For Professionals
Spaces & Stories
Pilates Spaces and Stories
Below are the 1st quarter 2008 finalists in our Share your Space contest. Finalists are chosen three times a year and are qualified to win a Grand prize at year end. A total of four Grand Prize winners are chosen each January, from all finalists selected during the preceding year. Each Grand Prize winner receives a $1,000 USD gift certificate from Balanced Body.
We would love to hear from you. More details on how to enter.
Congratulations to our finalists, and thanks for sharing!
Pilates Spaces Finalists - 1st Quarter
Pilates Success Stories Finalists - 1st Quarter
2007 Finalists
We are proud to announce our 2007 Grand Prize winners for our Share Your Space and Share Your Story contests. Congratulations to our Grand Prize Winners, and thanks for sharing!
PILATES SPACES
Finalist: Beautiful Studio
Mindful Movement Studio
Indianapolis, Il
Finalist: Creative Design
Agility Studio
Carlsbad, CA
Bloom Bodyworks
Santa Barbara, CA
SUCCESS STORIES
Finalist: Community Service
Community Service through Pilates
The Power of Pilates: Helping Women Get Through Cancer Treatment
After my mother Lois passed away from pancreatic cancer on Thanksgiving Day, 2003, my business partner Michelle Guenther and I created Trinity. In honor of my mom, we also started a special “Lois Membership” for women undergoing cancer treatment. This membership offers free use of the club, plus discounts on spa treatments in the Trinity Spa. The core of Trinity's mission is to inspire women to be healthier in mind, body and spirit.
When seventeen-year-old Megan joined Trinity with the Lois Membership, little did we know who would do the inspiring.
Megan loved sports and being active. However, during her cancer treatment, a leg was amputated. She needed a new way to move and keep her core strong...here enters Pilates. I was daunted by the responsibility facing our team; we had never trained an amputee in either the Pilates studio or fitness portion of our facility. Director of Pilates Linda Phillips stepped right in.
Megan did privates for many weeks. Pilates principles became a daily part of her life as she adapted to being an amputee. Linda learned new ways to train her and was always prepared with an interesting workout. Both ladies inspired each other, our staff, and our members.
Ultimately Megan passed away at the end of 2007. Her mom called the club within hours of her death to let us know the impact Trinity had on their lives. I am so honored to have met Megan, and am honored that our Lois Membership played a role in her brave fight. I am filled with gratitude to Megan and her mom for inspiring us at Trinity.
Megan will always be an example of what a gift a healthy body is. Use it, take care of it, and enjoy it! Keep it in top condition. Joseph Pilates understood that, and we work to share the passion he had for helping people live their best lives.
So, in summary, at Trinity, "We're not just lifting weights, we're lifting spirits!"
This story is dedicated to all the people battling cancer. I hope it inspires you ALL!
Trinity Fitness
Potomac Falls, VA
Finalist: Launch/Expansion
Pilates literally saved my life many times.
My first exposure to Pilates was 12 years ago, when my employer asked me to get certified in Pilates mat. I agreed, knowing nothing about Pilates. That one weekend changed my life. Soon after, Pilates helped me physically and mentally as I dealt with my mother's battle with and passing from liver cancer. To stay focused I took two more mat certifications.
During my additional training, I discovered I was pregnant with my fourth child and quit my job at a dental office to be a stay-at-home mom. After one year, I was going crazy and decided to get training on the Reformer, Wunda Chair and Cadillac, as well as a personal trainer certification. This allowed me to train and teach classes at the fitness club, and take care of my children. I loved every moment of teaching Pilates, and remained at the club for 10 more years until it was sold. The new owners wanted to take the club in a different direction, so after putting so much time and energy into developing the Pilates program, we parted ways.
But more personal challenges ensued. After bankruptcy, my marriage ended in a divorce, and I was diagnosed with Melonoma. Fortunately, it was found early and I am now more diligent than ever about keeping myself healthy in many ways.
A newly single mother of four boys, I had no job and an ex-husband who refused to pay child support. All the mind body education I had received gave me strength enough to quickly move forward. Within six weeks I fixed up my basement, took out a loan, and purchased a Reformer/Cadillac combination unit. My clients who left the fitness club along with me were no longer paying a membership fee, so I was able to charge more.
I have been training out of my home for eighteen months, gaining additional clients through word of mouth. I also teach classes at our local Government Center. The response has been overwhelming and I have added more classes.
So, Pilates has truly saved me more than once. I hope and dream of opening a full-fledged studio someday. Pilates has always given me a sense of control and confidence. I don’t know what I would have done with out it.
Full Circle Fitness
Stillwater, MN
