Sheppard Method Pilates

I love coming here after work. A good workout and stretch, I always feel better when I leave. Plus it’s close to work, so I always make the evening classes

I’ve been going to Bita at Sheppard Method for about 4 months now and have been consistently going about once a week through Classpass. I LOVE Bita’s classes! Whoever says these extraneous, difficult workouts are the only way, obviously has not been taking Reformer Pilates classes!
Out of all the Pilates classes I’ve taken in West LA, Bita’s class is by far my favorite. She is such a sweet woman and focuses on techniques while allowing the students to challenge themselves. She does fun/​harder exercises such as planking, ab/​side abs, etc, but always makes sure that each student feels comfortable to their ability. I am hooked on pilates, and I truly feel it’s been my core stronger, and I couldn’t imagine another workout without it!
Plus, parking is a breeze and FREE! And, in Westwood– what more could you ask for?!

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A PILATES TEACHER PROGRAM — THIS IS THE PLACE:
This is now my 8^th week doing the mentoring program with Risa Sheppard from Sheppard Method Pilates. I am learning so much everyday I go to the studio and everytime I meet with Risa: not just teaching skills but confidence, acceptance of limitations, and hope and enthusiasm for a great professional future as a Pilates teacher. Thank you Risa, Rini, Bita, Leslie, Heather, all the students and clients for making this experience a joyful and fullfiling one. I would recommend highly learning to teach Pilates with Risa Sheppard from Sheppard Method Pilates.
IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR PRIVATE AND VERY SMALL GROUP REFORMER OR MAT CLASSES — THIS IS THE PLACE:
All teachers are fully trained and take care of their clients in the most professional manner. The reformer classes and mat classes are small enough for the instructors to be able to spot and correct each client. The classes are very motivating and energizing. Risa and her instructors are inspiring.

If you wanna switch things up in your life and do pilates (as we all should) this is where you should go! I had never really done pilates, always danced, and yoga, until I found this little gem of a studio! Risa is of course amazing, but so are all of the instructors! Each instructor has something special and unique to bring to the table, so I suggest getting a package and trying them ALL out! Bita is my personal favorite! She has a matt class that I just fell in love with! Check this place out, its GREAT! Also, free parking for two hours!

I wanted to update my review after a class that I took this weekend. Due to traffic construction in my area, I was late to class. They were so nice to me that they called Armando back and he returned to the studio for a Zumba class! I really appreciated how accommodating they were. Thank you! It’s such a wonderful space, everyone there is so nice and professional!

I started Pilates with Risa 14 yrs. ago because of a back condition. It not only helped with that, but strengthened me physically as well as mentally. Risa is very knowledgable as well as caring.
I am so happy to be able to recommend this studio.

The reformer class with Bita is wonderful. It’s calm and spiritual while also challenging your muscles. I haven’t been in a class with more than 4 people which really lets the instructors focus on individual form. All and all it’s a wonderful start to your mornings.

I always wanted to be a calm zen-​like rock so BAD! So I forced myself to try different styles of yoga and try different relaxing techniques. But you know what! I really really REALLY don’t like yoga or tai chi or meditating etc… So I accepted that I’ll just be an intense-​bootcamp-​loving-​kickboxing-​little-​beast for life… UNTIL…
someone told me that I really needed to calm the F down! (sorry Risa for saying «F» lol) So I seriously admitted to myself that I needed to figure out a way to ENJOY feeling GROUNDED and ENGAGED with a some kind of mind/​body/​spirit discipline. And I remembered enjoying pilates years ago… but only because I got to play on the reformer, the wunda chair, the cadillac and cute props. That was definitely engaging for me. But I stopped because it was just so expensive. So then I tried to find other affordable pilates studios that use the reformer, but I don’t like how they want to see you go fast & sweat, more than they want to see you CONNECT and be engaged with your mind/​body.
LUCKILY I was reading beautiful Ashley Greene’s interview and she raved about pilates with Risa. So I checked out her website, was amazed by her resume/​reel/​personality and called immediately.
This is DEFINITELY my home pilates studio :)
Risa is so fun, positive, warm, attentive to the little details of your body and accomodating (not only physically, but financially as well). I respect her so much. I told her I wanted to try some creative pilates workouts and hopefully grow a bigger butt… and she introduced me to cool guy Justin! He is also so sweet and fun. I loved my private with him because he created some of his own advanced pilates/​TRX moves that got me so focused, so grounded, I LOVED everything we did!
I said to Risa during one of our privates, this feels so «magical.» And she smiled. The way she describes things helped me visualize & focus & feel sharply present: «relax/​pull your shoulders down as though warm oil is going down them; plant your feet as though there were magnets on the center of them; hold your head/​spine up as though a rod is shooting up» (I may not be saying it exactly right, but you get the point)
I have never felt this calm, uplifted and happy after any Pilates or yoga session. It’s like I’m walking on clouds…
Empowering, graceful and fun is at this studio. I’ve been shopping around different Pilates studios from Santa Monica to calabasas. This is it.
Thank you Risa and Justin for helping me find my zen.
p.s.
For those of you that think pilates is for weenees, well! I just deadlifted 165 lbs recently thinking I was the shee-​it, right. But I found myself shaking way more doing these «girly» moves with Justin on the wunda chair. He assured me that you can never stop challenging yourself in pilates! WHAT A BONUS!

I was first introduced to Sheppard Pilates via a girlfriend and signed up for a groupon-​type special with the intention of going for just those sessions. But I fell in love. Risa is amazing — I contribute a healthy fit pregnancy to my weekly Pilates sessions with her and cannot say enough about how fabulous she is — as an instructor and as a person. I was able to continue my workouts until my due date thanks to an ever-​changing routine that Risa adapted to my abilities as my belly grew.
I just had my first post-​baby session today and it felt amazing to be back. I’m sore — but not too sore… and full of energy. Thanks Risa!
Go see Risa at Sheppard Method Pilates — you wont regret it!

Saw my neighbor on the elevator one day and he was looking good and smiling so I asked him why he was so happy and he said because he just left Risa Sheppard and his back felt great. I called right away since I had been looking for just someone to help me with my back problems. Oh, it was the best call I ever made. After years of back pain I felt I found the best person and most knowledgeable person. I have been going to Risa for several months now and I absolutely love the way I feel when I walk out of there.
The studio is small and intimate with a few other Pilates Instructors and everyone seems to be in good spirits because these instructors are professionals that know what they are doing and you can see the satisfied look on their clients faces as they bounce out the door.

This is definitely a classic Pilates studio with a personal touch. I have been going here for months and look forward to every workout. I feel like my muscles are longer and leaner, while my flexibility has increased as well. The entire staff knows there stuff and they communicate it so well.
Very nice studio and the personalized attention they give me is remarkable.