Testimonials

Carol Reiser - Physical Injury Focus -"After 12 years of constant, unrelenting pain, I’m not in pain anymore. That in itself is amazing, but what I really find amazing is I love to do Pilates! It is never boring and I can’t believe the physical changes my body has experienced. I’ve always hated to exercise. I was a swimmer when I was younger and have always enjoyed walking, but to go to a gym or do any formal exercise was too boring. It takes too much time and I have several injuries that prevent me from doing rigorous, repetitive exercises. Then a friend encouraged me to sign up for an individual session with Lisa. After one session, I felt better, stronger and more energized than I have ever felt in my life. In three sessions, Pilates did more for me in strengthening and rehabilitating my injuries than 12 years of physical therapy and prescribed injections. No longer do I have to do PT exercises every day or see a physical therapist. No longer do I have to get injections for the pain and injuries."

Judith T. -"I came to Lisa Yakel’s Core Pilates, four years ago, after trying a number of studios in the area.  I was few years past mid-life at a time when my body was beginning to shrink in size and I was having aches in my neck.  I was already a disciple, having studied for five years. Through Pilates I had learned how to feel the inside of my body and to discern the different feelings that accompany internal muscle contractions, allowing me to visualize what was happening within and what I was aiming for. After my first year of Pilates work, I had grown an inch, had a new found strength and a new feeling about my body! 

Finding Lisa and “Core Pilates” was the end of my search and I have continued to gain in strength and understanding. Lisa brings to her teaching a life time of experience, first in dance and aerobics and finally, Pilates. Pilates, as she would say, is not merely an exercise system. It is much, much more. It is a door to mind-body integration with profound physical and mental consequences. It is a life long conversation with your body, one that continually challenges your understanding as well as your ability. Many of the basic exercises are also the advanced exercises, the difference is one of deeper learning of form and intensity with the same goal of strengthening of the body’s core muscles. The result is potent antidote to the losses of aging:  positive body changes that happen over time.

Lisa’s patience and understanding both of her craft and of human nature allow her to instruct novices, veterans, men, women and all ages of interested folk. She speaks to them so that they, too, begin to understand the workings of their bodies as they transform with the Pilates method.

With Lisa’s enthusiasm and support, each session is a new challenge and I come away knowing both my accomplishments and my next hurdle. Much like life, Pilates is a journey of discovery of ones own unique strength, and I can say without reservation that Lisa is a powerful guide on my journey."

Bridgette S. -"I began taking Pilates about 5 years ago at the recommendation of a friend who told me it was amazing movements and stretching that could not be put into words, and she was right.  As a cardio junkie I would often feel that the stretching I was doing wasn’t enough, the same I thought was true when I did strength training with weights.  As a result of doing Pilates, I have strengthened my Core (your mid-section), a term used often, that has helped me to significantly improve my posture, stamina, and how I sit at my work station.  As an Office Manager I spend 8+ hours a day at a desk working on a computer, Pilates has helped me relieve back discomfort from how I used to sit in my chair and often slouched at my desk; and has helped me to focus and concentrate more on my posture and Core in my day-to-day activities.  Pilates is an exercise program that incorporates similar movements, whether you are a beginner or advanced attendee.  The ideal about Pilates is that as you advance from beginner, the movements are very similar, but you learn how to focus deeper on the movements, further advancing, strengthening, and lengthening your muscles and Core.  I love Pilate; I find it to be very relaxing, exhilarating, and de-stressing.  I’ve also made some very good friends as a result of attending the varying classes and sessions."

Ellen M. - "Since I’m primarily a cardio junkie, I approached my first Pilates mat class with skeptism, but right from the start I felt the benefits. I like the fact that Lisa uses visual cues and everyday language to clarify moves/positions & individual clients can progress at their own levels. I love the tower classes the best, and can happily say that since I started taking Pilates I no longer have any back pain issues, my posture has improved & my core strength has increased significantly."

Melissa S. - "I started taking Pilates after I had a baby to get rid of the baby bump. I had never taken it before so it helped that Lisa made things really understandable and comfortable. Thanks to Lisa and Pilates I lost my baby weight and toned up my stomach muscles."