Our Studio
History
The Pilates Studio of Springfield was originally opened in 2005 by Terry Harris. She operated the studio until 2012, introducing many people in Springfield to Pilates for the first time. Terry relocated from the Springfield area to Florida in 2012, where she still lives today.
The timing was perfect for Kirsten Wright, as she was already thinking about opening her own studio after completing her training and gaining a few years of experience teaching with another local studio. She and her husband Bruce purchased the studio and all its equipment in 2012 and have seen it grow steadily over their 13 years of ownership.
Tara McAnarney originally started her Pilates practice with Terry in 2008, and continued at the studio for several years after Kirsten took ownership. She bought into the business in 2015 and became a co-owner.
Kirsten and Tara's partnership has seen the studio grow from just the two of them teaching part-time to 5 full-time and 4 part-time instructors today. The studio has been remodeled several times to fit in more equipment and expand our offerings. We have won multiple 'Best of Springfield' awards for the best Pilates studio, and were awarded the 'Best 15 under 15' recognition in 2024 for being one of the most prominent and successful small businesses in the area.
Our Practice Philosophy
We practice and teach what we like to call 'athletic' Pilates. This is a modern interpretation of the principles established by Joseph Pilates that incorporates full-body movements, a wide range of exercises, and adaptability to the needs and limitations of the client. Our instructors will become familiar with your strengths and weaknesses and tailor the workout to provide you the most benefit, while keeping any injuries or restrictions in mind. We want you to leave your workout feeling energized and pain-free, but your body will know you have been challenged.
Our Instructors
Our Equipment
We have a broad array of equipment and accessories to provide an efficient workout for all clients, including options for those with chronic limiting conditions or recovering from injury. Our staff are all fully certified to teach and utilize all of our equipment. Our private salons are equipped with state-of-the-art studio reformers with towers to allow you to get the benefits of many types of equipment in one session. All our machines are manufactured by Balanced Body, the industry leader in quality Pilates equipment.
Below are some details on the types of machines we have, and the different types of exercises and benefits you can get using them.
Barrel
A Pilates barrel is a curved, often wooden and padded apparatus designed to help stretch, strengthen, and align the spine, acting as a tool to improve flexibility, core strength, and posture. Key benefits include improved spinal alignment, enhanced core strength through challenging stability, increased flexibility by allowing for deep stretches, and better posture by addressing muscle imbalances. Barrels come in different forms, such as the Spine Corrector and the larger Ladder Barrel, which features an adjustable ladder for support and a greater range of exercises, including standing movements.
Bodhi Suspension System
The Bodhi Suspension System is a four-point suspension training system that uses dynamic ropes with Prusik knots to create an unstable, gravity-defying workout environment. It focuses on five key fitness categories—strength, stability, balance, proprioception, and flexibility—by challenging the body to stabilize and move with less support than traditional equipment, leading to enhanced core activation, integrated strength, and dynamic flexibility. Benefits include improved whole-body control, increased muscle activation in deep support systems, decreased stress on joints, and better balance for daily activities and athletic performance.
Cadillac
The Pilates Cadillac (or Trapeze Table) is a piece of equipment featuring a padded table with a metal frame, bars, straps, and springs for resistance and support. It offers a wide range of exercises to build strength, flexibility, and improve posture by engaging the core muscles. Its low-impact, adaptable nature makes it suitable for injury recovery and prevention, rehabilitation, and for individuals of all fitness levels, from beginners to advanced practitioners.
High Chair
The Pilates High Chair is a supportive, resistance-based apparatus that features a higher seat and pedal than the standard Wunda Chair, along with handles for various exercises. Its design facilitates exercises that improve spinal mobility, full-body strength (especially in legs, hips, and core), balance, stability, and posture. Benefits include targeted muscle strengthening, correction of muscular imbalances, improved coordination, and enhanced athletic performance for a wide range of sports.
Reformer
The Pilates Reformer uses a spring-loaded carriage on a bed-like frame to provide low-impact, full-body workouts focused on core strength, balance, and flexibility through controlled, resistance-based movements. Benefits include improved posture, reduced back pain, enhanced functional strength, better coordination, stress reduction, and increased muscle elasticity. The adjustable resistance and versatility of the reformer make it suitable for various fitness levels and for injury rehabilitation and prevention.
Reformer with Tower
A Pilates Reformer with Tower combines a Reformer bed with a spring-loaded Tower frame, offering a versatile, full-body workout that enhances flexibility, strength, and body awareness through exercises performed while lying, seated, or standing. Key benefits include improved posture, reduced back pain, increased muscle endurance, and a feeling of being taller and lighter, making it an effective tool for strengthening the whole body without stressing the joints.
Wunda Chair
The Pilates Wunda Chair is a versatile, compact piece of equipment featuring a wooden chair with a spring-loaded pedal that serves as a resistance mechanism, allowing for a full-body workout by targeting the arms, legs, back, and core. Its primary benefits include improving strength and stability in the entire body, enhancing balance and coordination, and promoting better posture and alignment. The chair's adjustable resistance and small footprint make it suitable for various fitness levels and ideal for use in studios or at home.