Poway Pilates — Local services in Poway

Poway Pilates has gone downhill considerably since I started coming 2+ years ago. You will notice most of the reviews are from several years ago when the studio was under different management, and had different instructors. Almost all of the good instructors have left, one by one. The instructor who teaches the majority of classes at this point has no business in a pilates studio. She puts the students at risk of injury with very non-traditional exercises in contorted positions that are far beyond the skill level of the class. Any competent pilates instructor would tell you if you are not strong enough and flexible enough to do an exercise properly, the wrong muscles take over, and thats how injuries happen. I tried to speak to the owner about this several times, and she was not interested. The final straw was while in a class I asked the owner to look at the students struggling with an exercise, as the instructor was laying down on a reformer and not observing students (as she always is, she is never looking out to see if students are able to do the exercises she is instructing), and the owner agreed with me. The instructor then yelled at me, in front of the entire class that “I teach the way I want to teach, and if you dont like it you can leave”. So thats exactly what I did. I had been a member for two plus years, and am just trying to keep myself from injured. They dont care, and the quality of the teachers...

Poway Pilates really changed things for me. I was never a big exerciser, except for long walks, and I never liked ‘classes’. I started there overweight, older (50’s+), uncoordinated and inflexible. After every class I finished, I would be so proud that I got through it because I was so unsure of myself. The teaching here is solid and encouraging. The instructors tailor the class to the needs of those in the room. Students are usually given ways to make a movement easier or harder, putting you in control of what your body is doing that day. For example, if you have a knee problem, they give you alternative position to work the muscle. I have been attending classes here since early 2019, and I have particularly loved Sarah and Angela as instructors. (I am baffled by what another reviewer said about teacher turnover. I have been with the same instructors for the last four years). Now, I actually look forward to attending class! I feel a real kinship with all the people who attend the class. I love being in class with a huge diversity in ages - routinely individuals from 25 to 78! POWAY...

I look forward to going to classes at Poway Pilates. The owner Jennifer, Sarah and Ty are so friendly and make it 'fun to exercise' knowing you're getting a great overall workout using reformers. It's a small, clean intimate studio with lots of classes and times to chose from.They make sure exercises are done safely and will kindly help you adjust exercises to your ability level, which is important to me having had hip replacement surgery in the past and knee surgery too. There are other studios closer to where I live, but they're not as nice or as friendly. Although going to Poway Pilates is a little out of my way, is well worth the drive. I would HIGHLY recommend this...