Core Pilates

"Core Pilates—and Lisa—truly changed my life. Prior to my first Pilates class, I had been diagnosed with osteoporosis. I also experienced joint pain after sitting for long periods of time, and my posture was poor. After my very first session with Lisa, I felt incredible—my body felt loose, relaxed, and aligned. After just a few more sessions, I noticed I no longer had aches or pains after sitting for hours, and I was sleeping better as well. Lisa’s teaching style is thoughtful and adaptable, accommodating individual needs at every level. Her directions are clear, specific, and grounded in a deep understanding of body mechanics. Lisa’s extensive knowledge of anatomy and movement has helped me strengthen my core, become stronger overall, and gain flexibility. My posture and balance have improved significantly. Most importantly, Lisa has helped me find confidence and joy in exercising."

"I’ve been working with Lisa Yakel, owner of the studio, for nearly ten years, and her dedication, expertise, and genuine care continue to amaze me. Lisa has an extraordinary ability to understand each student’s individual needs and abilities, and she tailors her guidance so thoughtfully that you always feel supported, safe, and challenged in the best possible way. Her classes are intentionally small, allowing her to observe, correct, and encourage each of us with remarkable attention to detail. She consistently goes above and beyond—something I experienced firsthand when I suffered a fracture. Lisa even came with me to a physical therapy appointment so she could fully understand my surgery, my limitations, and the adjustments I would need. That level of commitment is rare, and it made a tremendous difference in my recovery. Her studio reflects the same care and professionalism she brings to her teaching. It’s a beautiful, calming space that is always kept immaculate, making every session feel welcoming and thoughtfully prepared. Pilates with Lisa has allowed me to move with confidence and remain strong and flexible into my senior years. It has truly been my personal physical therapy. I credit her instruction with my good health, my core strength, and the stability and alignment we all need as we age. The benefits have been profound and lasting. Lisa also trains instructors who go on to become wonderful teachers in her studio. Their skill, attentiveness, and consistency are a testament to the high standards she sets and the depth of knowledge she shares. Lisa’s passion for helping people move well and feel strong shines through in every class. Working with her has been one of the best investments I’ve made in my health and well‑being, and I’m deeply grateful for the care and expertise she brings to her practice."

"After working with Lisa as my personal Pilates Instructor for over 10 years I thought it was time to acknowledge what she has done for me. I have rowed with the Albany Irish Rowing Club for more than 25 yrs. Pilates has kept me in shape over the winter months. In fact I competed with the team in an International Currach Regatta held in Ireland, I was 72 at the time. I am now 80 and hope to do non-competitive recreational rowing this summer. Pilates has certainly helped! I also have psoriatic arthritis and was told by my rheumatologist that Pilates and rowing are keeping me out of a wheel chair."

"After suffering a catastrophic stroke, I needed to continue my exercises once my rehab had finished. I found Lisa at Core Pilates Albany by googling Pilates studios in the area. Lisa was the only person who responded promptly. Because of my limitations, I needed someone just like Lisa. She consistently challenges me and thinks of different ways for me to move. She describes the Pilates exercises in ways that make sense and easy to understand. The studio is bright and clean! "

"I first fell in love with Pilates in 2014, and I have been taking classes on and off since then. Everything from Mat classes at the Y, to group and private classes at other local Pilates studios. Feeling like I needed a change, I found Core. Upon our first phone conversation, I learned about Lisa’s passion for Pilates. When I arrived at her studio, her love for Pilates was obvious, and I was also impressed with the thoughtful way the studio is laid out, and how spotlessly clean it is. An important part of my story is that I have had RA for 41 years, which limits some of my movement. Having bilateral wrist and elbow issues, many exercise modalities are not possible. However, I have never let it stop me from being active, which is important when dealing with a chronic disease. My limitations have presented a challenge for instructors in the past, especially in the group setting. Having a disease like RA, doesn’t just limit you physically, it can also limit you mentally. From my first class, Lisa made me feel welcome. She modifies certain movements to accommodate my limitations, while still challenging me. Lisa, Jessica, Casey and Linda have also encouraged me to try new movements, and I have only continued to feel stronger in body and spirit. Since I started attending classes at Core, I feel stronger and even though some of the movements are modified, I never feel like I am interrupting the class or not getting a full workout. Lisa and the other instructors encourage me and listen to my input in regard to how I am feeling, without making me feel that I am annoying them. They understand that I will try anything, but trust me when I say I can’t. My body has noticeably changed and I look forward to every class. Now I am focused on what I can do instead of what I can’t, and this is equally beneficial to both my physical and mental health. I would highly recommend Core Pilates!"

"Since I'm primarily a cardio junkie, I approached my first Pilates mat class with skepticism, 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."

"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."

"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."