Brigitte Brunner

Brigitte Brunner is a Balanced Body master instructor and educator as well as a graduate of Ellie Herman Studios. After completing her Pilates teacher training in 2005, Brigitte began teaching in San Francisco. In 2012 she completed the Master Instructor training program with Balanced Body. Since then she has been one of the educators leading Pilates instructor training programs at EHS Pilates in San Francisco. Relevant Continuing education and training includes: CoreAlign 1 and 2, Lizz Roman rehabilitation intensive, Mary Bowen Pilates and Psyche, Eric Franklin Pelvic Power, Thomas Meyers Anatomy Trains, Marie Jose Blom, Amy Alpers and most recently the Buff Bones Instructor training. Buff Bones is a medically endorsed system for bone and joint health. In her private and group sessions, Brigitte brings energy, passion and attention to detail. Brigitte has also taught extensively in Italy and is fluent in Italian.  

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Blane Ashby

Blane has been practicing and studying Pilates since 1998 and was certified through the Ellie Herman Institute in 2002. While the majority of his time is spent teaching at Parkside Pilates he also teaches at EHS Pilates Studio. From 2003 to present has been a Faculty Instructor of the Teacher Training Instructor Program (TTIP) at the Ellie Herman Institute acting as co-head of the program. In 2007, he became a certified Balanced Body Faculty Instructor. Along with one-to-one fitness training he specializes in injury prevention and recovery. Blane has had much success in assisting and creating programs for clients in their post recovery and injury prevention goals. Through out the week Blane teaches quite a few Pilates based group classes. His popular classes promote a non-competitive atmosphere while challenging the student to reach their fullest potential. Focus of the classes include precision, control, stability, core strength, increasing flexibility all the while promoting enjoyment and a sense of accomplishment. Pilates can be quite challenging but should be fun too! Blane has been a dancer for the past 20 years and has performed with Company Chaddick, Huckabay/McAllister Dance, EmSpace Dance, Dance Continuum SF, and 13th Floor Dance Theater. Balanced Body University bbu.pilates.com

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Ruthie Wahlborg

Sharing words and tools for experiencing muscle systems with focused movement, Ruthie confidently coaxes out each person’s ability to swim tranquilly inside their own shapes. The supple, strong muscle is where a person learns to float, truly and metaphorically. Changing someone’s relationship to gravity in a beneficial way is one of the most electrifying aspects of Pilates, as well as it being a sure recipe for grace. Further effects of this sound method include the long, pleasing journey which can deliver a lifetime of a-has, along with lots o’ fun. Ruthie’s Experience:

• Teaching Mat and Equipment Pilates steadily since 2003
• Certified Training with Ellie Herman in 2002
• 2006 worked for Tom McCook at Center of Balance, absorbing an unparalleled amount of true movement wisdom through staff workouts and working on the floor.

Her Other Loves:

• bicycles
• microphones
• swimming pools
• dance floors are real stand-outs for this gal!

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Chris Black

Chris has over 13 years of experience teaching Pilates in the Bay Area. Chris Black was certified by Ellie Herman, and has done extensive rehabilitation training with Lizz Roman. She also has studied with Jennifer Stacey and Carol LeMaitre. Chris is also skilled in working with women through all stages of pregnancy, including post-natal. “Chris Black has made it to my short list of things that make San Francisco a great city. Three years ago I discovered that I had AS, a debilitating back condition, and began trying various treatments with mixed results. Chris has been the first person to give me a feeling of control over how my body feels each day. From the very first lesson, she inspired trust and confidence in her approach. She has a deep understanding of body mechanics, but never gets ahead of what my body is able to do. There’s no such thing as a panacea for back problems, but if you’re willing to put in the work, Chris is the closest thing to it.” – Unsu Lee, Bay Area filmmaker

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Carrie Ferguson

Carrie Ferguson was introduced to the Pilates method after dealing with acute low back pain and tight shoulders, weak stiff neck – a result from long, grueling hours in front of a computer day in and day out as a graphic designer. After a year of strengthening deep core muscles, fine-tuning alignment and posture, staying centered, Carrie knew it was time to follow a new path of self-care and teach others from her experience. Within a year Carrie left the corporate world to pursue and her passion for Pilates. She started her Apprentice training in 2011 and, a couple of years later became a fully certified instructor! This was the best choice she has ever made! She’s so much happier and healthier now in her 40s than she was in her 20s. Carrie’s students often reach that “ah-ha” moment, where they understand and feel the correct muscle group engaging and it’s that moment that they take from their sessions and apply to their daily living patterns, so they may move through life pain-free.

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Cadillac

Pilates lore has it that Joseph Pilates created the prototype Cadillac to enable bed-ridden patients to exercise. His design was simple – a hospital bed with mattress springs attached to the wall. The design has definitely evolved over the years and so have the exercises and stretches one can do on the Cadillac. There are many elements to the machine: leg springs, arm springs, fuzzy loops to hang from, a push-through bar to stretch you out, and even a trapeze. The trapeze was the original add on accessory to the machine, which is why it is also known as a “trap” table. You can isolate almost every muscle group on the machine – it is an excellent tool for breaking down motion into small pieces to restore correct motion patterns. Using the leg springs is one of the best ways to get runners to fully use their hamstrings. Because the Cadillac is such a large piece of equipment it is rarely used in group classes, so the best way to experience this machine is in a private Pilates session.  

Cadillac Class Pricing

1 Class Drop-in	5 Class Pack (90-day expiration)	10 Class Pack (90-day expiration)
$40	$195	$380
Supersaver Card: 3 Class Pack with 15-day expiration $105

 

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For information on private sessions click here.

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Wunda Chair

Challenge your stability, strength, and flexibility. Though the basic design is simple, there are a myriad of exercises that can be performed on the Pilates Wunda chair. It is excellent for strengthening the core muscles, arms, and legs. Exercises are performed lying down, sitting, and standing on the chair, as well as from positions at the sides of the chair.

What is the Wunda Chair?

Like the Reformer, the Pilates Chair is another of Joseph Pilates’ resistance exercise machines. The Wunda chair is a box with one side that can be pressed down against the resistance of springs, like a large pedal. The pedal portion can also be divided into two parts that can be worked independently for more of a challenge.  

Wunda Chair Class Pricing

1 Class Drop-in	5 Class Pack (90-day expiration)	10 Class Pack (90-day expiration)
$35	$170	$330
Supersaver Card: 3 Class Pack with 15-day expiration $90

 

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For information on private sessions click here.

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Reformer

Increase overall strength, flexibility, coordination, and balance while addressing virtually every part of the body. Known for its versatility, the Reformer allows you to perform exercises in a variety of positions. These exercises promote length, strength, flexibility, and balance, leading to daily life improvements such as better posture, graceful and efficient movement, and for many, relief from pain associated with physical imbalances.

What is the Reformer?

The Reformer is a piece of resistance exercise equipment designed by Joseph Pilates. It consists of a platform that moves back and forth along a carriage. Resistance is provided by the exerciser’s body weight and by springs attached to the carriage and platform.

Which Class is Right for You?

Mixed-level group classes are appropriate for those without injuries and with prior Pilates experience. As with all of our mixed level classes, appropriate variations and modifications will be taught for each level. If you are “New to Pilates”, we highly recommend taking at least one private one-on-one session with one our trainers. Private sessions are the fastest way to bring you up to speed for group classes by learning the Pilates language and understanding your body.

Reformer Class Pricing

1 Class Drop-in	5 Class Pack (90-day expiration)	10 Class Pack (90-day expiration)
$40	$195	$380
Supersaver Card: 3 Class Pack with 15-day expiration $105

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For information on private sessions click here.

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