Ab Fab Pilates provides Classical Pilates instruction which, in layman's terms, means we preserve the integrity of Joseph Pilates' lifelong work,  This method was handed down by Joseph to Romana Kryzanowska, who continued to run the studio after the deaths of Joseph and his wife, Clara.  This lineage has continued through the master instructors who worked with Romana for years, such as Bob Liekens and Phoebe Higgins with whom Ab Fab Pilates' owner, Jayne McAllister, studied, as well as with those who certified directly with Romana like Ab Fab Pilates' senior instructor, Emily Sabo. 
"Joe Pilates didn't create things overnight.  He spent years modfiying and evolving his method.  So I don't see why all of a sudden we have to "improve" it." Bob Liekens, VP of Education for Power Pilates and household name in the Pilates instructor world.  

Ab Fab Pilates offers the most authentic form of Pilates training, adhering strictly to the way Joseph Pilates intended his work to be continued.  All of Ab Fab's instructors have completed fully comprehensive training programs with internationally recognized programs and instructors.  Some has elected to take the national Pilates Method Alliance exam too but this is second to the validity of the original certification and apprenticeship program each instructor followed.  Apprenticeships are typically 12 to 18 months long and are a continuous period of study.  The certified instructor will be qualified to teach all levels of Pilates from Beginner to Super Advanced on all pieces of Pilates equipment.

Many "modular" training programs are available whereby teachers are trained over weekends and do not include an apprenticeship program.  Ab Fab's instructors have internationally recognized credentials, have completed 600 hours or more of apprenticing, and are qualified to work with every "body" that walks thorugh the studio door, from elite athletes to first-time clients to those recovering from chronic injury.

Not at all.  gyms typically offer mat classes taught by "one-size-fits-all" personal trainers who have completed their training over a weekend.  Ab Fab Pilates' instructors have completed at least 600 hours as an apprentice during training that lasts between seven and twelve months, and includes a series of grueling written and practical exams.  Of course there are exceptions, but you should always check the instructor's credentials.

Ab Fab Pilates recommends two to three times per week at the studio for the best results.  We suggest supplementing your studio workouts with matwork at home and we offer guidance in setting up a home program.  Whatever your commitment to Pilates, consistency is the key to change!

Ab Fab Pilates has clients who, owing to time or budget constraints, come for one session a week.  Often, these clients are participating in other forms of exercise and they are encouraged to take their Pilates to their tennis, golf, surfing etc.  Others practice mat exercises at home ont he days that they are away from the studio.  In keeping with the classical Pilates tradition, Ab Fab Pilates encourages its clients to be independent in their workout.  As master instructor Bob Liekens says, "It's not about your performance in the studio, but how you take what you've learned into your daily life."

Pilates is a workout and should be a movment experience from the very first session.  You will begin by learning to access your Powerhouse (Mr. Pliates' term for the "core" musculature) and to incorporate breathign before performing a series of basic exercises to introduce the Method.  Expect to work on the Mat, Reformer, Cadillac, possibly the High Chair, and the Wall.  

The Pilates Method does not work muscles to fatigue because both the small and large muscle groups work in conjuction to function more efficiently.  Clients usually feel energized after their sessions, experience better posture and awareness of their Powerhouse muscles.  

Even after their first session, many clients become more aware of their posture because of their newly-found Powerhouse connection.  As a result, they walk taller which takes inches off the waistline.  Weak abs are the primary cause of poor posture so increasing awareness will make you look and feel better fast.  Remember, consistency is the key to change! 

Pilates is performed on special equipment designed by Joseph Pilates.  For safety reasons, familiarity with the equipment is essential before advancing to a semi-private session or group class.  Secondly, you'll reap far more from your workout if you have familiarity with the exercises and how to access the Powerhosue.
Finally, in a class situation, the instructor has to divide his or her time fairly between all participants; a new client necessitates and deserves the teacher's full attention. 

Pilates is a lifetime journey.  Even instructors are constantly learning more and focusing on improving their techniques, which is why most of them work out with other instructors.  Ab Fab Pilates sessions are always conducted by an instructor to optimize form, technique and results.

It's wonderful that mass media has made Pilates more available.  However there is no replacement or working with a comprehensively trained, classical Pilates instructor whose first concern is your safety, while focusing on form, alignment and the Powerhouse connection. 

Joseph Pilates began creating his exercises for his own body to cure himself of rickets and asthma.  In his early career, Mr. Pilates was involved primarily in training men, including the prestigious Scotland Yard police in London and the Hamburg Military Police in his native Germany.  Joseph was nearly 50 when he first started working with women.  He moved to New York and opened his studio in a building that housed rehearsal spaces for dancers and actors, which resulted in the close association of Pilates with that community and the misconception that Pilates is for dancers, particularly women.  Joseph Pilates was very much a man's man and eager to show off his strength and prowess.  

At Ab Fab Pilates, our male clients include golfers, boxers, triathletes, marathon runners together with amateur and professional world-class surfers.  Simply put, Joseph Pilates' exercises were designed by a man for men.  Thankfully, women are reaping the benefits too.