Blue Sparrow Pilates

I was in town for work and stopped by early one Friday morning. It was only me and one other person in my class. The studio was pretty cold but it felt better once we started working. I am a frequent Reformer student in DC and this class was as good as the classes I usually take. I even learned a few new moves. The teacher was really great about adjusting the workout for me (I’m very tall so I tend to need reformers to be adjusted a lot to accomodate and she had no problem constantly adjusting the machine for me). The studio itself is really light filled and beautiful too. I will definitely be back the next time I’m in town!

I don’t review very often, but Blue Sparrow is worth logging in for!
Blue sparrow is a beautiful studio with excellent instructors and equipment. Claudia is my favorite — she is very hands-​on, has fun, tough routines, and always has a great attitude to wake you up in the mornings!
The classes are always very small so you can be sure you are actually doing the moves correctly. Im already feeling the results.

This is a *long* overdue review for Blue Sparrow Pilates! I can’t sing enough praises for this studio. I have attended classes and taken private sessions here for over two years now, and they are always a highlight of my day. All of the instructors are fantastic — they are so attentive, and really great at tailoring workouts for each student. Emily in particular has helped me get in great shape and tackle some shoulder and hip pain. Her classes are so much fun, and I always leave feeling refreshed and energized. Thank you to the whole team at BSP!

I love Marsha’s class at Blue Sparrow Pilates in North Beach. She is a very warm and friendly instructor. I’ve only taken one Getting Familiar with Pilates and two Progresser classes here as they have prerequisites. Class size here is small, and Marsha gives a lot of personal attention, adjustments and corrections that I appreciate. For the group classes, they have reformers, springboards, chairs, TRX straps, and mats. They also have plenty of props here including boxes, arcs, foam rollers, balance discs, wooden sticks, and mini hand weights. This is the only studio I’ve been to so far where instructors have shown me how to adjust the reformer to fit my height. Staff at the front desk, who are sometimes instructors too, have been very friendly. They advised me to sign up ahead of time so that the instructor can tailor each class to the experience level of the students that have pre-​registered. Some progresser classes are more difficult than others. Overall, I like the family feel of this clean, intimate studio. Although I haven’t attended these due to my schedule, I like the community events I’ve seen in their mailers such as North Beach holiday boutique crawl gathering and Lorna Jane trunk show.

This studio was beautiful and the instructors are all very amazing! They all know how to connect with the students and how to cue. They have helped me understand my core and it is a perfect compliment to my yoga practice!

I wrote up a review a while back and somehow it is not on here anymore. So, here we go again! When I lived in San Francisco, I did my pilates teacher training at Blue Sparrow Pilates and am so very grateful. Marsha and Holly are top notch, spot on and top of the line instructor trainers. Now that I am released into the world as a certified instructor, I am so pleased with the training from Blue Sparrow. I would recommend them to anyone looking to become a pilates instructor or those who are interested in pilates for fitness and health. The instructors design workouts for people from all walks of life and with all different types of bodies (aging, post rehab, prenatal, postnatal, athletes, dancers). You name it and they can help you. Holly has put her heart into the studio and devoted her life to it. I miss you Blue Sparrow!

What a blessing to North Beach, Telegraph Hill and Jackson Square this is! Blue Sparrow is a truly special place with amazingly attentive and knowledgeable instructors. It is clear that everyone who works there takes great joy in being part of that team and great pride in their craft.
Every visit is an extremely positive experience. They take an inventory of your injuries and issues and remember them every time you come in. I have been struggling with various back and hip issues and they are very sensitive to my limitations. I am one of those overly competitive types who needs permission not to push myself too hard so I can prevent more injuries (I am struggling with the inevitable decline of my human form).
Blue Sparrow rocks!

I was brand new to Pilates, and use to walk by their cute little studio wondering what reformer pilates would be like. I have done a fair bit of yoga in the past (yawn), it was not for me. I started with a new member 3 private class deal ($ 75 great value), and had excellent one on one instruction with several different people. I have the tendency to hyper-​extend my joints, and it has cause me real problems in the past — Emily is absolutely fantastic, and spotted this right away, and really showed me how to manage this. All the staff are great, and very welcoming.
Group classes are great value for money, never more than 5 people per class. The results are fantastic, and on par with what I was paying at the gym for a personal trainer. Again, I will sing Emily’s praises, in her classes, she will always find a way to give you all the one on one attention that you need, to every single person in the class.
Over the past few months I have really learnt a lot — and if I wasn’t leaving the country — i’d be finding a way to go to Blue Sparrow Pilates as many times a week as I could.

Blue Sparrow is awesome! I have been taking private lessons from Emily, for the last 3 months, and just started taking group classes. I get a great personalized workout, when I am in private classes, and even when I’m in the group classes, they’re small enough that the teacher can watch to make sure that my form is correct.
As someone who went to the gym and lift weights 3x/​week, I went from knowing nothing about pilates to LOVING it and even quit my gym membership to do pilates all the time. Definitely worth it and I love what it’s doing to my core!

3 years later, with whole new physical ailments, and I remain even more impressed with Blue Sparrow than ever. Holly paid such close attention to my injuries and hooked me up with the fantastic Marsha, who is now easing me back out of the world of the injured and into the world of the physically able. What a first class organization, with extraordinary attention to detail and individuals.

I have had 2 classes at Blue Sparrow and I am totally impressed. To begin, I have knee, lower back and balance issues. I can’t afford private lessons, but a class with Emily over the weekend was like taking a private lesson. She kept her eyes on me — and on the others in the class — and continuously offered advice on how to modify a movement to prevent injury. This made me feel totally at ease, which allowed me to actually get more out of the class than I would have if I had felt overly cautious. Additionally, the studio, though small, is clean and the equipment all appears to be fairly new or clearly well-​maintained and definitely up-​to-​date. I have been in exercise studios for nearly 40 years. This is a really good experience.

I have only taken two private lessons so far, and they have been wonderful! I was a gymnast for many years, and a bit of a couch potato for the last few. I am in desperate need to get in better shape, and this seems like the perfect fit. It has been quite challenging, but not overwhelmingly so, which I appreciate since I am just trying to get back in the swing of things.
I took my lessons with Holly, she is incredibly knowledgeable about how the body works, and spends a lot of time making sure your posture and form is correct so you are utilizing the correct muscles.
I’ll be starting group classes later this week, and I have a feeling I’ll be spending a fair amount of time here… and loving it!

Blue Sparrow is fabulous. I went there as a recommendation from Jeana Dean (also fabulous) who works in Laurel Village. I needed a studio closer to home and I’m so glad I ended up here.
Holly is my main trainer and she is constantly upping her game and pushing me to my limit while taking into consideration my many injuries. She’s knowledgeable, funny, tough and just plain awesome.
She’s also started me on gyrotonic training with Marsha who is a hoot, as well as incredibly experienced and informed.
The studio is beautiful and clean. I love training there.

There are a lot of pilates instructors in the world, but there is only one Emily Jones. Similarly, there are MANY pilates studios in SF, but there is only one Blue Sparrow. The actual studio is bright and peaceful, and Emily is a particularly gifted and articulate teacher. I’ve worked with her privately on several occasions (I have shoulder problems), and she never ceases to amaze me. If you are interested in going deeper into your practice, understanding the nuances of exercises, and learning how to use your body more efficiently, Emily is your gal. She’s patient, extremely knowledgable, sensitive, and listens to questions/​concerns. In short: she’s everything you want in a teacher, and you will understand your body better as a result of working with her.

As you see, I’m not much for writing review, because it takes a lot for me too be completely blown away. However, Blue Sparrow Pilates is the complete WOW factor. I’ve been a client for almost 4 months and I am ecstatic that I found such a fantastic place to find my passion for Pilates.
All the instructors at Blue Sparrow are highly knowledgeable and really vested in helping clients grow in the practice and reach their physical goals. They listen if you have any physical conditions and will modify exercises to fit individual’s needs — without sacrificing your end goal. In addition, everyone there is super friendly and helpful.
I’ve been working with Michelle weekly and love her! She rocks with patience, knowledge, motivation, and overall awesomeness! She helps me transform the way I use and think of my body everyday.
I feel and look stronger and healthier — thank you Blue Sparrow!

I have been seeing Holly Fernandez at Blue Sparrow for over a year and have loved every minute of my sessions and most importantly her as an instructor. Exercise was not a real part of my life but since starting pilates that has changed.
Going to Holly twice a week has really made a difference to my core strength. Whether you are doing a private or group session you will get a real work out.
During this year I also got pregnant and Holly was able to cater the sessions to my pregnancy needs. I was able to see Holly till a week before I gave birth. I can say with confidence that it really helped during my delivery.
The studio is a very welcoming and calming place. They are always trying to better themselves and are introducing new equipment all the time.
Blue Sparrow is a fantastic studio and I hope to continue seeing them. If you have never done pilates this is a great place to start at.

Holly was my teacher at another studio in the Mission back in 2006. When she started Blue Sparrow Pilates, I immediately left the other studio to follow her to her new space. It’s a beautiful and peaceful location. Holly and the Blue Sparrow team really understand how to keep ones body aligned for good posture and, let’s face it, to look and feel HOT overall!
Even in a group setting, the teachers are talented enough to focus on each individual participant to make the experience great regardless of your skill, talent or level. They somehow manage to make each class unique and fresh.
Before BSP, I tried almost every studio in San Francisco and the classes were either uninspiring or just not good.
Like my buddy, Kai, I fear an influx of new people into our happy existence but I suppose it’s out of our hands now!

I have traveled across the US and have tried over 30 pilates studios over the last 2 years and I can say without a doubt that Blue Sparrow Pilates is the BEST studio in San Francisco. All of the instructors are innovative in their approach to pilates classes — no two classes are the same –which in my opinion is fantastic!
Since i have started taking classes with Blue sparrow my physique has completely changed — I have even been asked where I got my guns when sporting sleeveless tops.
The owner Holly is responsive and caring about her clients and her studio space. It is small but clean and chock full of fantastic equipment.
Some cons:
thanks to the popularity of the studio Advanced classes can fill up pretty early
class schedule is pretty limited as well…
and of course there is always cost… but what do you expect for quality results?

I signed up for the Blue Sparrow Pilates studio on Market after my doctor recommended that I go there to help strengthen my core and reduce my lower back pain. I’ve been seeing Alisa once a week for over three months now and the pain in my lower back has subsided greatly. Alisa is a great instructor for people with injuries and/​or those who have never tried pilates. She’s very attentive and makes sure you are in the position. She’s also very good at pushing you, gently, to finish a set.
I also worked with Emily and Holly once. Both women are really nice. I would recommend Holly to someone who has been doing Pilates for a while. If you’re looking for ripped abs, Holly will definitely get you into the great shape, fast.
About the studio: The studio on Market is super small. There is only room for three stations. Some people might not like it because it’s really tiny, but I love it because there is no one around to make me feel self conscious.

I had never exercised a day in my life until i stepped into the studio because of an epiphany. Alyssa Lee Wilmont is great– very patient, out-​going, and makes work-​outs fun while toning my bod.
Love this place