Introductory Package
3 Private Sessions for $250!
Our Introductory Package is designed to give you a feel for the Pilates method, help you discover your comfortable exercise schedule and budget, and get to know Pacific Coast Pilates.
Live Longer, Happier and Healthier
Pacific Coast Pilates, It’s a way of life!
Pilates (pi-LAH-teez) is a form of body conditioning developed by Joseph H. Pilates in the early 20th century.
The method encompasses more than 500 exercises that simultaneously stretch and strengthen muscles. Pilates is based on the principle that before working the peripheral parts of the body, the core needs to be strong and stable. In fact, stabilization is the first of six Principles of Pilates that also include control, concentration, flow, breath and precision.
With these principles in mind, Pilates focuses primarily on the ‘Powerhouse,’ or deepest abdominal muscles, and works the rest of the body from this core connection. Through regular sessions on both the mat and specialized Pilates apparatus, clients seek to develop an equal balance between abdominal and lower back musculature to improve strength, stretch, stamina and stability. Over time, this approach creates a strong foundation from which one can achieve new heights of physical fitness and control, as well as emotional well-being and balance. In this way, the Promise of Pilates can become your reality.
The Promise of Pilates
Pilates is intelligent, functional exercise for optimal, lifelong well-being. With a strong commitment and consistent practice two to three times a week, you may find Pilates to be the anti-aging ‘drug’ you’ve been looking for. If you open yourself to becoming a true student of the technique, the promise of Pilates can become your reality.
The Pilates Body
- The Four S’s – Strength, Stretch, Stamina & Stability
- Improved posture and flexibility
- A leaner, more toned body
- Stronger, longer muscles without bulk
- Abdominal muscles that draw in and up, rather than protrude
- Greater energy and vigor
- Better balance and coordination
- Riddance of compensatory weaknesses that contribute to chronic injuries
The Pilates Mind
- Enhanced self-awareness and self-confidence
- An invigoration of mind and elevation of spirit
- A feeling of being more ‘centered’
- A sense of rejuvenation
- Improved concentration and focus
- Increased mind/body awareness and connection
Pilates is based on the principle that before working the peripheral parts of the body, the core needs to be strong and stable. Pilates seeks to develop an equal balance of abdominal and lower back musculature in order to build strength, agility and muscle tone in a balanced way. Each Pilates exercise is a lesson in opposition. Movement in one direction is lengthened and controlled into the next, while oppositional muscles stabilize. This allows Pilates to lengthen and strengthen muscles simultaneously, helping to create an energized, pain-free, flexible and strong body.
Mental focus and concentration during Pilates is as important as the physical discipline. When clients learn to fully concentrate while executing each exercise with precision and control, the body will improve dramatically. Pilates is as much for the mind as it is for the body.
More About Pilates
The primary pieces of Pilates apparatus are:
- Reformer
- Cadillac (i.e. Trap Table)
- Wall Unit (i.e. Tower)
- High Chair
- Wunda Chair
- Small Barrel
- Spine Corrector
- Ladder Barrel
- Ped-o-Pull
- Magic Circle
The origins of the Pilates apparatus can be traced back to England during WWI when Joseph Pilates was rehabilitating wounded soldiers. He began experimenting with springs attached to hospital beds and the first piece of Pilates apparatus – today known as the Cadillac – was born. Patients were able to perform resistance exercises while still bed-ridden and Pilates discovered that this speeded their recovery.
Later on Joe worked as a circus artist where he got his initial idea for the Wunda Chair, which he later went on to develop into a true home Reformer. He was apparently very resourceful in finding his building material; it is said that he constructed his first Barrel from half a beer keg, with the steel hoops of the keg becoming the original Magic Circle.
After moving to the U.S., Joe established a little workshop underneath his original New York studio on 8th Avenue at 56th Street. Here he enthusiastically worked on creating additional Pilates apparatus. Throughout his lifetime, he and his brother Fred continued to develop and create new pieces of exercise apparatus, as well as fine-tune their inventions.
The power of utilizing the Pilates apparatus lies in its ability to provide mechanical advantage. Imagine, if you will, putting a screw into a wall using just your fingers. Now imagine putting that same screw into a wall using a screwdriver. This is mechanical advantage. The assistance or resistance that the Pilates apparatus provides allows us to work the body in a range of motion that we otherwise could not effectively or safely maintain. A Pilates workout utilizing all the apparatus is the path that leads to the greatest results.
Joseph Pilates was born in a small town near Dusseldorf, Germany in 1880, he was a small and sickly child. Joe was given an anatomy book by a family physician and began his study of the human body at an early age. Using movement of his own body to learn and memorize every page of the book, by 14 he was modeling for anatomy books himself. The son of a gymnast father and naturopath mother, Joe later became a skilled boxer, gymnast, circus performer, skier and diver; he also practiced yoga and Zen meditation. Through his own physical transformation, Joe came to realize the simple truth and Power Pilates motto: Movement heals. While in England when WWI broke out, Joe was interned in a camp for German nationals. This is where he began to develop his system of original exercises that he later called 'Contrology.' He taught wrestling and self-defense to other interns, and also worked with the incarcerated and the diseased. Creating exercise and rehabilitation apparatus to provide resistance training, the men Joe worked with were the strongest and healthiest in the camp. Returning to Germany after the war ended, Joe trained military police and worked with personal clients. Unhappy with the political direction of Germany, in 1925 he left for the U.S. En route to New York City, he met his wife, Clara, and they opened a gym upon arrival in 1926, side by side with several dance studios and rehearsal spaces. 'Contrology' – today known simply as Pilates – soon became a staple for dancers, used to strengthen, balance and rehabilitate them. Clara and Uncle Joe, as he lovingly came to be known, continued their training of both dancers and pedestrians for decades. After Joe passed away at the age of 87, Clara continued to teach and run the studio until her death 10 years later.
The Ten Principles Awareness Breath Balance Concentration Control Center Efficiency Flow Precision Harmony
From a BASI perspective, the ten principles of Pilates are the most essential qualities of the method. You will understand these principles not by learning them intellectually, but by actualizing them physically. To understand control, for example, you will learn how to stabilize your torso through opposition paying full attention to all details in positioning and sequencing. And to understand flow, you will learn how one exercise flows seamlessly into the next. In this way, Pilates is not just something you do -- it is something you study.
The primary goal of Pilates is to stabilize the pelvis in a neutral position. Initiating movement from a stable source (i.e. the pelvis) will increase the body's strength and efficiency, and restore it to its natural balance.
For a Pilates beginner, the only wrong breath is no breath. Over time, you will gain a deeper understanding of how exhalation stimulates breathing, facilitates core support and intensifies movement. In the end, breath equals life.
In Pilates always remember to achieve balance between the body and mind for effective results
The mind controls the body. Therefore, executing each exercise with the correct mindful intent and focusing on a deepening awareness of the movement makes concentration an integral part of the technique in Pilates.
In Pilates the best results will come through controlling each movement and paying full attention to all details in positioning and sequencing.
The “power house” core or center is the central part of the body where strength is derived for full body control in Pilates
In Pilates moving with grace and flow is an important component. When we are not in line with gravity then we are not efficient.
Pilates is best when done in a flowing style marked by continuous movement and engagement. A workout which has flow – both within each exercise and between exercises – maximizes the time, efforts and results of every session.
Pilates is rich with details. Executing each exercise with correct technique and precision will provide more dramatic results; it's all in the details.
In Pilates this is where the body and mind are brought together to create maximum efficiency.
Certified Instructors
Lisa
OWNER
Certified as a Body Arts and Science International (BASI) Pilates instructor, Lisa has more than 15 years of teaching experience. In addition she is also certified as a Pre/Post-Natal Pilates Specialist (by Carolyne Anthony – The Center for Women’s Fitness) and has a BA degree from SDSU in Communications. She found Pilates through dance where she fell in love with the specialized workout using the different apparatuses and exercises. She started teaching as an instructor in 2004 and became a Pilates studio owner in 2009. Lisa enjoys sharing her passion for Pilates with her clients helping them see the benefits and positive results in their lives.
Adriana
INSTRUCTOR
She was born and raised in Venice, California. Adriana grew up spending all her free time by the ocean and enjoying all outdoor activities that involved the water and beach. Her passion for staying active started early with tennis, biking, and skating and has remained throughout her life. Most of Adriana’s education is in early childhood development. Her experiences and history as a teacher and her enjoyment in staying active and teaching were a natural segue to becoming a Pilates instructor.
Her Pilates journey started in 2014 after having ankle surgery due to a horrible figure skating accident that left her with severe ankle immobility, swelling, and pain. With a long recovery looming, she was desperate to rehab her injury without having surgery again to remove the hardware. Pilates training and footwork helped her heal her ankle, prevent her from having a second surgery, and where her love of Pilates began.
Adriana has seven years of personal experience with Pilates and has taught for three years, and has comprehensively trained through the prestigious Body Arts and Science International (BASI). She has completed the Foundational and Graduate programs with over 500+ hours of training. Adriana has enjoyed working with Rael Isocowitz, the founder of Basi. She has furthered her education through certification courses with Basi, like Set Up For Success, taught by Rael Isocowitz, and Pilates for Injuries and Pathologies with Physical Therapist and Basi Associate faculty member Samantha Wood.
She believes that Pilates is a lifelong practice. It is never too late for anyone to change their life for the better. She approaches her life with humor, respects others’ differences, and appreciates everyone’s uniqueness. Her goal as a Pilates instructor is to positively impact the lives of the people she works with, helping them become the healthiest, happiest, highest performing versions of themselves. She is passionate about assisting others in finding that right balance for themselves, which means that they can enjoy their lives to the fullest
Amelia
INSTRUCTOR
With years of experience in various mind-body modalities, Amelia is a certified Pilates instructor who incorporates her extensive training and teaching methods. During her time at Smith College, she pursued Classical Mat Pilates training, which brought about a remarkable transformation in her physical strength and alignment, relieving years of back and neck pain. Amelia holds certifications in Mat, Reformer, and Chair/Cadillac/Ladder Barrel Stott Pilates, and has further expanded her knowledge through workshops on Athletic Conditioning on the Reformer, Scoliosis Management, and Yin Yoga. She is also a certified Yoga instructor and personal trainer.
Amelia’s ultimate goal is to design workouts that are enjoyable, challenging, and free from pain, catering to individuals of all ages and physical abilities.
Alana
INSTRUCTOR
Pacific Coast Pilates: A Way of Life | Pacific Palisades, CA Patch
An inside look at the intimate Pilates studio and the instructor behind it. Read More…
Pricing & Packages
Number of Sessions Private Sessions Semi-Private Sessions Reformer Classes
Introductory Package
3 Private Sessions for $250!
Our Introductory Package is designed to give you a feel for the Pilates method, help you discover your comfortable exercise schedule and budget, and get to know Pacific Coast Pilates.
Private Sessions
1 session – $115
5 sessions – $550
10 sessions – $1,050
20 sessions – $2,000
Semi-Private/Duo
1 session – $80
5 sessions – $375
10 sessions – $700
20 sessions – $1,300
Reformer Classes
1 session – $57
5 sessions – $270
10 sessions – $550
20 sessions – $1,020
Learn More about our Health & Safety Policies
We will be instituting new health and safety policies in order to maintain a safe environment for our clients and instructors. These are the important steps we’re taking before, during and after client sessions.
Get In Touch
Please Let Us Know If You Have Any Questions
1515 Palisades Drive, Suite M
Pacific Palisades, CA 90272
Studio: 310-459-1036