From The Center Pilates Studios

While the instruction was good I had problems with — surprise surprise — billing and Patrick’s attitude. See a pattern in the reviews here yet? I was assured that Patrick would help me work with my insurance, which he did not, and when I called and canceled my weekly session he lied to me and stated that I only canceled one session and owed him for the next week session. We had a disagreement over this and he then never supplied the paperwork for me to submit to my insurance.

Excellent place. Professional, clean and conveniently located. Very creative and professional instructors. (Amanda is my favorite). :)
Recommended.

Looks like a lot of the positive reviews (especially the filtered) are fake. I went were a few times (and really wanted to like it because I live close by), but I was unimpressed. Very small space and instructors have limited availability. During my last visit, the owner/​manager (not sure of his title) was doing Pilates, which I thought was strange and distracting because he was talking loudly the whole time to my instructor and someone that was spotting him (was like going out to eat and seeing a restaurant manager sitting down eating while talking to and distracting the staff instead of working). Bottomline, small space, unprofessional and challenging to schedule an appointment. I’d skip this place especially if you’re spending the money to pay for private lessons.

From The Center Pilates Studio is amazing! I have been going to FTC for about 9 months now and my core and back have gotten a lot stronger as a result. I have low back issues (been hospitalized with bulging discs) and going to FTC has kept me out of the hospital and I have needed no steroids or pain killers since I started.
My regular instructor is Eileen. She is extremely knowledgable, personable, and gives fantastic feedback throughout the session. She is also very in tune with my back issues and how to help me when things are feeling a bit tight. I just finished the pilates passport package so had the opportunity to work with some other instructors. Patrick, Liz, and Erin are fantastic instructors. The best thing about all of the instructors I have worked with is that they notice every little move I make and either make the appropriate corrections or let me know that I am doing a good job. They do not just let me do all the reps just to get them in. If I can’t get the hang of an exercise they move on to something else for a bit to «open me up» and then we go back to the exercise. 9 times out of 10 this works.
I can’t speak highly enough about FTC! Though it is a bit expensive I am willing to make that financial sacrifice for the sake of my back and for the benefit of having instructors that are friendly, knowledgable, and communicative.

Took up pilates after my chiropractor told me to look into it. Was having constant excruciating lower back pain. Started off doing 2 classes a week, after about a month i was pretty much able to do everything a human being should be able to do with minimal pain. It’s now been 4 months and i’m pain free as long as i don’t do something stupid with my back. Pilates and Eilene have given me back full use of my body, eliminated constant sun up to sundown pain. If i still lived in Chicago i’d still be going here. From The Center is fantastic, friendlly, knowledgeable and passionate about pilates. Highly recommend From The Center!

I am new to Pilates, and went for my first private session this morning and it was great! I worked with Patrick (I believe he is the owner) and he was incredibly knowledgable and was very careful to ensure I was doing everything correctly. The hour absolutely flew by between the different moves and the laughs. The space is very friendly and the people are all very nice. I already signed up for my second session.

I started with From the Center 6 months ago and I’ve been hooked since my first session. I have learned so much about my body and am always so thrilled by the depth and breadth of the knowledge that Eileen brings to the sessions. I have scoliosis, so sometimes I feel twisted up like a pretzel, not to mention the pain that usually comes along with that — working with a specific Pilates program tailored for my needs brings me tons of relief.

I started pilates with From the Center because I had lower back problems that limited my ability to exercise in other ways… I am THRILLED not only with the way my back and core have gotten stronger, but with the 15lbs and multiple inches I have lost. Patrick is fantastic and accomodating as are all the instructors I have worked with… I couldn’t recommend pilates at From the Center more! I have been going for a year and feel (and look) great. I am a wedding planner and I always tell my brides to do pilates if they want to look fantastic in their gown on the big day.

This studio and the people who make it up are AMAZING. I have worked with several instructors over the last 4 years, mostly Sara K and you just can’t go wrong. Booking Online is easy, they offer a number of packages, classes and to top it all off the owner, Patrick is über talented über kind and über professional which is really reflected in the overall energy of the studio. The other thing I really like about these instructors is that they know how to work with people who have injuries or major muscular imbalances as well as people who are in tip top athletic form. Always a challenge. Always results!

This is a great pilates studio — calm, relaxing, and friendly and experienced staff. They are careful about form, and after a session here I always feel calmer, stronger, more flexible, and more well-​adjusted (mentally and physically!!). Their online scheduler is also really easy and friendly. I’m afraid to get a little too addicted to pilates — wish I could go all the time!

I have taken Pilates at FTC for just over a year now. I am hooked. I never thought pilates would be for me but it is. I have worked with Sara K almost exclusively but have also worked with Paula on occasion as well if I needed to switch up my schedule. Both are extremely knowledgeable not only of pilates but of human anatomy and physiology as well. This is extremely helpful when you are working muscles you have never worked/​felt before.
It is not cheap. Perhaps if you had experience and were going to the group classes it would less expensive. Being as new as I am and wanting to learn I pay more for one on one sessions. It’s not an easy expense but I feel it is truly worth it and I have learned so much about my body and the strength it has.

I took advantage of their free pilates lesson. It’s one on one which is great. Paula is so nice and encouraging. This would be great for anyone who is rehabilitating or pregnant because it’s low impact and concentrates on muscle building. I think my lesson was a little too easy, but I’m sure Paula wanted me to concentrate on my breathing and that’s it. I would def. love to go back again to try a more difficult session.

So I went here for a private one on one session with Paula. I’d happen to get a complimentary Pilates session and wanted to give it a try. First of all, the people here are extremely nice and the layout was intimate. There are 4 reformers and a handfull of other Pilates machinery. They definately seem to know what they are doing.
Now for the session itself, Paula was great. She really helped control my breathing, get the correct posture, and make me work for it! However, at the end of the session, I just didn’t feel like it was enough for me. I think I just like to sweat and feel really active, so it’s not that I’m downing the place. but I’m downing pilates. It’s not for me.
If you are really into Pilates, def. give this gym a try. There is a River North location as well.