I've had an amazing experience with Linda, my private instructor. She is incredibly dedicated and provides personalized guidance to my goals. This in-home studio has a cozy and welcoming atmosphere which always makes me focus on my body. If you're looking to improve your posture and overall fitness, give East Side Balance a try! read more

Finding Linda and East Side Balance has been one of the greatest gifts that I could give myself. All sessions are one to one on the reformer at a rate that is surprisingly affordable compared to downtown options. While the address is Manor, you can be to the home studio in 20 minutes. And, if you work at Tesla, you can be there in 5 min. I can't possibly express with enough enthusiasm how exceptional Linda and East Side Balance is. read more

I'm short - not 5'2 "average" short, but under 5' "truly, truly" short. All my life, I've just wanted to be "average" short. And fit. Like Britney Spears circa late 90s/early 00s fit. Like Jennifer Aniston circa Brad Pitt era fit. You get my point. Now that I'm older, I've come to terms with my height. I've accepted that even with heels, I'm still freakishly short. It's okay. It's who I am. My fitness - I can do something about. If I can't be tall, I can at least have some semblance of abs, some muscular definition... something. So, with a dream in my mind, I did some research on Pilates classes in Austin. For the most part, I found that private (and semi-private) classes were costly (ranging anywhere between 50-100 per class). Since private classes were definitely out of my budget, I figured I'd look into mat classes instead. A few days later, my mother-in-law fortuitously mentioned to me that she was taking Pilates classes at a studio in Central Austin and asked if I'd like to try a class with her. OF COURSE! The Pilates studio is located behind House Pizzeria on 52nd Street in a very cute, renovated house. The couple who runs the studio, Gary and Linda, are patient, kind, and very nice. They offer a package of 10 semi-private classes for $350, which is a steal at $35 per class. For the most part, there's only been one or two other students at the studio while I'm working out. Sometimes, I'm the only one there. Regardless, Linda and Gary provide me with their undivided attention and work along side with me so that I get the movements right. After 10 classes, I can definitely feel a difference in my body and see noticeable changes in my abs, arms, and legs. So, I may never have Jennifer Aniston's bod, but I'm on my way to having a stronger, leaner, and fitter body. That makes me happy. read more

I've been going to Eastside Balance for about 6 months now and I plan to continue as long as possible. I suffer from an L5-S1 disk herniation and spondylolisthesis in my lower back and multiple problems with disks in my neck. I've been through physical therapy so many times I've lost track. However, I've never really had any success with PT and was so disappointed, as I did my exercises religiously. (Anyone who lives with the amount of pain I live with knows that you will try just about anything in hopes that it will go away). My doctors have told me that I MUST exercise and stretch my back or my condition will deteriorate. I've tried all kinds of exercises and exercise programs and have found that doing machine pilates workouts has been, without exception, the best thing I've found to help strengthen my back and neck. I was a little hesitant when I first came in to the studio because I had tried "mat pilates" classes at gyms before and couldn't do many of the positions due to my injuries. What I found, was that Gary assessed my physical capabilities by taking a detailed history and watching closely as I performed simple exercises. He figured out where I was weak due to the injuries and created a custom work-out for me. Throughout the past months I've noticed that he continually re-assesses my condition, researches how to better help me and creatively finds exercises that I can do to strengthen the areas I need to work on without hurting myself. He essentially does the job of a physical therapist but does it better than any PT I've been to. I wish I had found Eastside Balance before I spent so much money on physical therapy sessions and before I decided to have back surgery in 2006. I truly feel this is one of the best things I can be doing to help my body recover from injury. I knew I would need to find a place that was affordable since I essentially have been given a life-time prescription for exercise. Gary and Linda are extremely generous with their rates and their time. After working with them for 6 months I've come to realize that they are people who genuinely want to help others improve their quality of life. One last thing I love about this studio, is that it's quiet. Yes...it's quiet. And it's peaceful. I get overwhelmed by gyms simply because of all the people and all the noise and bright lights. This pilates studio is essentially an extension of a quaintly renovated home in East Austin. There are brightly-colored, cheerful paintings all over the walls (done by Linda, who is also a local artist) and lots of mirrors. The place is spotlessly clean...even the bathroom and changing area. I don't think I've ever seen a drop of water in the bathroom sink. It feels just like walking into a home...Linda keeps a pitcher full of ice water with lemon and clean glasses for you when you come in. I actually look forward to coming to my workouts here...and I don't think I've ever said that about a gym. Although my pain still lingers, I find quite a bit of relief after each workout and often that relief carries into the next day or so. Gary or Linda also do a short Shiatsu massage on you with a roller after each workout, and it feels fantastic! Also, in case you were wondering...these workouts can be pretty intense if you want them to be. I've gotten so toned that my boyfriend has commented...and that definitely made me smile :) I also feel like I'm less likely to re-injure myself now that I'm so much stronger. If you're trying to decide whether or not pilates is for you, this is an excellent place to start. This business is run by local folks who want to help and do a fantastic job of it. Thank you, Gary and Linda, for your tireless efforts and commitment to help those around you improve their quality of life. I hope you never quit! read more

I can't agree more with the other reviewers, this place is amazing. I have exercised in numerous gyms, worked with a dozen personal trainers, completed many hours of yoga, and taught group fitness classes myself; East Side Balance is hands' down the best experience I have had. The knowledge and commitment of both Gary and Linda is obvious with each encounter. Add to it the lovely environment of a restored 1940s house whose walls, nooks and crannies are all filled with Linda's amazing artwork, and you have a very Zen like experience. Don't forget measurable results in a short time. 13 sessions and my agility is improved, flexibility greatly increased, clothes are looser and 18 pounds gone ( that has been in the works for a while but has become easier), plus my chronic knee pain is all but gone. What could be better? Amazing, reasonable pricing, very flexible scheduling, lack of crowds and right in my neighborhood. I will keep coming back. Thanks Linda and Gary! read more

So happy I took the plunge 8 weeks ago and started Pilates @ East Side Balance. Gary and Linda guide me with expertise, kindness and a sense of humor! As a newly certified--but middle aged--yoga instructor, I felt I needed strength training to improve my yoga practice. Pilates is a perfect adjunct to my yoga practice--they compliment each other so well. And the instruction at East Side is geared to helping me meet my yoga goals. I looked at a couple of other Pilates studios--East Side Balance is the real deal. read more

This studio, this practice and these instructors are the absolute best. Carving out the time and money to be part of their Pilates studio is beyond worth it. Once you feel the changes, it becomes necessity. I pass on many little luxuries because doing pilates in this studio has been such an amazing gift to my health. I have been going to this studio at least twice a week for the last year. It has completely transformed my body. I'm lighter, stronger, agile and continually inspired to continue. I will have the best body of my life soon, after 2 kids and I'm approaching middle age! Linda and Gary are supreme role models on how to live with intention, health and a spirit for life. They recognize what your body needs and both nudge and support you on that path. I'm forever grateful for who they are, what they know and how they provide their students with the absolute best workout and inspired healthy living. read more

At my last physical, the doctor told me I need to increase my core strength. My routine of daily walking was not enough. I need a workout that is low to no impact. Happily, I found East Side Balance Pilates Studio. This jewel of a studio is located in a remodeled house off Airport Blvd. The cozy studio is brightly decorated with one the owner's original artwork. The owners/instructors are always positive and encouraging. They pay attentive to my pre-existing conditions (mild arthritis, wrist tendonitis) and adapt the exercises to meet my needs. Now for results! After about 6 weeks (2 sessions per week) my strength and flexibility are noticeably improved. I leave every session feeling energized and look forward to the next one (now that's a positive change for me and exercise). read more

I have owed these guys a review for some time now! I know there are a plethora of other fantastic reviews so I will try to keep this short. Gary and Linda do a great job of making a personalized workout plan for you based on any physical limitations you have. I came to them because I was tired of popping pain killers for a torn disc in my lower back. I had been given the wrong course of treatment from 2 doctors and a physical therapist... so I was tired and ready to try anything... Linda and Gary came to the rescue. Gary has special certifications, so he is extremely knowledgeable about the spine and muscles. He knew the exact things I needed to do to get to feelings better fast. After combining a new PT regimen to the pilates regimen I was on, I now feel 99%... which is AMAZING!!!! And not only is my back feeling better, I am more toned than I've ever been before. Linda is so sweet and is so involved in what is going on in your life. I work at a local boutique and she has been my biggest advocate! At least once a week we'll get a new customer from a pilates recommendation. She also tells me about other pilates customers' businesses, and I found myself buying a new type of coffee that one of them owns! Eastside balance is the best representation of a small Austin business... it's a very "I scratch your back, you scratch mine" type of place. Exactly where I want to be! Pilates really is a total body workout. Eastside Balance provides a relaxing non-threatening environment, so you can go as hard as you want or as light as you'd like. I love that Linda and Gary have different styles of pilates instruction, so I get to change up my workouts every time I'm there. It keeps me interested and motivated! If you're tired of the same 'ol workout, try these guys. They're awesome! Ok this got a whole lot longer than I intended. oops! Go workout at Eastside Balance!! read more

I injured my knee a couple of years ago, trying to keep up with a group exercise class. I've been going to Eastside Pilates for about 18 months now, and I'm stronger and better aligned than I have been in many years. I feel the benefits of what they do with every step I take, every move I make. And I'm much more conscious of ways to prevent injury! Gary is an amazing teacher/coach/mentor. All the glowing reviews you see here, about the beauty and serenity of the studio, and the kindness and compassion of Gary and Linda, are spot on. No matter what your fitness level, they can meet you where you are. They can help ballet dancers and folks that are recovering from a stroke or other serious injury. They have great wisdom and understanding of the human body. I can't recommend them enough. read more

East Side Balance has been great for me. My exercise routine had consisted mostly of running and the occasional yoga class. I really needed to build strength and flexibility. I didn't have any experience with Pilates but Linda and Gary knew just how to ease me into it. After just a few months I feel stronger than I have in years and it's gratifying to see some new muscles emerge! The ultimate test -- I went skiing for the first time this year and my legs were ready. No burning at all! Linda and Gary are both super knowledgeable about the body and all types of exercise, in addition to being nice and interesting people. read more

This place is amazing-- best Pilates place in town. They aren't doing this to make a million dollars, they are doing it because it's a lifestyle they chose. It's not a super new space with slick marketing and they did not get their pilates certifications last week. They have a very deep understanding of human physiology and use this knowledge to guide you though movements that literally shape and sculpt your body. I think the best thing pilates is good for is better posture-- in my opinion, bad posture ages people more than anything! Did I mention their rates are very affordable? read more

I never liked exercise until I met Gary and Linda with Eastside Balance Pilates. Wow! What a difference it makes to have people train you who really know what they are doing. And the group sessions are like having one-to-one training because they are right there with you the entire session. Can't say enough good things about this place and people. read more

My wife and I love going to Eastside Balance! Each visit is a transformative experience. We are grateful to Gary and Linda for taking such a personal interest in our well-being. read more

Eastside balance is my happy place. Gary and Linda's studio is beautiful, clean, and comfortable, and the workout you get here will energize you from brain to toes. Also, they specialize in accommodating your weird body injuries. I can't recommend them enough. read more

Pilates has changed my life. I am not athletic or flexible, and did not know what to expect from equipment/reformer-based pilates. Over the past six months, I have become noticeably stronger. I only go twice per week, but it has made a huge difference and I feel energized and empowered after every session. I have finally found an exercise that I enjoy and facilitates my fitness goals: increased strength and flexibility. I have Gary and Linda to thank for their enthusiastic pilates instruction! Not only does Eastside Balance have top-of-the-line equipment and machines (which Gary builds himself), but the space is inviting as well. They hang their art on the walls, and there is great natural light in the studio. It doesn't hurt that the other clients are super nice, and the whole place buzzes with positive energy. Most of the time there is only one or two other clients there but other times, I am the only client there and I get one-on-one attention from Gary and/or Linda. Gary and Linda are very kind and passionate. I feel like I am part of a family at Eastside Balance. Health and wellness are extremely important to me, and I can trust Gary and Linda's leadership in exercise. read more

I started to text Linda and Gary this but realized the best place for my comment was on Yelp. I left there today, after 3 weeks of working out twice a week, and the feeling I have is "empowered". I'm 56 and had felt like I was on the down hill slide as far as my fitness goals. Not any more! These two are the best at reading your body and understanding what you need to work on even if it is something so subtle you weren't even aware of it. I see such improvement in flexibility and strength even after this short time. I really look forward to being there. It is a lovely space and they and the other folks working out with you make it feel like a happy family. I am excited about the prospect for my 2016. My New Years resolutions and goals are going to be attainable! Thank you both for creating the space you have. read more

Gary and Linda do a great job, I look forward to each session. I am a chiropractor and I appreciate the importance of training flexibility, endurance, balance and strength. I recommend to many of my patients pilates training with Gary and Linda. read more

I really believe that Gary and Linda cured a back problem I was having. I'd had three months of physical therapy for it, which helped, but I was still having problems when I came to them. Gary seems to have detailed and extensive knowledge of the human body, and he watched my reactions to exercises and talked with me about my injury and seemed to design a program to address my specific issues and adjust it based on how I responded. He explained things to me that my physical therapist hadn't, and it made a world of difference. My physical therapist had told me that if something hurt, I shouldn't do it, but Gary explained the difference between sharp pains that meant I was doing something that hurt me and dull aches that meant that I just needed to strengthen and stretch my stiff back muscles. By following his program, my back problem went away within a few weeks. The one-on-one nature of their work makes me feel hugely supported. They pay attention and notice little things like the way I habitually turn my feet or the arch of my back, and they respond by helping. Overall, I'm really happy with my increased strength and flexibility and all the other benefits of Pilates. I usually leave the session feeling fantastic, like I'm zinging throughout my body. read more

Update: five years later, I still go here every single week. My problems with back pain, collapsed arches and tendonitis are now almost non-existent thanks to the efforts of Gary and Linda, who are almost like family at this point. I've also gotten a lot stronger, which has helped prevent further injuries. Last year I finally convinced my husband to start joining me, and it's helped him a lot too, especially with muscle strains from drumming. I recommend this place to friends so often that they probably find it annoying. Just do yourself a favor and go see Gary and Linda! read more

I can't say enough about the wonderful Eastside Balance. Gary and Linda have created an atmosphere that manages to be calming but energizing and suitable for all levels of Pilates enthusiasts. I had taken numerous Pilates mat classes and having tried reformer classes knew that I wanted a place to focus on that type of instruction. Most of the options around town were expensive for private classes or too far away to be feasible. I love the flexibility of scheduling and the fact that I get personalized attention based on my own needs and accomplishment level. That is on a day by day basis - if one day I'm particularly tired or have soreness/tightness for whatever reason, they adjust the workout accordingly. With ongoing back issues, I needed someone that I could trust had the expertise to push me but not further injure or exacerbate my pain. I'm happy to say that I now feel stronger, able to be more active in general and am continuing to learn what my body is capable of - I see changes every week in my shape. It's wonderful when you look forward to a workout and feel at peace with the world when you're down! Highly recommended! read more

The moment I stepped into the East Side Balance Pilates studio, I felt welcomed, at home, and in good hands! Gary & Linda are both extremely knowledgeable in the realm of pilates, human anatomy, and general health and fitness. The studio itself is fun, colorful, organized, and clean. The atmosphere is energizing, yet relaxing and peaceful at the same time - just what you want when doing pilates. Gary & Linda can help you work around (or rehabilitate) an injury and can customize a plan that works specifically for you. You can feel their genuine interest in wanting to help you reach your health & fitness goals, and your goals can undoubtedly be met here! read more

Before I started doing Pilates with Gary and LInda my knees were started to give me problems even when I was just carrying groceries into the house. After 6 months of going to Eastside Balance a couple times a week, I'm in better shape than I've been in in a long time. My knees no longer bother me and I can do things that I wouldn't have attempted before. On a trip to Sydney, Australia, I was the oldest person in our group to choose to climb the 200 stairs to the top of the Harbor Bridge. I not only didn't have any problem doing that, but was able to be active for the whole vacation. I feel so much stronger. I know Pilates is what is improving my condition because that's all I'm doing. read more

If you're like I was a year ago, I thought good, affordable, private pilates lessons with machines (which provides the resistance you need for a true full-body workout) would be impossible to find. Then I found Eastside Balance. At about half the cost of most private lessons, they have a unique set up where they work with up to four people in the studio at once (although more often than not, it's less than that) but are masters at providing individual attention to each person, guiding each person through different exercises and routines, customized just for your needs. It's not like other group pilates classes where you're forced to work within one level (either too hard or too easy), or directed to do the same thing as everyone else. The owners (Gary & Linda) are absolutely wonderful and are extremely knowledgeable. I've been going to Eastside Balance for a little over a year now, and at first, because I have a background in Acrobatics, I was a little worried that the lessons might not be difficult enough, but they sure did prove me wrong. I continue to get a GREAT workout every time I go in, and I continue to feel stronger and stronger. It almost feels like I'm doing acrobatics again! But, I also see them work with folks who want more of a light, stretch-based workout; which is great for the body as well. They know it all! :) And, Gary & Linda are so much fun to workout with, sometimes you even forget you're working out all. Wonderful, wonderful people and a great local business to support if you're looking for a place to get a good, affordable, private workout. I couldn't be happier with the results! read more

"Mats and machines" Pilates studios are commonplace these days. The attribute that makes Eastside Balance extraordinary in this universe of choices is the depth of knowledge and experience possessed by the two trainers, Gary Ames and Linda DuMont. They individualize each session and training program to fit the needs and capabilities of the client, using a combination of machine and mat Pilates routines, Feldenkrais movements and yoga influenced techniques. Their knowledge of physiology is comprehensive and they are equally effective working with sports injuries, long term conditioning programs, restoration of movement and flexibility and the enhancement of strength and extension. The hour long workouts are varied and challenging, focused on a safe and injury free process of steady progress toward goals. I began working with Gary and Linda more than five years ago, twice a week year around. I can be categorized as a "senior" and I can say, without question, that I am now in far better condition, much stronger and more flexible, than I was twenty years ago, when I was in my forties. This program really works if you give it a chance and these trainers are among the best. read more