Harmony Pilates — Local services in Honolulu

To begin with I’d like to say that I’m an active person who mostly spends her time outdoors as a way to stay in shape and enjoy this beautiful island we live on. Occasionally I implement some yoga and other activities as a cross training. I’ve taken a few Pilates classes here and there, but it’s been years since I practiced on reformers. This week I decided to take a Pilates class and see if I like it enough to commit to it and buy a class pack. Unfortunately after visiting this studio and taken a late morning class, I won’t be coming back. Here’s a few things that went great: -easy free parking at Manoa marketplace -online sign-up and prepay for class However so many things were just confusing for me and I left feeling out of place as a beginner. Such things are: no guest/first time practitioner greeting or even a tour of the studio. Fill out your release form and you’re good to go. Receptionist was busy trying to solve other person’s issues and seem to show no interest in helping me get situated for a class i.e I didn’t know I needed pair of socks until instructor asked me. Thankfully I’ve had a pair in my bag. instructor won’t come up to you to help you with reformer if you’re struggling, even after you say that. I’m not sure if that’s a Covid protocol or just inattentive instructor who was busy with her own practice vs. helping out a beginner. The class is small though only 4 people allowed why not give at least a thorough verbal instructions regarding unfamiliar equipment or just to adjust for you 🤷‍♀️ I wish there was more core work and moved done on the reformer, that’s what I’m here for. The class felt more yoga like with lots of stretches which I can do at home and no need to pay for class with an equipment. after I prepaid there was no follow up email to tell you how to prepare for class: what to wear as far as dress code and new Covid protocol which felt very disorganized and unprofessional considering they charge a lot for their classes. there’s no formal check in area, so people who arrive for PT and Pilates classes take place at the same room. I believe it interrupts the flow of the class and very distracting in general. I love supporting small local businesses, but not when their service is clearly subpar and leaves you feeling disappointed. I hope my constructive feedback can create some changes for this business located in such...

I have enjoyed going to Harmony Pilates in Manoa Mkt. Place over the last two years, and particularly enjoy my classes with Samantha. She is very knowledgeable about the human body and pilates , and I notice that she is aware of and pays close attention to everyones challenges, even in a big class.

Recently I had a Total Knee Replacement, and was progressing quite well in the first 3 months post-op with PT and Pilates, building back strength in my leg muscles. All the sudden I had 7 days of very painful Sciatic nerve pain running the whole length of my leg. I could not sleep and was unable to do my PT exercises during the day, due to pain. I was drained mentally and physically and was very worried that I was going backward in my recovery.

I decided to schedule a private session with Samantha. She listened very carefully to what I had been experiencing and thought through what exercises would be most helpful, as we went through the session. As always, she was very kind and patient with me as we worked together. At about 30 minutes, I experienced a tingling or buzzing feeling starting in my hip and running down to my ankle, the whole length of the nerve. It was like someone had turned on a light switch and the energy had been turned on in my body! The feeling continued for about 1 1/2 hours while the nerve recovered and relaxed. She continued to work on other problem areas in my hip, but I was having trouble concentrating because I couldn't stop smiling I was so happy! It was like all the sudden my right and left side of my body were communicating and working together as one again.

It has been three days now and I have cut down to barely any pain meds and I am once again mentally and physically motivated to face the long recovery of the surgery.

I am a nurse so I am very impressed by Sam's expertise as a pilates instructor to help me in this way. You're the best Sam!

Thank...

I left this studio for good after receiving a refund for classes I hadn't used yet. I drove all the way from Hawaii Kai to attend class only to be sent back home because I forgot to bring pilates socks. No instructor in my history of years of attendence at this studio or any other studio has ever made such a big deal about socks due to supposed "liability issues." The owner, Frank, didn't have any to sell or use incase something like this happens at the studio either. He was supposed to instruct the class that day. I was the only student scheduled. I told him I had regular socks in my car, offered to get them, but then he looked at the clock which was 7 minutes past start time due to his ridiculous sock lecture and proceeded to inform me that classes are 50 minutes and now it is too late to start. He could have easily made some minor modifications to his class to make it so he could teach the class in a way that didn't require pilates socks or to where regular socks could be used so I could attend because I drove all that way, in traffic, to attend class. No. Unfortunately, he boldly and arrogantly agreed to lose a customer permanently because of his inflexible "rules". His blatently poor customer service along with his rigid/rude personality clearly explain why there was no other student scheduled for that class besides me. Do yourself a favor and go somewhere where the owner actually values his students and is willing to make minor accommodations to retain clients and keep them attending. Pilates can most definately be and usually is taught without grip socks. Human feet are perfectly capable of gripping the equipment just fine without socks. The equipment is designed that way. I have been practicing pilates for years. This was an obvious power struggle,...