I've pretty much shopped all around town and the San Gabriel Valley and have concluded that if you want to learn the classical Pilates method this is best studio hands down. Lara has been my private instructor for some time and is very well versed in how the body moves, she's able to activate muscles other instructors weren't able to. Her keen eye and detailed feedback fosters precision in correct movement. Tom's group classes have also been very effective in helping me get better at Pilates. Tom is a great group instructor, knowledgeable and enthusiastic. I think he offers privates too. read more

Zoe is very experienced and professional. This is a classic Pilates studio. It's probably one of the best Pilates studios that you will be able to find in the area. Nevertheless, there are some drawbacks which probably have more to do with the management than Zoe or the trainers. This should be a great place to workout because Zoe is very experienced, it costs a fortune, there are very few clients at any given time. But it's not. If you don't workout with Zoe who is very hard to get into, the other teachers are hit and miss. You pay a fortune, but they make you carry a little bottle of disinfectant and paper towels around and clean each piece of equipment yourself after you use it regardless of whether or not there is a drop of sweat, while they watch you and inspect afterward. Seriously. At 1.25 per minute, you end up spending a lot of your own money to a) learn how to clean their furniture, b) clean their furniture and c) have your cleaning inspected and d) redo your cleaning if you are not clean enough. There is no parking. If you go after dark, you have to walk down a dark alley to a public parking lot a block away and be sure to have change or you will get a parking ticket. Very snobby. If you don't spend a fortune don't expect to be welcome or have a regular time. If an exercise doesn't work out for you due to a physical problem, most of the teachers will not or perhaps do not know enough to adjust your workout. If you like to be treated like a loser, clean gym furniture that does not need cleaning, drive around looking for parking, walk down dark alleys, pay top dollar for exercise programs that are not customized to you, find your hour being gradually whittled down to 45 minutes less 5 or 10 minutes of time spent cleaning furniture, and in short spend a lot of money to be miserable, then try Zoe Pilates studio. But I don't recommend it. PROS: Zoe is well trained and experienced Studio is not crowded CONS Teacher quality is hit and miss No parking Overpriced Obsessive over making clients clean their furniture Cut your time short if they are running late Snobbish: Treat non-big spenders poorly and Will not give you a standing appointment They will freely cancel your appointment at the last minute without apology or rescheduling. Have been canceled as close as 30 minutes before an appointment. Often will not turn on the air conditioner in the summer and you will have to workout in over 100 degree temperatures This kind of atmosphere where they will discourteously cancel appointments up to the last minute, I would be inclined to be forgiving of their faults if they were forgiving of mine, but they hold the customers to a much higher standard than they hold themselves. I felt enormous relief when I stopped going to Zoe Studio. Find another pilates studio. One that actually wants your business, and treats people courteously. Zoe is certainly very knowledgeable - find someone she trained who works at a less snobby and rigid studio. read more

Anyone who knows me knows that I am not a fan of exercise, I'm one of those people who only runs when they are being chased. But since I happen to be in a wedding this year I figured it would be a good plan to find some form of fitness for myself. I've heard good things about pilates so hey...why not give it a shot? Another thing about me is that I cannot stand overcrowded and stinky gyms. I prefer warm welcoming places where people actually remember you and the thought of vying for a free machine at a gym did not paint an inspiring picture for myself. And frankly, gyms gross me out. I went with Zoe Pilates in Pasadena and I am very pleased with my decision. I immediately felt very comfortable working out here. Even though I didn't know anything about pilates when I started here the instructors put me at ease and I have been doing great! One of the first things I noticed was that there are people of all ages coming through here and I made a plan for myself to talk with my fellow patrons. Initially it was to find out if this whole pilates working out business get easier and what I did find out is that a lot of the clients here have been coming here for a good long while....impressive! Personally, I have floated in and out of exercise programs but these folks actually stick. I can understand why too, in the time I have been coming here I have had some massive improvements in my health, posture and overall feeling good. So I'm patting myself on the back for my dedication AND for finding a great pilates studio that is near me AND I can work out any day of the week! Go ME!! read more

I started attending this studio on the recommendation from a friend. She happens to live in the area and had already been coming here for a few months. She also knew that I hate gyms which is what made this studio a perfect match for me. It's nowhere near a gym environment. I had tried pilates in the past at a gym so I had continued with some of the standard movements here and there. In contrast to what I had experienced at the gym the feeling at this studio is very comfortable and relaxed. It's clean and airy, way different from a gym. As I started working with the instructors they have been great! For some reason I am feeling compelled to tell a little story. As I mentioned earlier I happened to be familiar with some of the movements from attending pilates elsewhere. This one day I was working with one of the instructors here and she asked me to do this move that required me to spread my arms open and up. Then she asks that I spread my arms wider and I am thinking, how could I?? She then assisted me in what she meant and I discovered this whole other muscle group that I hadn't accessed. It was amazing! It may sound cheesy but what that meant for me was that I had a lot to learn not only about pilates but in life as well. Some of you out there may see that connection as a stretch but it makes perfect sense to me. I felt so much more open after that session. So I have to say Thank You to this studio for offering that to me! For me, Zoe Pilates is the best pilates studio in the Los Angeles area. read more

I've been coming here for almost a year and I have nothing but praise for Zoe: A Pilates Studio. The space itself is intimate, well equipped and clean. There's also a classic Pilates ambiance to Zoe's studio that seems appropriate as the studio, in philosophy and practice, is grounded in the classical Pilates method. I'm especially a fan of the mat Pilates classes, which are typically taught by Tom on Wednesday and Saturday mornings. Tom does a great job of modifying each class based on the experience level of his participants, while also making each class challenging and ensuring all the fundamental Pilates movements are covered. All in all, this place is great for first-timers and veterans of the Pilates method. read more

I'm not sure but I would imagine that most people that choose pilates as a form of exercise are doing it to get in shape. That was my initial reason for choosing pilates myself. Once I started attending sessions at this studio I learned that pilates is also helpful for minor injuries and yes folks, I had some. Over a year ago I was in a minor car accident and although I was aware my body was suffering from some stiffness it wasn't until I made pilates a regular part of my life did I realize that the stiffness I was talking about, went much further. It was your typical stuff like neck and back that I was used to dealing with. I had even forgotten about the pain in my body or shall I say, I had grown accustomed to it..but one of the instructors I was working with noticed it in my movements. I had considered it to be so minor that I wasn't entirely mindful of how it was impacting my body. Once my instructor pointed out that the impact of the accident was related to my movements she constructed my workout to accommodate me. I can't thank her and this studio enough for the careful attention they took to work with me so that I can have the best results AND completely change my body. As much as I didn't want to acknowledge that my body was suffering way more than I wanted to admit I am glad that the staff here knows how to carefully work with their clients. Who knows if the same attention I received here would have been true at another studio. All I know is that the staff here is very well trained and they were able to work with me and get help my body return to a more fluid state. I am so tremendously grateful for that specifically because it was something I didn't even know I needed (BUT THEY DID!) That alone speaks volumes to me because you can tell it's a place that knows their stuff. I felt they really cared about my healing, not just a work out. read more

Ever since I moved to LA to pursue my career I had to put my body through physical strain and it got me where I needed to go. Since I've started at this studio my whole body has been strengthened. I've worked with a few of the instructors here and had a great experience with each of them. They are knowledgeable and professional. Plus they are dedicated to maintaining high standards of their methods and they know how to push me and challenge me in a way that gets me an intense workout. I have done both the mat work and reformer work and I feel the difference in my core. I combine my workout here with the other cardio work and it has improved the quality of my results. It's had a positive and transforming effect on my body and my music. The more my body improved the more creative I have become. All the core work has helped gain inspiration for creating music that I'm proud of. A friend commented to me that my lyrics are grittier and bolder and I was already bold! I can't say enough about how tremendous my results have been since I have been working with this studio. It's a clean studio with nice staff. I recommend this place if you are looking for authentic and dedicated instructors that care about your results. read more

Great trainers! I work on computers all day so my posture and core were terribly out of shape. But after working with the trainers at Zoe's, I've got my posture back! People have actually said to me that I seem taller! :-) The trainer I worked with the most was Mildraide, but I worked with most of the others too. They were all great. They are trained in true Pilates, and are knowledgeable. read more

Zoe: A Pilates Studio - Stretching on the Cadillac - Pilates Near Me - Pasadena, California

I have used various exercise programs in the past but pilates is a favorite. I initially started the program eager to tone specific parts of my body. What I appreciated about this studio is that in addition to my personal goals, the knowledge of the instructor also helped me find the weak spots in my posture as well as other areas that I was over looking. It's great when I can collaborate with someone else who is just as concerned as I am about my health and fitness. I have found that my body responds best to the traditional pilates method and I am GOOD with that because the results are Fantastic! Another big plus is that you can book and Pay for your sessions online. All I have to be concerned with when I walk into this studio is being focused for my work out. read more

Outstanding teachers make Zoë - A Pilates Studio, the best classical pilates studio in the Pasadena area and likely in Los Angeles. They really know what they're doing at Zoë - A Pilates Studio and have kept their clients of all ages in top form. The instructors will work your core with depth, focus, and precision. Experienced pilates instructors seek out Zoë Hagler Marcus, a master teacher, for additional training. I have trained at multiple pilates studios around LA, and Zoë - A Pilates Studio is one of the few studios that I trust. read more

mmmm.... where do I start? This place is VERY VERY PRICEY! You pay $75 for 60 minutes of pilates. However, that normally cuts down to 45 minutes. When I got there, I would have to wait for the previous student to finish. They literally pack students back to back. After, I would have to wait for my trainer to finish eating... yeaaaa VERY PROFESSIONAL. The trainer would eat while telling me what to do. Don't get me wrong, I still get a very good workout, but I am expecting a little more because EVERY MINUTE is over a dollar! WE HAVE TO WIPE DOWN AFTER WE DO EVERYTHING! After we sit on the mat, we would have to spray and wipe it down before we went onto the next machine. I wish we would just do our workouts and then at the end, wipe everything down. It wastes so much time! Also, I feel that this place is more about the money than the students. My sister and I bought packages here and she totally milked BOTH OF US! My sister would tell the trainer herself that she was going to cancel next week's appointment, however, the trainer DID NOT TELL ZOE anddd sooo my sister was charged full amount still. EVEN THOUGH it was not her fault, she was still blamed for not getting the message to Zoe herself. yeaaaa....... We still had money leftover and she pretty much just kept it. If money is not an issue, SURE! go for it. Pilates is a really good workout and it really helps your posture. I know that my core felt stronger and my back pains were not as bad. However, I definitely would not be going back here again. read more

For real ladies? A one star? Were you hoping that the lesson would come with tea and crumpets and maid service? I started at the studio 3 years ago after suffering from a serious back injury (one that left me unable to walk for several days and unable to leave the house for 3 weeks). The instructors have always been kind, courteous and knowledgeable. They have always adjusted my work out and personalized my exercises to accommodate how my back is feeling that day, and have set goals with me to not only keep the work outs interesting but to help get (and keep) my body in a good place. As for wiping down the equipment after you use it. I have never been to a gym that didn't have you clean the equipment after you have just sweated all over it. I sweat quite a bit when I do Pilates (read "buckets") and would never want someone to lie down in a pool of my sweat nor myself lie down in someone else's. That's just called hygiene, and I question the sanity of anyone who has a problem with thoroughly wiping down surfaces that their bare feet and sweat have been on. As for the instructors... Although the instructors that I work with on a regular basis are my favorites, I have at one time or another worked with every instructor at the studio and have found them all to be equally qualified and knowledgeable and honestly quite fun. The only people I have ever seen in the studio complaining are clients who just didn't want to do the work or who came from other studios that don't practice traditional, well-rounded Pilates workouts. (One woman got pissed when she had to get off the reformer only to apologize later.) In terms of price... Any physical activity that requires a trained instructor to work with you one on one is going to be expensive. (Duh!) But the prices at this studio are the same if not a little cheaper than other studios I have been to, yet at some of those studios I knew more than the instructor and at one I actually hurt myself. (Still reeling from the fact that 2 separate people complained about having to wipe down equipment they used. Kinnnnda gross.) p.s. If you want the air on they'll turn it on. If you want the doors open they'll open them. Or if you are like me and you like the doors open, the air off, the left bank of lights on but not the right and the overhead fans a-swirlin', they'll do that for ya too! You just have to ask... out loud. read more

This is one of the finest studios in the country. Zoe is phenomenal. She changed my body and helped me to live a life pain-free. After five years as her client, I became a teacher under her tutelage. She is the real deal. I noticed that the other reviewers complained about cleaning the equipment. This is standard in most quality studios. We do this to ensure that everything will be clean and ready for the next client, which is appreciated by most people. Zoe is a master and teaches real Pilates. She is worth every penny. read more

I've been a client at Zoe for over a decade, and I can' t imagine doing Pilates anywhere else. I've worked with, I'd say pretty confidently, every teacher who has worked there over that time period, and while their experience levels may vary (some just out of training, some with years behind them), they are all well-versed in the traditional Pilates method and, more importantly, I have always felt safe with all of them. I've suffered several injuries over that time period doing other activities, and the teachers have all been able to give me modified exercises to protect whatever area happened to need special care so I could continue to workout even while rehabbing serious injuries. They helped nurse me back from a dislocated joint in my back, helped me rehab a shoulder injured at work... dealt with my arthritic joints... they've been fantastic. The 24-hour cancellation policy has been around as long as I can remember, and at any other studio I've researched, that's been the standard. I've never had an instructor cut my session short because they've been late, either, as the first poster indicates, and them being late has certainly been a very rare occurrence--I couldn't tell you the last time it happened. And the few times I've been stuck in traffic and ended up late for an appointment? The teachers have tailored the workout to give me the best benefit I can get in the time remaining. As to cost -- you get what you pay for, in my opinion. As I said, I've seen a multitude of teachers over the past decade, and I never question their qualifications because I've seen that Zoe only hires the best. After years of struggling to find a workout I could stick with, I found Pilates and Zoe's and have never been gone for more than a week in all these years... a testament to not only how good it's been for my body, but how much I get out of being in such a great environment with people who really care about you getting stronger and advancing in the regimen. They also offer several ways to cut down on the cost by allowing clients to work in groups or independently once they're familiar with the Pilates system so you can have less expensive training later on down the line. The studio is immaculate -- and yes, you are asked to clean up after yourself after you use the equipment, which is not only a good policy by the studio for the sake of cleanliness, but common courtesy in any gym environment I've ever been a part of. It's only wiping up after yourself with a paper towel... there's no heavy lifting involved, and it only takes a few seconds. But the biggest endorsement I can give to Zoe? I took my mother there, and though she suffers from several joint and health problems, she loved her workouts and tries to go whenever she's in the L.A. area visiting. read more

This place is fantastic! The teachers are all at the top of the field. I've studied pilates with some of the best teachers around the country and have never had better instruction, hands down. The studio has been in the neighborhood for more than a decade and many of the clients have been coming back for years, The equipment is the finest made and everyone respects eachother (including cleaning up after themselves and making sure the equipment is clean for the next user.) We're lucky to have a place of this quality in our backyard. I've always found free parking right in front, and a pay lot half a block away. Great neighborhood too, right next to the Pasadena Playhouse. read more

Outstanding teachers!!!! I had heard great things about what Pilates could do for the body and did a lot of research into local studios that could help my husband and I gain core strength, flexibility, and increased body awareness. Zoe: A Pilates Studio had the philosophy that I was looking for. They did not disappoint. It has been two years since my husband and I began to practice at Zoe's. We have slowly gained all of the things mentioned above - core strength, flexibility, and increased body awareness. We have studied with Zoe, Lara, Lea, and Tom and they have all be amazing teachers. We have really enjoyed working long term with Lea and Tom. I cannot recommend them enough. They have helped me to eliminate recurrent pain from hyper-extending my elbows my entire life. They have helped my husband with his recurrent back pain. If you are looking for people to help you practice the "art" of Pilates this is the place. read more

One-star reviews are hard to fathom...this studio is excellent! Pilates, taught authentically and professionally, is not cheap and a quick cost comparison on line will swiftly show that you are being charged a fair and reasonable amount for a top-notch experience (and there are multiple discount packages). The studio is never over-booked and offers a warm, airy and inviting environment in a great, central location (22 South Oakland off Colorado). As far as cleaning the equipment immediately after use, well, that just makes good, hygienic sense. Since other clients are using the same equipment before and after me, NOT wiping it down is flat out in poor taste. Not to mention how thrilled I am that the studio is clean and conscientious! I love the instructors, the feel of the studio, the by-appointment scheduling, group classes and the consistently great workout I get...It's priceless. read more

I was on a business trip and found Zoe Pilates to be close to my hotel. They make it so easy with online registration and payment. I had the extreme pleasure of taking a Reformer class with Marilyn She is a wonderful Pilates instructor both knowledgeable and professional. She kept all three of us engaged in the movements and in good form. This is a lovely studio that makes you feel very comfortable. I highly recommend anyone trying a class as it is a brilliant way to get all over balanced workout. You will want to take more classes! I am looking forward to my next business trip to Pasadena as now I can prearrange my classes here at Zoe Pilates. read more

Seems Lulu and I had completely different experiences...ZOE: A Pilates Studio is nothing short of fantastic! To begin with, the studio space is warm and welcoming. It's a very friendly environment with a genuine feel. I love the fact that it's not overcrowded and clients are given detailed attention. All of the instructors I've worked with are exceptional. True, there is a twenty-four hour cancellation policy, but that's pretty standard when you have one-on-one training. As for parking, the studio doesn't have a dedicated parking lot, but there's plenty of street parking and a giant lot right behind the playhouse (a thirty second walk from studio). They do ask clients to wipe down the equipment after use, but I do the same at my gym and it's basic etiquette to clean your own sweat off of equipment you use (not to mention it only takes seconds). As for price, pilates isn't cheap but this studio seems to keep their rates in line with the average, and this is a huge plus since the training you get isn't average at all, it's exceptional. Plus, there are discounted rates and the mat classes are really affordable. Truly, I've tried many pilates studios and this is by far one of the very best and EASILY the absolute best in Pasadena. Love it! read more

I started working with Zoe ten years ago after learning that I had a degenerated disc which made any movement difficult and painful. The pain was gone after 3 or 4 months, and full movement restored shortly thereafter. I have been absolutely pain free since then, I workout with Pilates twice a week, and am able to do cardio and weight training twice a week in addition. I am absolutely not qualified to give medical advice,but,from my own experience, I would absolutely visit Zoe before considering a more invasive treatment for back pain. read more