Tamar is very hospitable and welcoming. She really cares about the proper placement of things, with…read moreintegrity and much consideration. If she doesn't get it right the first time, she corrects herself. She cares about doing things right without putting anyone at risk. A tough love coach and motivator, she inspires a hard earned respect as she looks out for others, not sacrificing alignment for gains, or putting others in unsafe positions. Her work is no simple favor, she offers dependable guidance and reliable acknowledgement reminding you how much your personal goals really matter. -Cherie

Tamar is exceptional. I have worked with several trainers in my life and there is a unique gift…read morethat Tamar brings to the table, which is meeting her clients where they are. Whether you're looking to go from fit to elite or if you're just starting out for the first time, she is the perfect fit. You can see that her background in yoga, competitive sports, general fitness, and nutrition combine to offer a holistic approach to her clients that few others can match. I wholeheartedly recommend anyone considering an improvement in their fitness and lifestyle to schedule some time with her. You won't regret it.

I have been working with Lise for over 7 years now. I've done classes and private sessions. She is…read moreamazing! She has the foundational knowledge of a doctor about the workings of the body and the compassion and thoughtfulness of a therapist. Lise works intuitively and can tailor your sessions to your day- to- day needs.

Lise is my life saver!!…read more I've been seeing Lise for over 2 years, once a week and I've learned so much about my center and my body from her. She has a lot of patience with us and always there to correct our postures to maximize the work out. She also helps me with my back and neck problem. One time, I had this horrendous back pain that I couldn't even stand up straight or getting up and down, after an hour of pilates work and her body work on me, I was standing up straight and was able to walk normally again!! She's now in the Rockridge area at Claremont/College.

I am writing this review as both a health care provider and a client of Leah Paperno. Leah rocks! I…read morecouldn't have asked for a better pilates instructor. I've been doing privates with Leah for a few months now and have noticed many positive changes in my body. My hamstring muscles (biceps femoris, intermembronosis and intertendonosis) tend to be tight, my groin muscles (gracilis) tend to be tight (and weak) and my abs (rectus abdominus, obliques) tend to be weak. Thanks to Leah's observations, we have explored both stretching out these bad boys and making them stronger. My body awareness has increased dramatically under Leah's instruction and I feel my body both open up and become stronger. Everyone should be so lucky to have a wonderful pilates teacher like Leah! The nitty gritty: Cash or check, park in the lot that shares with Mariposa Bakery and get there on time to make the most of your sessions with Leah! Find Leah here: http://leahpaperno.wordpress.com/

A welcoming, organized, fully equipped studio in a lovely space, with a darling chocolate lab…read moreon-site (as in labrador retriever, not a laboratory for making chocolate :) But the best thing about this studio is Alyssa Conn. Her in-depth knowledge of anatomy, exercise physiology, orthopedics, bodywork, and movement is tremendously helpful if you're dealing with pain, injury, or asymmetry. What's even better is that she explains things to me very clearly and patiently, which is important because I want to understand the underlying causes of my frequent injuries and how to treat and prevent them.

I absolutely adore this place. Nice, clean space with great natural lighting. All the necessary…read moreequipment is already there (no need to bring your own mat). Jess is a wonderful teacher and she really takes time to know her students/clients. She also goes around the room and modifies poses depending on how advanced of a student you are. I started off with the Beginner Series, which was a great intro to yoga. I've tried all the scheduled classes and my favorites are the rope, Iyengar and vinyasa. TIPS - parking across the street in a lot (look for the yellow Tree of Life Yoga Clients signs) - buzz to be let into the building; studio is all the way to the back and up the gray wooden stairs - get the 10 class pass for $140...worth it! Each class is 1.5 hours and there's usually no more than 8-10 per class. I've been in some classes where there were under 5 people - if you want to get in a rope class, reserve a month in advance (seriously) If you're even thinking about trying this place, DO IT. I promise you won't regret it!

Almost everything has already been said, so I won't repeat the very true, excellent reviews…read moreregarding Jessica, the space, or the classes. Everyone is down to earth, lovely, and real. If you are into lululemon yoga pants and Eat, Pray, Love annoyingness- this is NOT the place for you. Jessica did an outstanding in-depth assessment and now she is teaching me a completely new way to move, and, frankly, to live in my own body. Since I am very analytical, I appreciate that she shares her deep knowledge of anatomy and physiology. If you are a) stressed out by a corporate environment, b) turning into a little cramped shell of back/shoulder pain, and c) you want to actually DO something about it, this review confirms that the instruction at TOLY is world-class.

I have no doubt that the owner, Angi, knows fitness and Pilates. What the studio needs to learn is…read morehow to treat new, and potentially steady, customers. I was one of the Living Social participants, and only went to one class. I will not go back. First, it was very hard to get into a class. I had to insist that because I have a full time job, I cannot come to class at 10 AM or 4PM. I was finally allowed into an intermediate group. There was no greeting - you have to be buzzed in, and the person coming to the door was a student who looked as if she didn't want to let me in and asked what I was doing there. One other person had her back to me at the computer - this turned out to be Angi. After 5 minutes had passed she finally acknowledged my presence. Her first greeting was not "Welcome to our studio" but "Are you signing up for the class permanently since it is so full you would need to reserve your spot by the 3rd class?". I said that I hadn't taken ANY classes there yet so didn't know. (it turned out that the only people in the class were me and the person who came to the door). Class started almost 15 minutes late. The instructor (not Angi) was knowledgeable, but the flow of the class was not great. It did end right on time, which meant we had a 45 minute class instead of the hour. When I called later to find out more information about my classes, I never received a call back. It was clear that even though they had agreed to do the Living Social deal, they were not happy about it. A friend of mine told me that she had had the exact same experience and would not be going back. So at least two interested and motivated clients have moved on to other studios.

I really wish I can give better feedback since she is practically my neighbor. However I went to…read moreone class and will not return. I bought a Groupon to try out these classes. After the class was cancelled 2 times due to insufficient number of attendees, we finally got a class going.. great! Then I found out that I was the only one in the class...still fine, more attention for me! Turns out Angi did not lead the class. The class was led by her student who kept referring back to her binder, who also required constant teaching reminders from Angi on breathing techniques and so forth. At the end of the 45 min class (filled out forms for the 1st 15), we went through 3 poses. It was a complete waste of my time. Had I known I was going to be a guinea pig for her student, I would not have attended.

First time trying this studio. It is studio with 5 reformers and another section that has some…read moreother equipment. The morning session was like a private since another client didnt show up. The instructor was friendly, asked if i had any injuries she should know about. I did some footwork on the reformer, used a ball between my knees, did some movements with the handles and magic circle. It was a brain and body coordination workout that I wasnt used to. Did a couple variations of leg circles changing the positon of my feet. The instructor did do some hands in corrections. It was a nice workout to get in while on vacation.

I had a few individual session at HEAL with Juna, she is so wonderful and knowledgeable! I am new…read moreto pilates so I didn't know what to expect, but she did a great job helping me understand how to use the reformer and corrected my form to make sure the exercise is done properly. I love my individual sessions and I will be also going to group classes soon.

As a newcomer to Pilates, I was really unsure of where to go or how to start. I found Bayside…read morePilates on the web, and went with them because they had a nice site and because they had great prices on classes. I have been really pleased with my choice. Faye is an excellent teacher! She provides excellent group and individual classes. She pays a lot of attention to each student and remembers all of their physical histories. She really works with past injuries and current concerns. I've seen a lot of progress, and actually enjoy coming to class to exercise! Faye makes the workouts challenging without killing you, and makes exercising fun.

I was referred to Bayside Pilates by a friend to whom I am now forever indebted. I had an injury…read moreto my ankle, knee and lower back. I was at the point where the injury was mostly healed but all of the surrounding muscles lost their strength and were not working properly due to over-compensation and in the case of my abs, inactivity. I came to Faye suffering from severe sciatica. I couldn't walk more than a half a block without severe pain in my lower back. Faye took on a pretty hard case with me and let me tell you, Faye is a GREAT teacher! She has infected me with Pilates. I can't stop! It doesn't hurt my back! Her passion for her calling is wonderful and inspiring. 1. She is very knowledgeable and well-trained in her field. She explains everything she is asking you to do and how it works to strengthen you. 2. She corrects your form carefully so that you will not hurt yourself. Make sure you fill out her form thoroughly so that she can help you not to re-injure yourself. 3. The studio is beautifully designed, furnished and is spotless! Very zen and all new! She takes very good care of her equipment and asks you to do so too. I really like that. It shows her respect for her calling, herself, and her clients. 4. She is affordable. Believe me, other studios are more expensive and aren't nearly as approachable or nice. 5. Her attitude towards her students is helpful, nurturing and fun. She makes you want to come back. For those who know me, exercise was NOT my favorite thing. But this is really fun. She is encouraging, even when I feel like a beached whale on her equipment. 6. You will see results. I have gone for 6 times now, I think, and I can see the results in my yoga, cycling and walking. Yes, Pilates is making other exercise more fun for me. Already, less pain, and my workers comp chiropractor says that Faye is having me do exactly the right things! Oh Joy! 7. Her studio is in a safe area with a big inexpensive parking lot about a block away. And after your workout... there's Piedmont Avenue to explore! This is great for your body, and I love it. I am not some perfectly trim, dancer's body, young, athletic hipster. I'm a plump mom in my late 50's. If I can be helped, ANYONE can be helped by Faye and her Pilates studio. Give her a try. You will love it.

I have worked with Joss for several years and she is incredible! I've worked with many other…read morepilates instructors and Joss just has such an amazing knowledge of the human body and can really pinpoint ways to work with you to improve all areas of your anatomy. She has a great sense of humor and is a joy to work with. Her studio is very well equipped, bright and super clean. I've used props there I've never seen in other studios. She also has an amazing virtual class she does every week and then you have full access to all the recorded videos. You will love working with her! https://root-and-limb.com/evergreen-membership/

I started working with Josselyn nearly two years ago. I was nervous to try Pilates - all those hard…read morebodies going in and out of the studio. And, I didn't know if I'd be strong enough for the Pilates moves I'd seen on youtube. I told her my fears up front and she was so kind and understanding. She reassured me I could do Pilates and we'd go at a pace that worked for me. Ever since our first sessions, I've been hooked! I have some old injuries she help me with to lessen pain and increase strength/mobility. At nearly 50 I am far stronger than I ever could have imagined I'd be! (Thanks Joss!) Not only is Joss a fantastic instructor, she is such a lovely person! Funny, kind, super smart and her knowledge of anatomy is impressive. I'm a huge fan!