What is Pilates?
Pilates is an exercise system developed by Joseph Pilates in the early part of the 20th century to strengthen muscles, increase flexibility and improve overall health. Exercises are performed on a mat and on specially designed equipment. The Pilates system includes exercises for every part of the body and applications for every kind of activity.
Pilates focuses on engaging the mind with the body to create exercises that involve the whole body. Every exercise is performed with attention to the breath, proper form and efficient movement patterns. Pilates strengthens the core, improves balance, increases coordination and decreases stress. The exercises are safe, low impact and appropriate for anyone. Pilates focuses on learning to move better so the benefits are felt in sports and every day life.
Pilates focuses on engaging the mind with the body to create exercises that involve the whole body. Every exercise is performed with attention to the breath, proper form and efficient movement patterns. Pilates strengthens the core, improves balance, increases coordination and decreases stress. The exercises are safe, low impact and appropriate for anyone. Pilates focuses on learning to move better so the benefits are felt in sports and every day life.
Benefits
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Owner/Instructor
Kellie Loomis grew up in South Florida and has always enjoyed an active lifestyle playing sports in school, running, swimming, and biking. After becoming a stay-at-home mom, she decided to explore Pilates on her own through online videos. She was instantly hooked on the method, but found she was looking for more. She began to take regular sessions at local studios and as the weeks passed she developed a better understanding of the method, felt better overall, and began to see remarkable changes in her own body—improved posture, flexibility, and balance; stronger core; leaner muscles; and decreased stress. As a former Certified National Athletic Trainer (care and prevention of athletic injuries), she saw how Pilates allowed clients to work therapeutically as well as for fitness and decided to become a Pilates instructor to share the benefits of Pilates with others. She is comprehensively trained on mat, Reformer, Cadillac, chair and barrels through Balanced Body. Kellie enjoys helping her clients improve strength and flexibility, increase mobility and reduce pain, and increase their overall quality and enjoyment of life through Pilates. She has experience helping clients with osteoporosis/osteopenia, total knee replacements, herniated or bulging discs, arthritis, scoliosis, sponydylolysis, spondylolisthesis, stenosis, and other spinal and orthopedic conditions.
Kellie was a scholarship tennis player at Indian River Community College and the University of Montana. Kellie obtained her B.S. in Health and Human Performance, with an emphasis in Athletic Training and continued working with student-athletes as a Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainer at Clemson while she earned her M.Ed. in Guidance and Counseling Services. She went on to become the Head Athletic Trainer at Queens University in Charlotte, NC. She currently lives in Cary, NC with her husband Brett, their two active boys William and Jack, and their two rescue dogs Barley and Lexie.
Kellie was a scholarship tennis player at Indian River Community College and the University of Montana. Kellie obtained her B.S. in Health and Human Performance, with an emphasis in Athletic Training and continued working with student-athletes as a Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainer at Clemson while she earned her M.Ed. in Guidance and Counseling Services. She went on to become the Head Athletic Trainer at Queens University in Charlotte, NC. She currently lives in Cary, NC with her husband Brett, their two active boys William and Jack, and their two rescue dogs Barley and Lexie.
Instructor
Stacey Fjellman started her own journey with Pilates over 12 years ago with a Pilates mat class taught by a professional ballerina. It began a love for the practice of Pilates (everyone is practicing no matter what level they are!) and a desire to learn the extended apparatus exercises. As she progressed over the years it became clear that she loved it enough and saw the benefits in her own life enough (body awareness, posture and recovery from a tennis induced ACL repair) to want to teach it to others .
Stacey is comprehensively trained through Balanced Body and has been PMA certified since 2015. She has experience working with a variety of movement pathologies, including osteoporosis, spinal stenosis, shoulder/rotator issues and knee replacements as well as the challenges that come with pregnancy. Stacey loves to demystify the method of Pilates and show clients how it’s works for overall functionality in everyday life as well as filling in the flexibility and strengthening component that is often missing in other fitness disciplines.
Stacey is comprehensively trained through Balanced Body and has been PMA certified since 2015. She has experience working with a variety of movement pathologies, including osteoporosis, spinal stenosis, shoulder/rotator issues and knee replacements as well as the challenges that come with pregnancy. Stacey loves to demystify the method of Pilates and show clients how it’s works for overall functionality in everyday life as well as filling in the flexibility and strengthening component that is often missing in other fitness disciplines.
Instructor
Nicole Leonard began taking ballet classes as a high energy 5 year old & continued throughout college. Her fitness journey started teaching aerobics in college. She became a certified aerobic instructor and personal trainer. Her introduction to Pilates began in a mat class held at a orthopedic department at a hospital. She was instantly hooked on Pilates.
She started her pilates training in 2009 and has completed comprehensive training through Balanced Body University. Pilates is her passion and allows her to inspire her clients to be their best, be physically and mentally strong & live their BEST LIFE! When Nicole is not at the studio, she enjoys traveling, yoga & spending time with her fur-kid-Lulu.
She started her pilates training in 2009 and has completed comprehensive training through Balanced Body University. Pilates is her passion and allows her to inspire her clients to be their best, be physically and mentally strong & live their BEST LIFE! When Nicole is not at the studio, she enjoys traveling, yoga & spending time with her fur-kid-Lulu.
Instructor
Amy Murray has 15 years of experience teaching Pilates. She is comprehensively certified through Power Pilates and the Pilates Method Alliance. Her passion for Pilates began in 2002 when she took her first mat class and was amazed at what a great workout it was, and how great she felt afterward. She completed the Power Pilates Mat teacher training in 2003, and continued her training with the Comprehensive Equipment Training with Power Pilates in 2004.
After teaching Pilates for 10 years, Amy decided to expand her teaching horizons and completed her 200 hr Yoga Teacher Training with InnerLight Yoga school. She has since been teaching Vinyasa style yoga classes, as well as a weekly Chair Yoga class. She is currently pursuing her 300 hr advanced Yoga teacher training at Asheville Yoga Center.
Amy is originally from Ohio, where she attended Bowling Green State University, and earned a degree in Health Information Management. Outside of the studio, Amy enjoys cycling, yoga, swimming, hiking, SUP (stand-up paddle boarding), and spending time with family and friends.
Amy truly believes that “movement heals”, and that Pilates can bring your body back into balance and optimal functioning. She teaches with compassion and a sincere interest in making clients feel great by creating length and strength in their bodies. She looks forward to challenging you in fun and creative ways on the Pilates equipment.
After teaching Pilates for 10 years, Amy decided to expand her teaching horizons and completed her 200 hr Yoga Teacher Training with InnerLight Yoga school. She has since been teaching Vinyasa style yoga classes, as well as a weekly Chair Yoga class. She is currently pursuing her 300 hr advanced Yoga teacher training at Asheville Yoga Center.
Amy is originally from Ohio, where she attended Bowling Green State University, and earned a degree in Health Information Management. Outside of the studio, Amy enjoys cycling, yoga, swimming, hiking, SUP (stand-up paddle boarding), and spending time with family and friends.
Amy truly believes that “movement heals”, and that Pilates can bring your body back into balance and optimal functioning. She teaches with compassion and a sincere interest in making clients feel great by creating length and strength in their bodies. She looks forward to challenging you in fun and creative ways on the Pilates equipment.
Instructor
Lara Torgesen received her 600-hr Comprehensive Apparatus training through Power Pilates. She’s worked with people of all levels from beginner and special needs to advanced and ultra-fit. A former avid distance runner and marathoner, Lara found her way into Pilates after a debilitating running injury and reconstructive surgery on her foot and ankle left her barely able to walk. Post-surgical arthritis and frequent subluxations made returning to running unfeasible, but she found she could fill that exercise gap with Pilates. Regular Pilates practice helps her to re-align her joints, manage daily pain, and hold herself together (both literally and figuratively!) She knows there are others like her out there who suffer from chronic pain or other body issues that can be helped through a regular Pilates practice, and she’s eager to guide them through this journey.
Physical fitness is the first requisite of happiness.
Joseph Pilates
Blue Sky Pilates proudly uses Pilates (or CoreAlign) equipment by Balanced Body.
