I have enjoyed working with Cheryl for the last 12 years. I am very pleased with my progress in balance, strength and overall well-being. Cheryl has a wonderful sense of humor in addition to her training skills. Pilates is a part of my long term goal to keep fit and healthy. I never hesitate to recommend her to everyone who wants to feel more vital. Oveda R read more

After Cheryl showed me some specific exercises to do on the Cadillac machine, my sacrum/SI joints have never felt better. I feel like I had a successful surgery that made the problem go away for longer than it has in the past. Even after chiropractic adjustments, the joints go in and out of place with a sneeze or rolling over during sleep, or driving. It's been 2 days since I saw you and it's still going! Thank you, thank you, thank you! I could cry just knowing that there could be a solution to the daily discomfort and pain I have with sitting and most activities due to those joints (and others) constantly subluxating. I have a lot of mobility issues, injuries and pain due to Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. Pilates is the one form of exercise I can do that helps instead of hurts me. I highly recommend classes or private lessons with Cheryl to help you get your strength and life back! read more

I've tried Pilates before but have never worked with someone as thorough and knowledgeable as Cheryl. In fact, it was as if I hadn't really experienced all of what Pilates has to offer before having sessions with her. As a dancer, I'm really picky about who works with my body - from dance teachers to physical and massage therapists. Cheryl knows how the body works and can help you reach your fullest potential. If you want to experience the best, work with Cheryl. http://www.strength-movement.com/ read more

I have had the pleasure of knowing Cheryl Burney for more than six years. First, she was my neighbor. When she told me she was a Pilates instructor, I thought to myself, "Pilates? I don't really know what that it is, but it sounds painful & hard." "Good for her," I thought. "That's not for me." Then, we became friends. She is the kind of person who says, "You need to use my oven to cook part of your Thanksgiving dinner? No problem." "You are moving far away, can't take everything, & need a place to store keepsakes?" "Hand Them over. I've got it." The reason I am writing, is to tell you about how my neighbor, my friend, Cheryl also became my Pilates instructor, & how thankful I am to have had the privilege to work with her. I am writing to tell you that if you are able to, you should give this gift to yourself (or make it available to others you care for & love). Working with Cheryl is such a treat. Working with Cheryl is a delight. Working with Cheryl doesn't seem like work. She makes it fun. She makes you feel capable. She makes you feel strong. More than just making you feel that way, she makes you capable. She makes you strong. You see, a few years ago, some doctors got a hold of some of my blood work & it scared them. So, they scared me. They said, "If you don't let us cut you open with a saw, you could die." I didn't want to let them hurt me. I didn't think I should let them hurt me, but was the mother of a beautiful twelve-year-old boy and thought it would be irresponsible to die. So, I underwent a mini-sternotomy. I let them cut through my breastbone (the way they do when they perform open heart surgery) After the surgery, at first, I wasn't able to go from sitting up to lying down without help. I couldn't drive or open doors for myself. When the surgery didn't end up fixing the problem they'd hoped it would fix, the doctors put me on high doses of steroids. The surgery & the steroids wreaked havoc on my body. The surgeon was concerned the steroids might keep my breastbone from healing properly. As a result, for more than six months, I was not allowed to push, pull or lift more than five pounds. My son had to push the cart in the grocery story, & carry all the groceries up the stairs. I wasn't allowed to lift a gallon of milk. My husband had to carry the laundry up & down the stairs, & make our bed. I wasn't allowed to work... I hadn't been in great shape before all this health craziness, but after it, my body was a mess. I was depressed, anxious, & scared. Six months after all this started, the doctors still weren't sure what was wrong with my immune system, but I decided I was done being sad. I was done feeling broken. I was done being scared. I was ready to stop hiding. I was ready to start living. I was ready to get stronger. That's when I called Cheryl. As my friend, she'd been watching the roller coaster I'd been riding & offering care, support, & encouragement, the whole time. When I called to talk with her about the possibility of working with her in her Pilates studio, she was excited about the prospect of helping me get stronger. She got me excited. She gave me tips & tools to start using right away, even before I walked through her studio door. I got to know Cheryl in a different way. I started to realize how much she knows about kinesiology, about the human body, about movement, strength, conditioning, and rehabilitation. Cheryl took the time to get to know me in a different way. She watched the way I walked, the way I stood, the way I held my body. She talked to me about what she saw & what I could do differently. She introduced me to her valuable exercise equipment. She helped me relax & feel comfortable on machines that might otherwise have been intimidating. She confidently assessed what I could do & couldn't do. She knew where to start & got me going, without hurting me. She knew I'd been hurt enough already. Cheryl is such a peaceful, calming presence. She makes you feel at ease. She welcomes you enthusiastically. She coaches you gently. She helps you see what you are accomplishing & helps you accomplish more. Cheryl is lovely, inside & out. She is positive, encouraging, & fun. She makes you smile. She makes you laugh. She is confident, capable, & strong. Every time I have had the privilege of working with her, I have left feeling more confident, capable, & strong, myself. In six months, she had me feeling ready to try boot camp (something I'd never have thought I'd have felt ready to do). I struggled, but I participated. I was doing push-ups. Me, the one who couldn't get up off the floor without help, just six months before. Invest in yourself. Give this gift to yourself. Treat yourself. Strengthen yourself. If you are able to work with Cheryl, do so. I am so very glad to have had the opportunity & know you will be glad too. read more

Just finished my fourth session with Cheryl and every single time, I leave her studio with my body feeling amazing! I have early osteoarthritis and have had one total hip replacement and my other hip is in pain and constant stiffness. Some days, my arthritis is so bad that I cannot bend over, I walk stiff and in constant pain. My doctors aren't able to help much and I've tried yoga, swimming, hot tub, sauna, but nothing helps with the stiffness and pain. After my first private session with Cheryl, I felt amazing and slept that night without pain for the first time in many years. The next morning I woke up without pain and felt amazing. Cheryl understands my limitations and issues and doesn't assume that I can do everything, but always is knowledgeable and offers modifications as needed. She offers suggestions on things I can do at home on my own to help keep me loose in between sessions. Her Pilates instructions is like a miracle to me. No one has understood or has been offer me this kind of help and relief from daily pain; not my doctor and not any physical therapist that I've ever seen. Love Cheryl and her expertise in Pilates! read more

I came to Cheryl over two years ago, knowing that I needed to exercise my body, but not sure just how much good it would do me. Soon after starting I noticed the occasional back pain I suffered no longer was there. I attribute this to the Pilates emphasis on developing core strength. Over time my arms and legs have developed a definition that I didn't have when I started. I have more strength and energy. But the best part about it is that I actually look forward to my workouts. Cheryl makes the work seem like fun. I would recommend Strength and Movement; Pilates with Purpose to anyone. Cyndy read more

My 90 year old father has been doing Pilates with Cheryl for a year now. She is so positive and energetic! He looks forward to going to Pilates every week. She is constantly evaluating his needs and tailors his exercises to improve his strength, balance and flexibility. She keeps his workouts fun and challenging. My father has gone to other Pilates studios, and they seem to give him a "cookbook" type workout. Cheryl definitely caters his exercises specifically for his needs. Without a doubt, Pilates has helped to keep my father active and independent with his walking and activities of daily living. I highly recommend Cheryl for her knowledge of Pilates and ability to create exercises to maximize the individual, all with such a positive and fun personality. read more

Much like the other reviews so far, I am thrilled to have met Cheryl. I came to her with a fusion of my lower vertebras and an inflammation of the muscles around my ribs (from really poor posture at the desk). Yet I also wanted to get a real workout and push myself as much as safely possible. Within a month, Cheryl had me back in shape, and I have been able to increase my reps and resistance since then. She has an eagle eye and constantly assesses my body. She keeps introducing just enough exercises to challenge me, while allowing me to see progress on the rest. It's really fun to come in and treat myself to pilates with Cheryl. Oh, and I forgot the best part: she offers pilates cardio classes! Think mini-trampoline while safely supported on the reformer. read more

I've worked with Cheryl for over a year and have found her to be not only an incredibly knowledgeable teacher, but also a great motivator. Cheryl was able to keep me smiling while at the same time pushing me to become stronger and more flexible. As someone that has trouble getting motivated to workout I actually found myself eagerly anticipating my workouts with Cheryl (2 to 3 times a week). I would and have recommended Cheryl to my friends looking to try Pilates. read more

Cheryl is a top notch Pilates instructor and will customize techniques for problem areas and injuries, all the while challenging your body to move in a more natural way. Her extensive knowledge and experience will get you in tip-top shape quickly. Rehabilitation is one of her specialties and the workouts really make a difference with pain and movement issues. Highly recommended. read more

Cheryl not only knows how to adjust a workout for each person's needs, she's incredibly personable and makes a Pilates session fun! Non-athletic and gym-phobic, I appreciate Cheryl's non-judgmental attitude as she assesses, adjusts, and corrects -- all while getting to know you and your body's needs. read more