Your body will adapt to whatever you’re asking of it, and when you’re sitting, you’re asking very little. Breaths are probably more shallow and few muscles are engaged. Pilates is an excellent way to move after you’ve been sitting because it asks entirely new things of your body like hip extension, spinal rotation, and full, deep breaths. 

With the rise of phones and tech, all of us probably need to hear this. 

The short answer is, adding in one to two Pilates sessions a week, positioned on your short run or rest days, can support the parts of your body marathon training can be hard on – hips, knees, glutes, stability, and breathwork – without overdoing it. 

This spring we asked our clients across both studios, Lakeview and Lincoln Park, to tell us how Pilates was going for them.

We want to share what they told us, because if you're deciding whether Pilates is worth your time and money, the experience of 52 real Chicago clients is more useful than anything we could claim about ourselves. The short version: Most of our clients say they feel better since starting, and the biggest difference between the people who progressed and the people who plateaued was not effort or ability. It was consistency.

Mat Pilates is the original form of Pilates: a system of controlled, precise exercises done on the floor (Mat) using your body weight and gravity instead of springs and equipment. Everything else in Pilates, including the Reformer classes that dominate now, came after the Mat.

That usually surprises people. Since Reformer classes are more expensive, there’s a misconception that they’re inherently “better.” We’re going to talk about the history and why one is not better than the other.

If you're looking into Pilates in Chicago, here's the short answer: as of 2026, a single group reformer class in the city generally runs $25 to $50, with chain studios at the lower end and independent boutique studios at the higher end. Private sessions typically run $100 or more. At Core, a single group class is $45, with the cost decreasing per class in packages or membership.

That's more than a yoga class or a gym membership, but we thought we’d provide some insight into why Pilates classes cost what they do. So this post covers what Pilates costs across Chicago, what makes it more expensive than other classes, and the ways to access Pilates if cost is a barrier.

We're going to give you the honest answer about what Pilates can and cannot do for you, because some of what's being marketed to women right now is confusing and potentially misleading.  

Physical therapy is medical treatment provided by a licensed clinician who can diagnose, treat, and rehabilitate an injury. Pilates is exercise. We're careful about that line: we won't diagnose your pain or override your PT's plan. Let’s talk about how the two fit together.

We have been teaching Pilates in Chicago since 2002, and back pain is one of the most common complaints we hear from our clients. So this is an honest look at what Pilates can and cannot do for your back, based on what the research shows and what we see in the studio every week.

After 22+ years of teaching at our Lakeview and Lincoln Park studios, we know that someone who comes twice a week for three months will see better results than someone who comes every day for three weeks and then disappears, only to do it all again in 2 months. Consistency is the single best predictor of physical progress. Let’s get into what this means for you!

One of the best things about running a studio in Lincoln Park and Lakeview is the small businesses that surround us! Each of these are run by passionate people who care deeply about what they do and the community they serve, and we wanted to share them with you.

Private sessions and group classes serve different purposes, and the right choice depends on your goals, your body, your budget, and where you are in your Pilates journey. Read more to learn which might be best for you.

Walking into your first Reformer Pilates is scary. We’ve all been there. The equipment looks complicated, everyone else seems to know what they're doing, and you're not even sure where to stand, let alone what to do with all the springs and straps. 

Here’s exactly what to expect when you book your first Reformer class with us.

If you're new to Pilates and researching where to begin, you've probably noticed there are two main types of classes and studios: Mat Pilates and Reformer Pilates.

What's the difference? Which one is better for beginners? And does it matter which one you try first?