What is "personalized attention," really? Boutique fitness and what it actually has to offer.
Somewhere in the rise of boutique fitness classes, we began using the term “personalized attention” as a differentiator. It’s pretty self-explanatory at first glance: Our classes are small enough and our teachers are skilled enough to keep an eye on you, the way your body moves, and make small corrections or adjustments as needed. It is truly the biggest marketing difference between a large class and a small, semi-private class.
Yet the term falls short for me. Personalized attention isn’t just about corrections and being watched; it helps clients create a deeper relationship with their body, movement, and ultimately can make all the difference in whether or not they stick with it, see improvements, and reach their goals.
The Relationship Between Personalized Attention, Consistency, and Progress.
As you might’ve seen in a recent blog post, we surveyed our community this year. We were looking for ways we can better serve our community, but we were also trying to understand what factors were contributing to certain clients’ satisfaction, success, and strength, and what might be holding other clients back.
The sample size was small, a little over 50 clients, but the data was very clear. The clients who came consistently to class were also the clients who felt they received a lot of personalized attention. They were also the clients who saw the most results.
It’s easy to convince yourself that to reach your goals, get strong or improve mobility and stability, you have to be the person who goes to Pilates the most frequently. We often attribute progress to the amount of will power or determination we have. But that’s not really the case. What we saw in this survey reflects what we’ve seen over the years, which is that consistency and personalized attention are actually much more important, and a better predictor of progress.
Why Is Personalized Attention Important?
For a lot of us, our introduction to workout classes might’ve been more intense than a Reformer Pilates class. HIIT classes like Orange Theory or Barry’s, or Megaformer classes like Solidcore and BodyRok, are loud, exciting, and keep your heart rate up. They’re all about pushing yourself, they’re challenging, and they’re meant to make you work and sweat. You might leave and say, “That was hard, I’m glad it’s over.” That type of workout really works for some people. I was doing and teaching spin classes in my 20s.
But when we’re working out to see how hard we can go, we might lose track of what our body is asking for, and how the moves actually feel if we were to slow down for a moment. High-intensity workouts can encourage clients to keep going even when it feels wrong. Even slower yoga classes can be rigid, putting you in positions your body doesn’t agree with.
This is not the case for every fitness class, but it’s what we hear from people who walk through our door. They’ve been running, or doing CrossFit, and now they can’t. Maybe they’ve entered a new phase of life, just had a baby, or are recovering from an injury. Their bodies are saying no.
Personalized attention isn’t just about being watched. It encourages you to tune into how a movement feels in your body. When you complete a movement, is your range of motion larger than the average person? Has it changed over time?
That’s something a certified Pilates instructor might observe. So instead of saying to the whole class, “Go as low as you can” in a squat, a teacher giving personalized attention might come up to you and say, “See if it feels good if you don’t go as low,” then show you a shorter range of motion.
Every single body that comes through the door is different, and we treat them as such. It’s important to receive personalized attention because we aren’t just here to build strength, we’re here to improve bodily awareness and muscle activation over time. The goal is that you feel confident in movement, not only within the class, but in your daily life. It’s about being taught the difference between something that feels right, and something that doesn’t.
So what is “personalized attention,” really?
To us, this is what personalized attention means:
Highly trained teachers who observe closely, make highly specific, well-informed adjustments, and know when shifting gears is necessary.
The observation of your body and progress over time, not just within a single class. Instructors know your history and goals, so they know when a certain move might work for you (or not work).
You grow to understand the why for each movement. You aren’t just going through the motions, but connecting the dots between the moves, your muscles, and the way you feel.
You know that if your life changes for any reason: having a baby, recovering from an injury, preparing for surgery, or entering a new phase of life, your teacher can modify and adapt the workout to you. It follows you through every phase.
Progression becomes visible. When you’re being taught, observed, and supported, they can point things out you might not have noticed. “You just did that.” is something that is celebrated.
What Does Personalized Attention Feel Like?
Personalized attention feels like someone is watching what your body is actually doing, not just leading the sequence or teaching you choreography. You might leave class knowing something new about the way you move, understanding why a correction mattered, or noticing that an exercise feels different when you stop gripping or shorten the range of motion. Your mind-body connection will strengthen over time.
It also means you don’t have to know exactly what your body needs before you come to class. Your teacher pays attention, asks questions, and adjusts when needed. You are still getting a workout, but you are being taught as an individual, even in a group class. (that’s the beauty of semi-private classes).
At Core, attention begins before your first class. We reach out personally, welcome you in, and continue getting to know your body and goals over time. Our teachers will challenge you, correct you, and help you understand the movements so you feel more confident, both in class and in your daily life.
If you’re looking for Pilates in Chicago where you feel seen, taught, and understood, we’d love to meet you. Learn about our intro offers and book your first class at Core Chicago.
Getting Started at Core Chicago
If you want to see whether a smaller, more personalized Pilates setting is right for you, our Intro Week is $110 for unlimited classes during your first week, one class per day, at both our Lincoln Park and Lakeview studios. Every equipment class has a maximum of 5 people.
If you would rather begin one-on-one, our Privates Intro Package is $295 for three private sessions. Our Privates/Group Combo is $255 and includes two private sessions and two group classes.
View Our Full Schedule | See Full Pricing | 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