FAQ

Almost anyone! Because it’s low-impact and high-payoff, our instructors can meet you where you are, no matter your age or ability. Both Pilates and Gyrotonic activates less-used muscles and challenges you, in a friendly way, with unfamiliar movements performed in proper alignment.

Our diverse clientele ranges in age from teenagers to seniors and in fitness level from self-described “couch potato” to triathlete.

For most people, we recommend 2-3 sessions per week - privates, classes or a combo - in order to really reap the benefits of Pilates and/or Gyrotonic sessions. We are excited to offer our Accelerator Program for just that reason. Read more about it on our Accelerator Page.

Some clients choose to start with just once a week and still feel and see the benefits of the work. Progress is just slower.

We hear you - viewed from afar, the Pilates Reformer or Gyrotonic Tower might look like it time-warped here from the Middle Ages. And it does have sort of a judgmental name. But we promise it’s not a torture device!

Our Reformers have their roots in the original Pilates equipment, which Joseph Pilates made out of hospital beds to rehabilitate wounded soldiers during World War I. Reformer springs give your body both resistance and support. Along with other Pilates equipment like the Cadillac and Wunda Chair, the Reformer gives you feedback for healthy alignment. The Gyrotonic Tower works similarly in that it gives your body the support it needs to grow. The Gyrotonic apparatus was created by Julio Horvath when he was rehabilitating his body post injury.

Your instructor can show you how to adjust the equipment settings, springs and straps. After just a few lessons, you’ll feel confident managing your own equipment settings in a group class.

In fact we are, online and in the Studio. Most sessions are happening in the studio these days, but we are available for private sessions online. Book and purchase privates, semi-privates and classes as usual via our schedule page. All Small Classes are currently in studio. If you’d prefer to workout at home, book a virtual session and you’ll receive an email with the zoom link in advance of your session starting. You’ll need a device and to download the zoom app. If you have props, let us know what you have available. Depending on your physical ability, you may need a mat or chair to make the most of your session.

If you’re human, you’ll fit right in at Studio Evolve. Whatever your age, gender identity, race, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, ethnicity or perspective, all are welcome here.

Our restrooms and private changing area are gender-inclusive. We respect neurological diversity by tailoring sessions to each person’s thinking and learning style. That is the benefit of a custom session!

If you’ve ever felt like a traditional gym environment just wasn’t for you, we invite you to come check us out. We’re happiest when our online and brick and mortar studio is full of people being their whole, authentic selves.

Yes. And in some super interesting ways. Might you indulge us while we geek out about them?

…OK we’re going to take that as a YES!

Do you know about your vagus nerve? It’s a long, shaggy, meandering nerve (vagus means “wandering” in Latin) that connects your brain, heart and gut together. It’s basically the queen of your parasympathetic nervous system - aka the chill out/rest-and-digest one. You want your vagus nerve to be healthy and strong - aka “high vagal tone.”

Deep breathing, like the kind you do in Pilates and Gyrotonic sessions, turns the vagus nerve on enough that it acts as a brake on your stress response. Plus, both methods helps you develop interoception - the capacity to sense yourself within your body. Learning to recognize and respect your body’s interoceptive signals tends to your vagal tone.

In general, we recommend clients to start with our Intro 2 Private Pilates Sessions before starting group classes. You’ll learn Pilates fundamentals and equipment basics that will help you get more out of your group class work. However, if you have done Pilates apparatus work before, go ahead and jump on in to one of our All Levels Small Classes or reach out to ask about our Class Intro. if you are new to the studio.

We are 99 percent sure the answer is yes - and your private session instructor will be happy to give you a personalized recommendation. We keep our group classes small (no more than 5 people) and our instructors are aces at tailoring the class routine to the bodies in the room. Plus your private session instructor can coach you on strategies for moving well throughout an open-level class.

Yes, provided your doctor or physical therapist says it’s OK. Many of our clients have “graduated” from physical therapy, have been cleared to exercise and want a movement practice that keeps them healthy. Some clients start Private sessions while they are still completing their course of Physical Therapy. Our instructors are happy to consult with your physical therapist to create a safe and effective full-body movement program.

That depends on a lot of different factors, including your goals for your practice. Don’t worry - we can help you set them!

For fast paced results, we created our 4 week Accelerator Program - start your transformation now!

You sure can! Just let your Instructor know that you would like to build a home practice or book virtual private sessions and we’ll support you in practicing safely at home.

Studio Evolve is conveniently located in Seattle, offering Pilates classes in the heart of the city. Our address is 3333 Wallingford Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103 (near Gas Works Park, north of Lake Union). We are proud to serve the local Seattle community and provide a welcoming space for individuals to explore and enjoy the benefits of Pilates. Join us at Studio Evolve and experience the transformative power of Pilates right here in Seattle!

The work typically is not aerobic, but it does strengthen your muscles, especially the “inner corset” of your deep abdominals. Many clients report their body shape changes as their posture improves and muscle tone increases.

Pilates and Gurotonic exercises build muscle which is key to long term health, especially for those over 50.

Also, a Pilates and Gyrotonic practice supports a healthy weight indirectly by freeing up your diaphragm - a sheet of skeletal muscle that is important for respiration. This increases oxygenation and activates the parasympathetic nervous system, making you feel more energized and grounded.

No! Flexibility is a benefit, not a prerequisite.

Yes and yes. (Oh and congratulation, by the way!) Pilates and Gyrotonic is a brilliant prenatal and postnatal workout (provided your doctor says it’s OK for you to exercise). Read more about how we support parents-to-be and new parents in our blog.

In mat work, your main resistance is the weight of your own body against gravity. On the apparatus, the varied weight of several springs helps mitigate the effects of gravity. The springs can be used to increase or decrease the challenge of work, or even to work a completely different set of muscles. There are basic, intermediate and advanced exercises in both modes of work.

At Studio Evolve, we focus on apparatus work and small classes because we find it benefits our clients the most. The various apparatus allows you to have a broader range of what you can address in a clients’ bodies. Our instructors use mat and floor work when appropriate and we keep our class sizes small to maintain the focus on our clients’ individual needs.