In Balance Pilates Central — Attraction in Tucson

I've been going to this studio regularly for 9 years. One on the classes they offer is Active Aging. Usually, this works great for me, as I am over 71. Aimee took over the class recently at the Central location on Thursdays. Today in class approximately half the class was on the mat. I perceive this as a rip off. If I want a mat class, I can get it on line for much less money. I pay to use the reformer, so use the reformer! The mix of exercises with Aimee was heavily slanted toward the lower body, with 6 sets of squats! Anything over 3 sets of any exercise is too much and makes the class repetitive and boring. There was very little focus on upper body strength, which is what I really need. It feels like there is very little empathy or understanding of what aging adults need from an exercise class. Every class we are berated to leave a google review. This really gets old. There is also a lot of regular encouragement to buy their merchandise, which is annoying. I don't go there to get commercials for their product or provide free advertising via their logo or through reviews. Natalie conducts the Active Aging class on Sundays. She offers a much more balanced approach to the exercises. Her sense of humor and encouragement make the class pleasant, yet you get a good workout. Her music is the best of any of the instructors as she directs it to the appropriate age group. We are old, we don't want to hear electronica, Finally, the music Aimee provides is terrible with new covers of oldies with a heavy electronic drum beat. It takes all my willpower to not run out the door screaming. I would much prefer to listen to the originals. What's wrong with Motown or 70s acoustic? Suzanne, the previous instructor had much better music, which made the whole class a much more pleasant experience for me. I hope Suzanne comes back soon. I keep going back, hoping things will change. The studio is very clean, but they use the cheapest toilet paper that ever came...

Suzan’s active aging class is one of my favorites. Highly recommend.

Updated review. This studio is no longer a good match for me. I am a senior who has been doing mat and reform pilates for about 15 years. I particularly like reformer Pilates, and the classes offered at In Balance met my needs for many years. However things have changed. All but one of my favourite instructors have left the studio. My earlier review was of Suzan’s Active Aging class, and she too recently left the studio. In my opinion, there is only one instructor (Natalie) remaining who understands the limitations of older bodies and she teaches only one class a week at In Balance’s Central location.

My major complaint about this studio is with its management, which is the principal reason for my one star review. The few times I have made a suggestion or raised an issue with them, I have been belittled. For this reason as well as the lack of suitable classes for me, I have cancelled my membership. It is unfortunate because reformer Pilates is a great, low impact exercise program for Seniors. I will look elsewhere for an option that meets my needs and treats me with respect.

Addendum: Had I not already canceled my membership, the tipping point for me would have been management’s response to De Ann’s recent review. She had issues with the way Suzan’s replacement conducted the Active Aging class — issues I shared and because of which after attending that class once I never went back. After just about every class, the instructors ask us to leave reviews, which De Ann did. But rather than addressing the issues with the instructor and trying to make the class more suitable to the needs of Seniors, management cancelled De...

In-Balance is a perfect option for someone who is unfamiliar with reformer Pilates as they allow you to do a free 30-minute session so that you can see what it is like before making a commitment to something you've never tried.

I worked with Bruce, who was friendly and very knowledgeable and has been a trainer for years. The studio was very chic and clean. The reformers are wiped down after each session and the entire studio and the reformers are cleaned regularly. There were pictures of nature in the ceiling for you to look at while on the reformers, which was a nice touch.

I had heard of Pilates with a transformer from a personal trainer who thought that it would be beneficial to me, as I have fibromyalgia and am always in pain, especially if I don't exercise. However, I need to be careful with exercising because if I hurt myself too bad, it may never heal. Stretching and doing something more lightweight like Pilates, is going to be a lot safer for me and will help me feel a lot healthier in the long run.

After just one session with Bruce, I noticed that I was subconsciously correcting my posture and my stance. Thankfully, the packages that In-balance offers makes working with reformers much more feasible than most places, especially as a student, like I am! I plan on making...