Pilates is the perfect discipline for us, the adults. Core centered strength work and flexibility-targeting muscles long forgotten. And without the jarring impact of a standard gym workout.
Leslie is a great coach, smart and dedicated, with a thorough knowledge of Pilates and how it effects the body- supportive as you learn, always setting high standards.
As for me, I’ve never felt better.
Jay Milano, 64, Attorney, Professor OSU
Pilates makes me feel strong, confident, and empowered.
Monica Logar, 32, College Counselor
I have had degenerative disc issues for some time, a condition that doesn’t go away. A few months ago I was ASKING for surgery to relieve my pain.
While waiting for the opportunity to explore surgery I started Pilates at White Cloud with Leslie.
Leslie has given me my life back.
The exercises have strengthened my core, improved my balance and just make me feel great. I am confident again that I can live life and not be afraid of hurting myself.
I couldn’t walk down our block and now I can walk all day. I can sit, stand, sleep and do almost anything without pain.
I still have the bad discs but they aren’t affecting my life any more.
Matt Beverstock, 60, Owner Warwick Products Co.
My most sincere appreciation goes out to Leslie Mitchell, my instructor at White Cloud Pilates West. Due to her skill, patience, and ability to tailor lessons to fit my individual orthopedic issues, I am pain free at work and play!
Physician, friend & client
I am stronger, my balance is much improved, and I can feel the impact on my core and entire body. I am new to Pilates, and Leslie and her team did a great job of helping me get to Level 2 quickly. White Cloud Pilates West excels at the 4 P’s of Pilates:
Patience, Passion, Persistence, and People.
Pete Bastulli, 58, CFO
I’ve been in Leslie’s Pilates classes for several years and it’s been life changing for my mobility and body strength. Leslie takes the time to ensure proper movement by paying special attention to specific areas in which I need to improve such as mobility or posture. She is so knowledgeable, not only about Pilates, but also about the whole body, allowing flow and movement to strengthen balance, hip mobility and muscle lengthening.
Zoe Johnson, 54, Director of New Business Development
White Cloud Pilates West has helped me tremendously. Having a strong core aids with everyday activities as well as reducing the pain from my arthritis. Plus I look better! The instructors are deeply knowledgeable about the human body and give individual attention to each student’s needs. I feel like I can work out safely, do a little bit of socializing and leave feeling better physically and mentally.
Amy Kloss
As a student of White Cloud Pilates West for almost 10 years, I have confidence in the instructor’s ability to adapt to my changing body. They listen to my needs and help me to make appropriate modifications that don’t compromise the workout but help me to continue to stay healthy.
Suzanne Cooper
White Cloud Pilates West is an excellent Pilates studio. The instructors are experts in human anatomy and understand the goals and needs of their clients. They have helped me considerably with shoulder and neck pain. I highly recommend White Cloud Pilates West to anyone who is interested in their physical fitness and appearance.
Laura Charles
I do it to stay flexible, strong and have less pain. Pilates has been a pleasure. I always look forward to attend my Pilates private session with Grace who is a knowledgeable and supportive teacher.
Alice McGinty, 93
Grace is a fantastic Pilates instructor. Grace has a gift for working with people as they come while pushing them to get stronger (without you even realizing you’re being pushed). When you work with Grace you know that she carries with her a great depth of knowledge about Pilates as a practice, how people move, and also how people can be taught to move. I’ve been working with Grace for almost six years, and I have never felt stronger and more secure in my body. As someone who has struggled with pain from old sports injuries and could be described as a natural klutz, Pilates has taught me strength, balance and proprioception. And I know how to practice Pilates because Grace has shared her wisdom with me. And as I’ve grown to love Pilates so much, I’ve even gotten my husband in on the fun.
Justine Shullick, 38, Senior Legal Counsel
Pilates, particularly with Leslie Mitchell at White Cloud Pilates West, has saved my health and improved my life in so many ways. When I was approaching my fiftieth birthday, I realized I had to find some kind of exercise that I would do if I wanted to have a good life in later years. I had been diagnosed as osteopenic (next door to osteoporosis); my weight was out of control; I couldn’t really sit or stand long enough to do my job (teacher); I was dealing with clinical depression; I got out of breath very easily; and I needed motivation to stick with some type of exercise. I had heard ads for White Cloud Pilates years ago on WCLV, and I thought I would try the “safe, effective exercise” they promised.
I was fortunate enough to start working with Leslie. I have heard of other studios which are very impersonal, where clients just sign up for a class, go, and basically go through the motions. But for Leslie, helping people do Pilates successfully is a true vocation. Pilates is about doing the moves correctly and focusing on different muscle groups; and individual attention from instructors is very important, especially for a beginner. I took private classes with Leslie twice a week for a couple of years, and then I was comfortable enough to join group classes and work with other instructors (did I mention I am very introverted?), all of whom are friendly and excellent. Even in group classes, which are small at this studio, Leslie gives individual attention to clients by correcting form and providing alternate exercises for people with injuries or other limitations. Leslie goes beyond just renewing her certification to teach Pilates; she constantly looks at videos and explores different ways of cueing movements that help people understand what they are supposed to do. Sometimes she teaches classic Pilates moves just on a mat on the floor, but she also has a variety of machines and objects for clients to use. This, along with her constant exploration of different approaches, keeps classes fresh and challenging.
During the COVID pandemic, Leslie demonstrated her care for clients by closing the studio and offering private and group classes via Zoom with the same freshness and attention as her in-person offerings.
So, more than eleven years later, as a result of doing Pilates with Leslie and the other instructors and clients at White Cloud Pilates West, my bone density is better; my weight is under control; I have more stamina for sitting, standing and moving; my mental health has improved; and I have a safe place where I can exercise with others
Elizabeth Todd
