Pilates & Virtual Training

Q. Describe the most common types of jobs you do for your clients.

A. I mainly do private Pilates sessions on the apparatus. I also do some Thai massage and Reiki, sometimes I teach Salsa and Merengue, sometimes I throw in a little Chinese acrobatics. Occasionally I have a client who likes to mix up the sessions with a little of all of the above thrown in together.

Q. What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A. I advice clients to throughly check out a trainers background, education and experience. Unfortunately, these days it's about as easy to get a Pilates certification as it is to get a cup of coffee at Starbucks. Therefore, the quality of training has diminshed and you could be paying up to $100 an hour for a Pilates trainer who is actually only an "apprentice"(which means they aren't even certified yet, AND don't get paid!) or for someone who did a weekend certification or has only been teaching for a year or two. I'm not saying that you can't have an amazing session with any of these trainers, but...if you're going to be spending that kind of money and basically putting your body into someone else's hands, wouldn't you WANT someone who is extremely experienced and knows how to take care of your body and get you to reach your goals? I know when I go to another trainer, a dance studio, I want to go to the best. I'd rather pay a little more money because, this is my BODY we're talking about here!

Q. Why does your work stand out from others who do what you do?

A. I've been training for over 16 years. I have a relatively low turn over rate, meaning, the majority of my clients stay with me and train two to three times per week and have been since I began working in the Boston area. Last year, the studio I trained in won Citysearch's Best of Boston for Pilates. I focus on each person as an individual and cater my sessions specifically towards each person's body. I don't do the same cookie cutter work out everytime, for every body. Therefore, I can focus on physical therapy/rehab for those who need it, I can help others lose weight and I also train professional athletes and dancers to increase their performance and minimize their potential for injuries. But most importantly, I'm always keeping my clients laughing. Laughter is proven to make people healthier in general, makes the sessions go by faster and, well, makes everyone feel ten times better than when they began!

Q. What do you like most about your job?

A. I love my clients! I treat them like family and take care of their bodies as if they were my own. I actually deeply care about each client's needs and individual situation. Whether a client tells me their back felt so much better after a session or they curse me for torturing them relentlessly but are smiling about it, I'm happy. I get immense satisfaction from helping to change peoples' lives.

Q. What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A. Well, my clients are only allowed to ask 3 questions a session...kidding. Clients ask about specific issues/problems they may be experiencing with their bodies, especially after being a weekend warrior, running a marathon or injuring themselves. I'll examine the issue physically, explain the physiology of the musculature and then outline a course of action/treatment. They also ask sometimes if the session is almost over...my reply is "believe me, I want it to be over even more than you do so I don't have to hear your whining any longer". And lastly, clients will ask where they are supposed to feel something. I reply "where DO you feel it???" Usually they say "my abs" or "EVERYWHERE" in which case, I just laugh and continue on with the session. Again, laughter is key to a successful work out!