Abena Pilates — Local services in New York

If you're scrolling through a sea of Pilates instructors and wondering who to choose, let me save you some time: pick Abena. Here's why:

As a guy who stumbled into Pilates a few years ago, thinking it was just a series of stretches, I have learned that Pilates is a transformation. "The more you put in, the more you get back” kind of thing. You will learn patience, commitment, and willingness to push a little harder each time. If this sounds New Age-y, let me tell you I’m anything but, quite the opposite.

Pilates with Abena is more a marathon than a sprint. The long-term rewards are monumental. You may not notice them in a day or a week, but over a few months, you'll be a different person. Even, or especially, on days when I’m tired and barely find the motivation to go, I always end up refreshed and energized.

About Abena herself. She's not just an instructor who follows a bunch of pre-defined routines. She knows how to read the room — or, in this case, the person — and has an uncanny ability to adapt your training to exactly where you are at that moment, always nudging you to the edge of your limit but never over. This perfect blend of challenge and understanding makes every session with her a unique experience.

So, if you're ready to embark on a Pilates journey that will challenge, change, and ultimately reward you, Abena's your go-to. Trust me, your future self...

Abena is the best hands down. I started going to Abena about 6 months ago because I wanted to incorporate exercise into my routine. I’ve never been motivated to exercise and that has now completely changed. Abena has an innate ability to motivate and now not only do I look forward to exercising but I want to try to impress her in all of my sessions. She definitely challenges me – and I have never felt better or been in better shape! I’ve truly noticed a transformation.

What is great is I truly believe Abena goes above and beyond. She takes the time to get to know me, my abilities and understand key areas to work on and/or improve. She also understands my hectic life. I travel constantly for work and she will often take time after a session to explain various exercises I can do on my own while I am travelling to ensure that I am keeping up with the routine! She has even videoed and sent me pictures to make sure I am doing the exercises correctly. Plus, she has even put me in touch with trainers in cities I visit often.

Fabulous person, beautiful studio and someone who is not just a trainer – she loves every aspect of her job and the people she trains. Her enthusiasm is infectious. Can I...

Abena is the best Pilates instructor I've ever had (and I've had many!). She is dedicated to her craft and is an expert in Pilates. I just finished my 7th session with Abena today and my practice has improved significantly! I am so glad I found Abena and I plan on continuing to work with her to improve my practice and she is so lovely to work with. She pays careful attention to your needs and the limitations of your body. I mean, I must have went through about 10 different instructors, but Abena was the first (and only) instructor who could point out why I was having the type of problems with my body (aches in neck and back, tightness of muscles, etc) and how to work on them!

The studio is also lovely and clean. Schedule a session at Abena Pilates and you will be...