Pilates doesn’t have to be intimidating, exclusive, or one-size-fits-all. That’s the philosophy behind Pilates My Way, a Fredericksburg studio built around the belief that movement should meet people where they are.
Through its signature Slow Burn Method, individualized instruction, and commitment to creating an inclusive environment, Pilates My Way is helping people of different ages, body types, backgrounds, and fitness levels discover the benefits of reformer Pilates. We spoke with the team about what inspired the studio, how they’re making Pilates more approachable, and why community is at the heart of their mission.
What inspired you to start Pilates My Way, and what did you want to bring to the Fredericksburg community that you felt was missing?
Pilates My Way really came from wanting to create a different kind of Pilates experience. I wanted a space where people of different ages, body types, fitness levels, and backgrounds could walk through the door and feel like Pilates was for them.
I also wanted to move away from the idea that everyone has to move or look the same. That is where Pilates My Way comes from. We meet people where they are and coach to the person in front of us.
Our goal was to bring Fredericksburg a welcoming, community-centered studio that combines high-quality reformer Pilates with the individualized attention you would normally expect from personal training.
Your signature Slow Burn Method focuses on controlled, intentional movement. What makes this approach different, and what do you hope clients experience when they take a class?
Our Slow Burn Method is about being intentional. We are not interested in rushing through exercises just to do more repetitions. We slow the movement down so clients can focus on control, form, stability, and actually connecting with what their bodies are doing.
That slower pace does not mean easier. That is where the “burn” comes in. When you take away momentum and move with control, your muscles have to work differently.
I want clients to leave feeling challenged but successful. Whether someone is taking their first Pilates class or has been exercising for years, they should feel like they received a workout that met them at their level and helped them become stronger and more confident in their movement.
Pilates can sometimes feel intimidating to someone who has never tried it. How do you create an environment where beginners and people returning to fitness feel comfortable and supported?
That was extremely important to us from the beginning. We tell people all the time: you do not have to “get in shape” before you come to Pilates My Way. You start where you are.
New clients begin with our Slow Burn Foundations class so they can become comfortable with the reformer, our terminology, basic movements, and studio safety before moving into our other classes. Our instructors also provide modifications because everybody is not going to move the same way.
There is no competition here. We have clients across a wide range of ages and fitness levels working alongside one another. Our philosophy is simple: we coach to the person.
You are not expected to keep up with the person next to you. We want you focused on becoming stronger in your body.
Community is clearly important to Pilates My Way, including your partnership with the Move Forward Pilates Foundation. Why is giving back and making movement more accessible important to your business?
Community is a major part of who we are. Pilates My Way is a business, but we also believe a business can be successful while being of service to the community around it.
Our partnership with the Move Forward Pilates Foundation is especially meaningful because its mission focuses on U.S. military disabled veterans. Through the Foundation, disabled veterans are introduced to the benefits of structured, low-impact movement and provided opportunities to experience Pilates at no cost through its voucher program. The Foundation is also creating pathways for disabled veterans who are interested in becoming certified Pilates instructors.
For us, accessibility is about more than affordability. It is also about making sure people feel welcomed, represented, and supported. We want disabled veterans and others who may never have pictured themselves in a Pilates studio to know that movement can be adapted to meet them where they are.
That commitment to accessibility and community is an important part of what Pilates My Way stands for.
What is one thing you wish more people knew about Pilates My Way, and what would you say to someone in our community who has been thinking about giving reformer Pilates a try?
I wish more people knew that Pilates My Way really is for everyBODY. You do not have to be flexible. You do not have to be experienced. You do not have to look a certain way, be a certain age, or already be physically fit.
If you have been thinking about trying reformer Pilates, I would simply say: come as you are. Give yourself the opportunity to experience it before deciding whether Pilates is for you.
At Pilates My Way, we are going to teach you, support you, challenge you at your level, and celebrate your progress along the way.
That is really what “Your Strength. Your Movement. Your Way.” means.
Learn more about Pilates My Way: PilatesMyWay.com