What 52 of Our Chicago Clients Told Us About Seeing Results from Pilates
This spring we asked our clients across both studios, Lakeview and Lincoln Park, to tell us how Pilates was going for them. What was changing in their bodies, what was getting in the way, and what they wanted from us.
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 the consistency.
One note before the numbers: this was a survey of our own community, answered by 52 people who chose to respond. It's not a scientific study, it's simply what our clients told us, reported as they said it.
What did the clients seeing the biggest results do differently?
They came more often and consistently. That's the whole answer.
The plateaued or “about the same” group wasn't less motivated or less capable. They were busier: 71% of them named schedule conflicts as the thing limiting how often they come.
We wrote about this pattern in How Often Should You Do Pilates to See Results? After 22+ years of teaching, we believed consistency was the single best predictor of progress. Our own clients' data says the same thing. If you can protect 2 to 3 sessions a week, the results tend to take care of themselves.
What changes did clients notice in their bodies?
Core strength was the most mentioned change by a wide margin. Clients described it in their own words: "my core is stronger than ever."
Pain reduction and recovery came up next, and specifically. One client reported fewer headaches and less shoulder pain. Several credited their classes with supporting recovery after surgery, including ankle and hand surgeries, working alongside their physical therapy rather than replacing it (we wrote about how that handoff works in Pilates After Physical Therapy). One client described coming back one year postpartum and finding the studio a peaceful place to rebuild strength.
Posture and body awareness showed up again and again. People told us they catch themselves correcting their own posture while standing around, move with better form in daily life, and understand what their body is doing in a way they didn't before. To them it's movement education, not just a workout, and that's exactly what we care about at Core.
Flexibility, balance, and mind-body connection rounded out the list: "feel flexible and strong," "more connected to my breath," "confidence in my body."
Does the community side of a studio matter?
Yes – more than we expected, and it's tied directly to class size. 13 clients, without being asked about class size at all, brought it up when explaining why they'd recommend us. One said a session "felt like a private class even though there were more people."
There was an obvious pattern when the data came back: the clients who feel seen by their instructors are the same clients who feel connected to the studio, and they report the most progress.
So if you've wondered why our equipment classes cap at 5 people, this is why.
What are we doing with this feedback?
A few things, and we've been rolling out changes over the past few months. Our clients named their instructors over and over, unprompted, as the reason they stay, so our first commitment is to keep investing in the depth of training our instructors are known for. We're also looking hard at what clients told us about how life gets in the way of consistency, because the data above makes that the most important problem we can help solve. And class sizes stay exactly where they are.
To everyone who filled out the survey: thank you. You’re helping us shape and maintain what people love about Core and Pilates.
Getting Started at Core Chicago
If the consistency finding is the one that stuck with you, the best first step is picking a schedule you can keep.
If you want individual attention first: Our Privates Intro Package ($295) includes three one-on-one sessions built around your body and your goals.
If you want to try both: Our Privates/Group Combo ($255) includes two private sessions and two group classes.
If you're ready to jump into classes: Our Intro Week Membership ($110) gives you unlimited classes for your first week (one per day) at both our Lincoln Park and Lakeview locations, with a max of 5 people per equipment class.
View Our Full Schedule | Learn More About Our Intro Packages
Core Chicago Pilates Locations: Lincoln Park: 2549 N Racine Ave, Chicago, IL 60614 | Lakeview: 3000 N Sheffield Ave, Chicago, IL 60657
Questions? Email: info@corechicagopilates.com | Call or text: 773-296-9660
Resources
All figures in this post come from the Core Chicago Pilates community survey, conducted in March and April 2026 with 52 client respondents across our Lakeview and Lincoln Park studios.