weekends with another cohort. We understand at

Pilates with an ocean view

Akiko with Brent Anderson

Polestar that life doesn’t always allow for six weekends once a month consecutively. If you are a student that wants to learn from Polestar, we will do everything in our power to find a way, and that is how I met Akiko when she started to become a Pilates Instructor

Akiko is a scientist. She is a biologist at The University of Massachusetts who wanted to learn about movement. She always joked with me that it was so different to study movement because she usually spent her days looking in microscopes. But as with most Polestar Pilates Students as Akiko was becoming a Pilates Instructor it was fascinating to see how her background informed her teaching. Akiko has a spectacular attention to detail and minutia, she can see small things that can shift to make a huge change. And as always with the cohorts we were able to point out Akiko’s strengths so that others could learn from her.

Another fun fact…Akiko grew two inches during the Polestar Pilates comprehensive series. She came to us with a posture that fit the lifestyle of meticulous work studying the slides in a microscope, and through her steadfast practice and mastery of the Pilates Exercises her thoracic spine lengthened and her posture improved enough to make her primary care doctor ask, “What is it that you’re doing?”

The Polestar Pilates Comprehensive series changes people’s bodies. Because of our emphasis on self mastery and the body’s innate knowledge a lot of the learning in a Polestar Pilates Comprehensive training happens outside of the left brain and in the body. The intuition is honed, honored and nurtured. Akiko’s background in biology and her experience with increased thoracic mobility is going to make subconscious connections when she teaches. I couldn’t be more grateful that Akiko joined us last summer. And I can’t wait to see how her teaching develops.

Taking the Plunge: Becoming a Pilates Instructor, Part 2

Wow! Thinking about how I met Lauren…It must have been about 14 years ago, long before she started the journey to become a Pilates Instructor. She came to The Pilates Studio as an ultimate frisbee player with a knee injury, or was it an ankle injury? I actually can’t remember. All I remember is her amazing joy, spirit, and wisdom. We worked through a couple of injuries. I watched her play ultimate in one game, and wow that was awesome. To see the work that these young women did during this game was inspirational. The speed and agility required to make the fast weight shifts and the ability to leap land and throw within just a few seconds was all around me.

During Lauren’s senior year in high school she was even an intern at The Pilates Studio. She would come during the last period of the school day and help us out as well as work on her own. We had so much fun joking around and playing. Lauren at a very young age knew how to play. She left us to go to complete her undergrad at the University of Vermont, and I saw her off and on during school breaks and of course I heard how she was doing from her mom who kept me posted.

Then a few years later, I found out that I was to teach the Polestar Pilates Comprehensive series in Burlington. I immediately called Lauren, who I knew was just finishing her undergrad and wanted to go to graduate school to become a Physical Therapist. I knew then that she would be a perfect candidate for the Polestar Pilates Teacher Training. I couldn’t wait to get her registered.

And Wow was I right! Lauren was awesome during the course. She completed the course with her peers, and then moved to Denver where I was able to introduce her to another Polestar Pilates Educator so that she could prepare for her exam. She came back after a year in Denver and I couldn’t believe the change, and I was so impressed with her integration of the material. She told me about how she problem solved during her own recovery from another ultimate frisbee injury (yes she is still playing and traveling everywhere to play.)

The last part of her journey to become a Pilates Instructor is sitting for the Polestar Pilates Comprehensive Exam. She took the written exam, and then taught two full sessions in front of an examiner followed by a two hour circuit where she completed all of the advanced exercises for feedback. She was more than ready, passed with flying colors. I can’t wait to watch her succeed. and to follow her long amazing career to come.

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