8 Alliance

08/14/03

The scales tip in Pilates favor at this dance-yoga-fitness studio.

by Contributor at Citysearch

The Scene
After studying with three first-generation followers of Joseph Pilates (i.e., Eve Gentry, Romana Kryzanowska and Ron Fletcher), owner Jennifer Kreis went in her own direction. Her intimate studio--an airy respite within earshot of the rumbling trucks of 14th Street--incorporates multiple interests: One half resembles a traditional dance studio with its mirrored wall; the other side is filled with Pilates equipment like the wonder chair, the cadillac and the reformer. Nearby, anatomy charts hang on the wall.

The Workout
Yoga and dance are part of the program but a core muscle approach is likely to infiltrate whatever you take. While the location must contend with urban aural intrusions, the beauty of Pilates is, that with its non-stop instructions, attention-deficit-disorder types won't be easily distracted. As one of Kreis' personally trained teachers reminds you to scoop in your navel as you reach for the street, you won't have time to think about much else besides.