I had my new client introduction with Celia. When I expressed discomfort about providing an excessive amount of personal information, she insisted. Later, she apologized, saying she understood I didn't want to share details "because ICE is snatching people off the streets." That comment was offensive and inappropriate, it felt like racial profiling. Having an accent or not being white does not mean I'm undocumented. I simply didn't want to provide unnecessary personal information. read more

TL;DR: I used to hate working out, but I now go to Pilates 3 days/week and have lost ~15 in 4 months. I love Pilates & this Pilates studio in particular. Diane owns the studio, and Amanda, Cilla, and Kate are the instructors. All of them are amazingly kind and supportive for any newbies looking to try Pilates. They're all STOTT trained, and they all love the work they do and really care about helping you advance. I had tried Pilates a few times before, and I hadn't been able to find a place in Boston that I liked. (I have tried two other studios in the area and left feeling miserable.) But all of the instructors here are so patient and helpful, taking time to talk with me and understand what I am trying to get out of these sessions, and I have seen a dramatic change in my body since I started in October. My upper back doesn't hurt any more; my leggings are loose; my body is stronger; my energy is up; and my mood is better. Before you can take any group classes, you have to do the intro private sessions (I think to make sure you don't injure yourself...which was, at least for me, so very possible lol). I started with once a week then progressed up to three times a week when I noticed how great I was feeling. I have continued with a mix of private and group classes, and I love it. I can not recommend FitLab enough. In fact, I recommend FitLab to everyone in my life--friends, colleagues, everyone lol. It has really changed my body, health, and life. read more

I have taken several private sessions here with a few different instructors and I have really enjoyed it. They do an excellent job teaching a novice, and I look forward to taking some classes. read more

Oooh, bendy! Fitlab is my jam for quality Pilates in the Cambridge/Somerville area. Peeking in the front door of Fitlab Pilates reveals a serene seating area with a small computer set-up for scheduling & payment along with a wraparound window bench for people to shuck off their shoes, drop their jackets and throw down their bags as they prepare to limber up and get down. The fun begins when you walk behind the privacy screens into a welcoming airy studio with separate sections for group classes up front (mix of mat & reformer) and an area for private sessions in the back. So I'm here to do something healthy right? Something good for my body? So how come all the equipment sounds straight out of a FEARnet flick? The Reformer, The Spine Corrector, the Cadillac...and the Chair? Fear not, FEARnet. Ignore the enigmatic slasher names and just go with it because trust me: your body will thank you. I've only worked with Sasha, who has been phenomenal- warm, personable and completely helpful when it comes to technique. She does an amazing job at explaining proper alignment and movement so you really engage the right muscles through every exercise. Can't wait to try more of what they have to offer! read more

FitLAB and Sarah are wonderful additions to East Cambridge. I started with private lessons (5, a gift from my husband) to get back in the swing of reformer pilates after a few years away. Sarah provides a very thorough evaluation of your posture and strength before starting on the reformer. I've been going to group classes twice a week (no more than 4 of us in a class) since May and am addicted. Sarah easily carries over the personal touches from private lessons into the group setting, providing modifications to meet specific needs. Her knowledge of the body and pilates make for a great workout and an informative session. In the months since I started I've gained strength, improved my balance and learned a lot about my body. Pricing is very reasonable given the personal attention and small group size. Knowing that Sarah will always be the instructor you have and not having to deal with a big gym are also huge pluses. I'd recommend this place to anyone interested in pilates, from complete beginners to the advanced- Sarah's a wonderful instructor and the facilities are great. read more

For the first time in years I have a visible waist. On my way to pilates a few weeks ago, a fifteen-year-old boy on the street asked me for my phone number. (I'm, ahem, in my, uh, thirties.) Chronic neck and back pain, on the mend. Buggy ankle, which has not been the same since I sprained it (twice), is also on the mend, with some recommended exercises. Sarah is the best. She's added a few more instructors and I'm about to sign up and see what they're like. But even if all you ever get is Sarah, you're getting fantastic, thoughtful, humorous, well explained, well spotted, targeted strengthening and toning. Both mat and reformer classes are challenging and interesting, with lots of different levels to choose from, be you floppy beginner or steel-abbed-dynamo. It's never the same class twice, since Sarah hates you to be bored. Location: very convenient to both Kendall and Inman squares. If it's your first time, I highly recommend signing up for a new student session. She does a thorough examination of what sort of shape you're in, where you've gone lopsided, etc. I did a package of private sessions to get into the swing of things. It was worth it: by the end, Sarah had familiarized me with all her crazy studio equipment (the place looks like a cross between bondage dungeon and kiddie playground) and I had the confidence and strength to pop into group classes without feeling lost. I've been going for several months now; you buy classes either at a bulk discount or at a drop-in rate of $19/mat class and $35/reformer class. If you're MIT, ask for the discount! read more

I started private sessions (3 so far) with Sarah to get back in shape and build up my muscles after recently having a baby. I come from a medical background (physician) and think her knowledge of physiology is very strong. Her workouts are great and she will work with your pace and push you only as far as she thinks you can handle. I found her to be very friendly and welcoming- so I am quite surprised by comment below. As for the area- there are no homeless shelters or gangs (and I have lived nearby for 30+ years). I would fitlab without hesitation. read more

Nice space...teachers nice but don't seemed to keep a pulse on what movements have been done from week to week or class to class. In general, Pilates does have repetitive movement but the with the great equipment at hand there it seems more effort can be put into the weekly classes. A lot of unnesscary chatting in classes and for those who would like to focus and improve the relaxed class atmposphere doesn't allow for it. I have left messages on phone several times and emailed....responses are very slow if at all. Too bad such a great space, great location, and so much potential to have a true Pilates studio. read more

I have been a student at Fitlab for over a year now. I was hooked from my first session with Sarah. We share a dance background, and I immediately noticed how tuned in she is-- she can really communicate with different people and different bodies. I have never before felt so connected to my movements. Sarah combines vast physiological knowledge and experience with a friendly, open personality. I am totally hooked on Fitlab and consider Pilates an essential part of my life! read more

Not a very welcoming environment and classes are somewhat boring and monotonous, and not as challenging as they could be. The policies are extremely rigid, which is understandable, but the owner delivers them in quite a harsh and condescending way. Also quite pricey. read more

I've been wanting to try a pilates class for a long time, and when FitLAB opened up down the street, I knew it was time. From the moment I walked in the door, I knew this was the place for me. The staff was extremely welcoming, making sure that new folks like myself felt comfortable with what was going on, while giving the seasoned students a complete workout. I was able to walk, but with tons of parking on the street and behind the building, those with cars won't have any trouble. read more

I love FitLab! Sarah was my first instructor and she was really sweet, but soon she hired Sasha and she is awesome too! I have Sasha for all my classes and she is very knowledgeable in body movement, posture, and perfecting all the positions for maximum muscle stimulation. She is very engaged in each student personally, as well as the small classes and is always happy to answer any questions that are posed ( even my silly ones). Sarah and Sasha are both great cheerleaders for every student, always gently pushing you towards doing your best! The prices are very reasonable, and the quality is very high, I am a picky persnickety and I have to say I love this place and I am so happy to have found it! The low impact exercise focusing on building muscle around joints, as well as creating flexibility has worked wonders for my fibromyalgia, anxiety, stress, and neck/back problems. My two classes a week are barely enough to cover my new found (healthy!) addiction! I would go every day if I could afford it! read more

The teacher is repeating routine exercises in all classes. Expect to have routine pilates tape played over and over, with no diversification or adjustments to students' requests or needs. For a highly professional pilates class, that has a top notch teacher, try Caryn from Beyond Fitness. read more

Sarah is great! She is not only super knowledgeable about Pilates and the body, but a genuinely lovely person with a great sense of humor. She gives each of her students the attention she needs to deal with her (or his!) personal injuries/weaknesses and achieve her specific athletic/fitness goals. I have practiced pilates for several years and Sarah is one of the best instructors I have found. Her pricing is also very fair. Classes are small and scheduling classes online is super easy. As for the reviewer who complained about repetition, I cannot agree. I have been going to Sarah for over a year now and we always get new "surprises", ie new and challenging exercises to try out. Only the warm up is repetitive and even that gets changed up quite often. read more

Attended my first Pilates class last week, and I had a great time! The instructor was friendly and patient, and the class was beginner friendly (though some of the other students got to do some more advanced exercises). Highly recommended. read more

The location works great for me (as a near by resident) and I've really enjoyed the friendliness of both staff and other clients. Very welcoming and affordable place for mat classes and reformer classes! read more

This place has totally transformed my body- I went in based on a friend's recommendation, and couldn't be happier with the quality of teaching, the equipment, and the studio. My posture and overall strength has really improved, and I feel a lot more confident. I love all of the teachers, although they each have their own styles- Sarah, Sasha and Christine are the 3 that I've worked with. It takes a little while to really get the hang of it, but I still saw results right away. Couldn't recommend more! read more

Sasha is fantastic- she is warm and friendly but also very, very knowledgable. I had been taking Pilates for years at other gyms/studios (mostly mat classes but some reformer) but only after coming to fitlab I realized how much previous instructors had ignored alignment, posture, and proper form. I started going to fitlab when I was about 3 months pregnant. I continued to go to fitlab throughout my pregnancy and it was great. It was a workout but also was a lot of stretching and definitely helped with pregnancy aches and pains. I always left feeling better than when I came in. I am now 2.5 months postpartum and am continuing to go there. I cannot reccommend Fitlab and especially Sasha enough. read more

FitLab and Sarah are the best! The intro package is an awesome deal and Sarah really lays down the basics and makes sure you have proper form, so that when you go into the group mat classes you actually know what you are doing. The space is really nice, clean, and cozy, and the machines are really cool. I had done some mat pilates at the gym before, but had always been curious/nervous about the reformer machines. They look like torture devices, and I'm a klutz to begin with. But she walks you through it and you come out feeling taller, leaner, and buffer! read more

FitLAB Pilates offers great value and a precision workout. The Great Start package ($99) is an ideal introduction to pilates, even if you think you've done pilates before (I'd taken group mat classes at my gym, but learned through FitLAB that I'd really been cheating on many exercises). I found that Sarah, a co-owner and principal instructor, was attentive to where I was at when I started and maintains a personal interest in my practice. In terms of criticism, Sarah is, as far as I know, the only instructor there, so there is not much variety in terms of instructors. That being said, every time I take a class Sarah does add new elements and keeps the pace varied. read more