Frequently Asked Questions

Pilates, pioneered by the late Joseph Pilates, is a mind-body exercise system designed to strengthen the weak and challenge the strong. Pilates (1880-1967) was a German expatriate who first made his mark in England during WWI when he developed a series of exercises and innovative equipment to help prisoners of war regain strength and mobility. When Joseph Pilates immigrated to New York, the local professional dance community discovered that his conditioning techniques helped prevent injury and improve strength while maintaining long, even muscle tone. This sparked a vast following of the method of exercise.

While Joseph Pilates (1880-1968) is widely known for his development of specific mat and equipment-based movement exercises, the original practice has evolved significantly over the years. At the core of this method of exercise, Pilates addresses muscle strength and flexibility to improve postural alignment, balance, and coordination. Bodycenter's methodology builds upon Joseph Pilates' original work, incorporating contemporary knowledge of biomechanics to develop progressive exercises.

We offer group classes and private lessons.  If you are new to Pilates our prerequisite for taking group classes is either attending our 4 week Pilates Fundamentals course or signing up for at least one private lesson.  This way you will learn about our basic principles of alignment, make any modifications you may need for your posture, learn how to use the equipment and get the most out of each exercise.  If you are more interested in private lessons we can help you find an instructor to work with.

You can sign up for classes online.  Our class sizes are small so you need to pre-register to reserve your space in the class.

You can email Shane Belau at shane@bodycenterstudios.com and she will help you find an instructor that best suits your needs and exercise goals.

Bodycenter is the home for STOTT PILATES® Instructor Training and Certification for the Greater Seattle area.  All of our instructors are trained and certified in the STOTT PILATES® Method.

STOTT PILATES® is a contemporary approach to the original exercise method pioneered by the late Joseph Pilates. Co-founders Moira and Lindsay G. Merrithew, along with a team of physical therapists, sports medicine and fitness professionals, have spent more than two decades refining the STOTT PILATES® method of exercise and equipment. This resulted in the inclusion of modern principles of exercise science and spinal rehabilitation, making it one of the safest and most effective methods available. This clear and detailed approach forms the basis for STOTT PILATES® training and certification programs. It’s used by rehab and prenatal clients, athletes, celebrities and everyone in between.  STOTT PILATES® exercises help both men and women develop optimal strength, flexibility, endurance and posture, without building bulk or stressing joints. The perfect complement to cardiovascular exercise, athletic training or rehabilitation, STOTT PILATES® exercises help you tone your body, feel revitalized, and move with ease.

Choose attire that allows you to breathe, bend, stretch and that you feel comfortable in. Fitted clothing is helpful so the teacher can assess your form.  You don’t have to wear shoes or socks for Pilates, though you can wear grip socks if it more comfortable for you.  Also, please refrain from using perfume or strongly scented lotions as some individuals have allergies to these products and the oils can stain the equipment.

Although you should always consult your physician before starting a fitness routine, the short answer is yes, Pilates can help with recovery from many injuries. But for that to occur we first need to know about your injury so we may guide you towards the appropriate session. If you’re injured, we kindly request you speak with us before signing up for a class or session. We will guide you to an appropriate class and ensure you are working with an instructor who is trained to handle your specific injury. Depending on the severity of the injury, you may need to do private sessions to begin.

Yes!  Pilates is great for maintaining core strength and helping to support your back during the physical changes of pregnancy.  We need approval from your doctor and it is best if you have already started Pilates program prior to being pregnant.  We recommend a private session to assess your personal program if you haven’t already begun Pilates prior to pregnancy.

Please provide us at least 24 hour notice should you need to re-schedule or cancel your appointment. We do charge in full for cancellations made within 24 hours and for missed appointments. Since we are a small business, it is difficult for us to make exceptions to this policy, and we appreciate your understanding of this. That being said, if you do have an emergency, please let us know so that we can treat your situation with personal attention.

You can cancel online up to 6 hours before a group class without being charged.  Any cancellations less than 6 hours before the class will be charged the full price of the class.

STOTT PILATES® incorporates modern exercise principles, including contemporary thinking about spinal rehabilitation and athletic performance enhancement. For example, some approaches may promote a flat back, whereas STOTT PILATES® exercises are designed to restore the natural curves of the spine and rebalance the muscles around the joints, placing more emphasis on scapular stabilization. As well, there are more preparatory exercises and modifications to cater to many different body types and abilities, making it applicable to everyday life.

• Builds core strength and stability
• Improves posture and alignment
• Increases flexibility, balance and coordination
• Improves muscular balance and strength
• Increases endurance and muscular tone
• Prevents injury and heightens body awareness
• Enhances athletic performance
• Relieves stress and back pain

• Pilates is three-dimensional (i.e. exercises can be performed using all movement planes)
• Spring resistance more closely resembles muscular contraction
• Emphasis on concentric and eccentric contraction for injury prevention, STOTT PILATES® exercise is customizable for special needs
• In Pilates exercise, emphasis is placed on rebalancing muscles around the joints
• Pilates corrects over-training and muscle imbalances that lead to injury
• Pilates emphasizes balancing strength with flexibility (for injury prevention and more efficient movement)
• STOTT PILATES® exercise leads to an improvement in posture and body awareness
• Weight training and STOTT PILATES® can be combined in a fitness program and are a great complement to each other.

In some respects Pilates is like Yoga. Both are considered mind-body methods of movement; both emphasize deep breathing and smooth, long movements that encourage the mind-body connection. The difference is that while Yoga requires moving from one static posture to the next, Pilates flows through a series of movements that are more dynamic, systematic and anatomically based, incorporating resistance equipment. The goal with STOTT PILATES® exercise is to strengthen the postural muscles while achieving optimal functional fitness.