Absolute Center

My wife and I started taking «Core Align» classes here last year, and I cannot say enough good things about this place. Before I started, I wasn’t sure if would feel out of place being a male in a yoga/​pilates studio, or how my problematic knee would fare. Not only did I feel comfortable in the setting, but I’ve found the atmosphere and staff to be incredibly welcoming, and everyone was great making sure we felt great. The trainers are all top-​notch, especially Michaela who’s been our dedicated person for the past several months, and everyone else who we’ve worked with as been just as wonderful. My posture and core is in much better shape. I would recommend Absolute Center to anyone — as a previous reviewer mentioned, you’ll leave the classes feeling relaxed and at peace.

The staff is extremely helpful and friendly. You need to come here! I leave each class feeling relaxed and at peace.

I have been taking one-​on-​one Pilates training at this studio for quite some time. I have NEVER had a bad experience: every trainer is at the top of her game, every one is pleasant and caring. I cannot recommend them highly enough for anyone looking to improve their overall health and well-​being.
Katie, Claudia and Louise set the bar for the highest standards in training and customer care. You simply cannot go wrong to trust your body to Absolute!

Great place, great instructors! I highly recommend Absolute Center for your work out. The staff are all very friendly and great at what they do. Every time I walk in, they greet me by name and treat me like I am special. Lisa does a great reformer class and will get you into shape!

I have been looking for a beginner’s class for a long time, or a class for people like me, who at one time practiced yoga and would like to get back into it, but are tight and need to go carefully. I have attended three different classes in three years at other venues and each time I re-​injured myself, or felt if I followed even a modified version of what the instructor was teaching, I would hurt myself. I am 53 and also am not interested in making my body do things which it’s not ready to do (anymore.)
Last night I attended AC Elaine Watson’s class and was amazed ! A very gifted teacher. Still challenging but spent just a little more time getting into poses and gave each student her attention, as needed and so skillfully, lots of information imparted in just a quick moment. We didn’t do «flow» last night, but I gather it is included in this class and I have confidence this will also go well for me.
This is a great class for anyone I would say, but especially for someone who is brand new to yoga or is trying to get back into it slowly. Looking forward to next week’s class and telling all my friends. Tuesdays 6:45pm-8:00pm.

Yeah for Absolute Center, they have done it again, they recently added the Balanced Body Barre Class, it was super fun, energetic, and challenging. Also very different from some of the other Barre classes in that it is more Pilates focused, less pelvic tucking, more abs and some kick butt 80’s grapvining cardio. So grab your leg warmers and come check it out!

I reciently attended a workshop here, and just wanted to say I had a great experince. Not only were the instuctors very skilled in their training they all seemed to to be very welcoming and I look forward to my next worshop. Keep me on your mail list please!

I love this place. I took my Pilates certification training with Katie and Louise. I could not have received a better training and education. I also have taken many of the regular series classes at Absolute Center as well as observed the other trainers teaching their classes. The whole staff is skilled, fun and you get a fabulous and safe workout. When I injured my back 2 years ago I did private sessions with Katie. I was able to heal my injury with Pilates, whereas my PT and chiropractor were not helpful at that time. Katie was extremely generous with her time and expertise when I was in the process of opening my own studio in El Cerrito. I still take classes at Absolute Center and am grateful to have discovered this studio.

This is the place to go if you want to know about the mechanics of your body. I have taken Core Alignment, Yoga, Pilates, TRX and a bunch of other classes. It was at one point like I was living here! I can’t say enough about the group of instructors like Louise, Claudia, Michalea, Chelsea, Lisa and the awesome yoga instructors as Kat and Lucid. I got to say that I really learned alot about taking care myself, especially since I’m getting up there in years and want to stay active forever or for as long as I can get around. While some classes and series are harder than other, modifications are available, there have been days when I couldn’t do anything right but the encouragement keeps me coming back. Its a bit pricey but you get your moneys worth since core and posture are emphasized, not just working up a sweat. Thanks for everything Absolute.

I did pilates reformer classes a couple of years ago and have gotten out of shape since I stopped. I am SO happy I found The Absolute Center recently. I am working with Nicole in the beginning reformer series. She is really good about giving instruction and making sure we are using the proper form. I am feeling my abs (and arms and legs) for the first time in awhile and am very excited about getting back into shape!

I wish I lived closer so I could frequent Absolute Center :(I took a p.m. Burlesque & Barre (ballet) class with Chelsea and it was AWESOME. She’s supremely organized & structured, as was the class… I love going to dance class knowing exactly how the class is going to flow, and exactly what equipment I need from beginning to end. She incorporated pilates for warmup/​stretch, so we used the foam roller, which I’ve never used before but now know, that I NEED THAT IN MY LIFE! :) Our Burlesque & Barre class was very affordable, fun, challenging, sassy, classy, and had cute choreography that we were able to perform at the end of our session, in front of a supportive crowd at an east bay venue that Chelsea coordinated.
Our class was in the evening, so I didn’t get to utilize the facilities, just got to gawk at them. But they seem to have every piece of equipment under the sun! They have a connected parking garage, the gym is so clean, and I was delighted to find that they have 2 spotless bathrooms :)

I’m a big fan of ABC. I’ve been coming here for group classes for about 2 months (since I got on funemployment) and have definitely seen a big difference in my body, not just muscle gain and weight loss, but posture and tone as well. The classes I usually join are cardio and the Pilates mat, sometimes a few Yoga classes too.
I like the social aspect of group classes, I’m not just zoning out on my iPod trying to get through my workout like at a normal gym. The instructors are very friendly and helpful and really care about providing their clients with knowledge as well as a good work out. I did have a private assessment with Elena, who was a great help. If I could afford it, I would totally do some private training with her. (Perhaps once I start working again)
I will be giving Reformer classes a try next month, just before my wedding, to give myself more variety and challenge. Although I feel that if I just kept going four days a week as I have been, I’d be able to feel very confident walking down the aisle and on my honeymoon.
Yay Absolute Center!

Absolutely love this place. Everyone here is so nice and friendly and very helpful.
Duration: I have been taking private lessons here so far for over 6 months, once a week.
Prices: They change so I can’t exactly say, but your looking around 50 – 70 for private lessons depending on the trainers level? Note*: Don’t quote me on this.
Instructor: Chelsea
The one thing that is nice about my instructor is that she has previous training in Dance and Majored in it. Some other trainers do as well. Since I have been a dancer and have an uncontrollable turn out, it has been helpful to have someone who understands and can help me fix the problems I have with my turn out and get me to work more one parallel. Also, Chelsea has previous experience with pageants and since I have competed for pageants as well, it was nice to have someone who has been through it and understand what it takes to have a great body for the competition. So, If you are looking for someone with a dance background and pageant background, Chelsea would be great! Another is Elena, she has dance background as well.
Setting: If your looking for a pig Gym, you wont find that here, however they have many workout machines and reformers to use along with yoga balls and mats. They also have a small private studio (you can work on a dance in there, but with out mirrors.
Once you get the proper training they allow you to use their equipment without a coach. (This is called open Gym).

I was referred to Pilates by my massage therapist and decided to try Absolute Center because it is close to my home. I met with Katie for a postural assessment and have been working with Nicole for private Pilates training for a few months now. Nicole is great — she knows her stuff and is a lot of fun to work with. The space is very clean, the equipment is well maintained, and the staff are all very friendly.

I took a class with Eve today. It was lovely – she took the time to check in with each person before class to see if there were any issues she needed to be aware of. She offered different levels of each pose and sequence in a way that was supportive of each person’s practice.
It was a beautiful class.

I love Yoga and I like my class to be challenging and hardcore…
This place is great if you don’t need that much exercising and just wanna ‘stretch’.
I got a package from them since they walking distance to my place but after couple of sessions I realize it was just too easy and the crowd was not in my age group. So I asked them if I could get the rest of my money back but the answer was no… They said I could give it as a gift to someone or buy things from their shop (which I did) !
The place is clean, staff are nice but if you are looking for a good sweat and hard core yoga, this will not be a good place.

I cannot say enough positive things about this place. When I first started going there, I was very overweight and was intimidated about trying any excercise place, let along a small intimate place such as this. However, immediately I was made to feel very comfortable and had an excercise plan customized to what I was able to handle. Claudia was my trainer and every small milestone was celebrated. I have now lost a significant amount of weight and am trying to tone up. Claudia is encouraging me to try other excercise options beyond my normal routine to round out my fitness (Which I, as usual, try to resist as she gentle nudges me there).
I have gotten to know the two other owners as well (Katie and Louise) and they have always been welcoming and encouraging. It is rare that you find a place with such stability in staff, that are so knowledgable and encouraging, and make you feel part of a family. This place is an absolute gem and I am so grateful that I found it and continue to go. Also, if you are ever interested in trying Pilates, Lisa P. is the most enthusiastic and supportive Pilates instructor!

This place is amazing. If you enjoy yoga, you must take a class with Eve or Lucid Dawn. I have never had such a good experience because I learn new things every time. The place is spotless, friendly and inviting. I’d be there every day if my schedule allowed.
This is the kind of workout place that you leave feeling relaxed and empowered, instead of drained.

I am surprised nobody has left a review for ABC yet because it’s fabulous. I was introduced to ABC when I was job searching and was lucky to work there in the office for a few months. The 3 owners are awesome! All very knowledgeable, strong, caring, loving women! I go there for Eve’s yoga class, which is great and challenging! Perfect balance of strengthening and relaxation! I highly reccomend this place to anyone looking for pilates, yoga, personal training, etc… You will find what you’re looking for! My Grandma is now a yoga instructor there and a family friend enjoys taking pilates and pesonal training. I wish ABC all the success in the world! xoxo