Embody Pilates Studio

I told Shannon in the midst of a session recently she was the best instructor I’d ever met. I have met many and worked with wonderful people in many fields. Shannon is just above anyone I’ve had the chance to work with — unassuming, astonishingly gifted, knowledgeable, patient and compassionate — and right about what you need to do and how to pace it. The exercises she picks, the distinctions she got me to understand and articulate as we went forward have changed my life. A car accident in my 30’s caused extensive damage to my spine, and I’ve lived for 30 years in severe amounts of pain daily, with an increasingly limited range of motion. Walking more than half a block was a challenge. It has been 30 years of trying every physical & exercise therapist, massage therapist, acupuncturist, chiropractor, Pilates, yoga and tai chi and qi gong teacher in the Bay Area. Everything helped a little, sometimes more, but the trajectory has been downward and I was starting to look at wheelchairs. My weight had ballooned tremendously, I was incredibly reluctant to have anyone look at me or work with me, I also did not want to move, never knowing if the simple act of doing the dishes would send me to bed for 3 days of agony. Movement therapies and exercises routinely failed badly for me. Then I met Shannon. It has been a little over a year of weekly sessions, and I live mostly out of pain daily at this point, or I am able to abate tension through a series of stretches and exercises — I don’t kid myself I’ll reverse the degenerative conditions in my lumbar and cervical spine, but it feels like a miracle to have regained so much motion, strength and to be significantly out of pain and have tools to maintain and who knows, even get a whole lot better.

Shannon is exactly what I need after two back surgeries along with chronic arthritis and neuropathy. Each session is geared to what my body is screaming for and I am able to keep moving with her help. If I only could, I’d have her available ²⁴⁄₇.

I started my Pilates work with Sandra over 6 months ago and it has put me back on a good path. I had back surgery 3 years ago and struggled with alot of really marginal trainers, PT’s and assorted others who I hoped could get a read on my body and provide insight and instruction on how to get back on track and out of pain. Sandra is super knowledgable and has a very incremental approach that has really helped me turn things around. I am very grateful that I found her and would highly recommend working with her no matter what condition your body is in. I have seen amazing progress over the last six months, my pain is greatly minimized and I am able to engage in most physical activities which is really important to me.

It’s obvious within the first five minutes of working with her that she has a thorough knowledge of anatomy, and tons of experience.
Shannon’s personality is as bright as her beautiful studio that is accessed through the back of a flower shop (So lovely).Another huge plus is all the free parking nearby.

I cannot speak highly enough about Shannon and her Pilates expertise. She was referred to me by a friend and she has been a Godsend! I am in my 30s and have issues with my back. I hardly have the time to be weighed down by them so finding the right remedy to stay active and busy was impertinent. I have been to physical therapy, had chiropractic care but the most rewarding and effective source of rebuilding my strength is Pilates. I have seen other Pilates professional and Shannon is the best by leaps and bounds.
She has a careful and sensitive manner as well as a very good knowledge base of her skill and understanding of how the body works. I was so impressed by how quickly she assessed my issues and how aware she was of them just by observing my movements. Her prescription of work was spot on and exactly what I needed to get back on track. She continues to be an immeasurable asset to my mobility and quality of life.
There are a lot of Pilates instructors out there but I guarantee you won’t find one as great as Shannon. I have 100% faith in her and I am so grateful to have found her!