Easy Pickings for Pilates In Maplewood

No matter where you live in Maplewood, there is a Pilates studio nearby.  And with the recent opening of Core Mind and Body, there are more options than ever.

Pilates, an exercise program developed by Joseph Pilates to help rehabilitate World War One veterans, can be done either on the floor (called “mat pilates" for its use of mats) or on equipment, called a reformer. The series of movements combined with your breath, target your core muscles and can help improve your body alignment, posture and achieve the ever-elusive six-pack abs.

The Fitness Loft, located at the Mill on 697 Valley Street, has been a part of Maplewood for the past eight years. The cozy, one-room space is run by Meridith Johnson, who is Power Pilates Certified, ACE Certified and is also a personal trainer. Johnson was a professional dancer for over 15 years. She shares her space with other instructors, such as Kendra Thyne who also teaches Pilates and Jane Daniel, a registered dietician.

“I love teaching in Maplewood,” said Johnson. “I have lived in Maplewood for over 20 years and I have very loyal clients, men and women, who have been working with me for years.” 

Clients range in age from teens to people in their 80s. What sets the Fitness Loft apart from other Pilates options is that Johnson offers private, one-on-one, hour-long sessions.

“I give all my clients my individual attention. I have an ability to immediately assess what my clients most need in their sessions while keeping true to the Pilates Method,” said Johnson. The studio has one pilates reformer and other equipment such as pilates rings, foam and weighted pilates balls.

Maplewood residents Clain DiPalma and Bryan Thompson opened their studio, Clain Pilates Plus, two years ago. They are located on the second floor of 1861 Springfield Avenue, right above Shakti Yoga and on the same floor as the Gym. The large, open-spaced studio offers a wide range of classes including group mat and quad reformer classes. 

In addition, Clain, a Certified Pilates Instructor, also teaches Pilates to students, which requires 600 hours of training in order to get certified. Partner Bryan Thompson is a teaching member of Alexander Technique Education Inc. and Alexander Technique International. He is also studying to become an herbalist. Kathy Cole Easton, who is certified in both Gyrokinesis and Gyrotonic machines, also teaches classes at the studio.

“We have men and women take our classes, who are over 60 years of age to under 30.  We currently have 8 pregnant women but we also get a lot of post partum women as well,” said DiPalma. Despite recent closings of several establishments in the area, Clain remains very much committed to Springfield Avenue. “We are so happy to be part of the Avenue. We want to promote a healthy and fit lifestyle to the community.”

Core Mind & Body studio is the new kid on the block, having celebrated their grand opening last month. Located at 195 Maplewood Avenue, Core offers a large, newly-renovated, bright and airy space. The studio is run by Chris Devers and Michelle Gaudette, both Maplewood residents. Michelle, who just had her first baby four weeks ago, is a former Rockette and has spent 10 years as a STOTT Certified Pilates Instructor. Chris has trained at Pilates Academy International in New York. In addition, Patrice Dlugos, who is STOTT certified, Kyle Craig-Bogard, who is STOTT trained and Danielle Hnatiuk who is PAI certified will be teaching at the studio.

“We are so excited and thrilled to be giving back to the Maplewood community,"  Gaudette said. “We wanted to provide an open and clean space for people to exercise and to take care of themselves.” 

The studio has everything from multiple reformer and V2 Max machines to a cardio equipment room with a large flat screen televison. They also provide a shower stall and lockers.

“We do have many clients who come here on their way to work, so they need to shower and get ready before catching the train,” said Gaudette, who has been training clients in their new space since January. 

“With today’s unstable economy we feel it’s more important than ever to promote well-being," Gaudette said.