Pilates United

This was my first Pilates class ever and I loved it! I went to the La Jolla studio and Jake was the instructor. There was only three of us in the class, which was nice because I got some personal attention, which is great when you are new, and there was also some fun comradery. Jake does joke around a lot, which I thought was fun, but if you’re overly sensitive, this probably isn’t the place for you. I’m a runner and swimmer but I don’t do well in the gym. Pilates seems like a great way to tone and strengthen for people who hate the gym. Today my gluts and abs are so sore — I love it! I will definitely be getting the unlimited monthly membership!

Pros: Very fast paced Pilates. I definitely felt like I got a workout in.
Cons: The instructor and the other ladies in the very small, private room talked about sex the entire time. As a first time client who wanted to come strictly for the workout, the interactions made me feel very uncomfortable. He tried to shush the other clients but it seemed like they ran the Pilates class, not so much him. I honestly got a swingers vibe. Oh, and the instructor also made fun of me for sweating and not knowing how to use a Reformer.

I love Pilates United! [AKA Pilates of La Jolla]
LOVE really doesn’t begin to cover it.
I’ve always struggled with my self image + yo-​yoed in and out of shape my whole life [size 13 in high school, not exactly the «Glory Days”]. About a year and a half ago I decided that it was up to me to change that… I committed to upgrading my quality of life + down sizing my clothes. Working out has always been a struggle because I get bored at the gym + am far too social to work out alone. I need structure + accountability. I was also under the misconception that Cardio was the only way to go. I’d heard about PIlates for a while but was really intimidated by it, my perception being that it was an expensive fitness «fad» for snooty housewives. This may be true at other studios [I say MAY because I don’t know… I’ve never felt the need to try out another studio!], but Jake [one of the owners + main instructor] immediately welcomed me in to the family. I felt like I instantly belonged at Pilates United. The atmosphere is low-​key, light-​hearted + fun… all class, every class. While the work outs are intense body sculpting MAGIC that leave you unable to walk without having flashbacks [can you say «FAT BURN»?!], and hopelessly addicted. Within no time I was seeing GNARLY results. Staying focused + dedicated, I lost about 30 lbs + went from a size 10 to a 4, seeing muscles I never knew I had + able to do things I never could before.
There are no «tricks» to weight loss + fat burning.
Thankfully there is hard work + Pilates United.
THANK YOU JAKE!

Love Jake & Pilates United. I started going here before my wedding to get in pre-​wedding shape and have since continued, because of the great results and class environment. I now even have my girlfriend coming with me. Great class schedule and has second location in La Jolla. If you live in Mission Hills can’t get more convenient! His hour class is non-​stop and the results are really incredible. I’m really enjoyed brining this into my work out routine and highly recommend this studio. I didn’t use any coupon or deal and have had a great experience from the get go. Whats great too is all payments are electronic and you don’t have to worry about it or you can just pay cash– not complicated at all.

I got the living social deal to try them out for 3 Pilates Reformer classes for $ 20. You have to register for the classes on line before you attend. I registered on line and then scheduled the class. Their on line system is not very good. It doesn’t tell you how many people have already registered before you. You also cannot reschedule or cancel any classes on line. You need to «call the studio» to cancel. I had to reschedule an appointment so I called and it’s just Jake’s cell phone. I told him I wanted to cancel and he just says, «OK» and then hangs up. However, they do have a policy that if you are a no show or don’t cancel within a certain time frame, you will be charged or lose a class. I just don’t see how you can have any assurance that you won’t lose a class.
Anyway, my biggest issue is that I registered on a Monday for a Friday class in Middletown. I saw on Wednesday on their website that the time was updated to a later time. Okay, that’s fine– I lucky visited the website. So I showed up in Middletown 15 minutes early. They do not have a public parking lot– it is street parking only. Anyway, no one shows up. There is no one in the studio. I call the studio # (Jake’s cell phone) but no one responds. I wait until 15 minutes after the listed start time but still no one shows up. I called the # and left a message for Jake asking why no one showed up. He calls me back a few hours later and says, «Oh yah, we changed the time again yesterday. You didn’t get the newsletter? We have our regulars here who get the newsletter.» No I didn’t get the newsletter, I am new to your studio. I told him I wasn’t interested in coming back again and he replies, «Uh, I think you should come back.» I insisted that I would just like a refund. His response was very blasé and unapologetic, and he just said, «Well, that’s unfortunate.» I checked the website as of Wednesday and it wasn’t updated. I think it’s completely unreasonable and unprofessional to expect people to sit around all day waiting for a newsletter of a time update less than 48 hours before the scheduled class. Publish your hours and stick with them. People are busy. On a Friday, people adjust their schedules so they can fit in a workout. A couple of days later I guess I was added to their newsletter distribution. It looks like spam to me, Subj: «Yogurt on your face.» Unsubscribe!
Luckily, Living Social had great customer service and even though I was past the 5 days of purchase, refunded my money and even gave me a credit toward a future purchase.

I bought a buy with me coupon because I’ve been wanting to try out pilates and this studio was convenient. I attended one class and tried to attend another this morning. On both occassions, Jake was late and my very carefully planned day was overhauled. Today, I cannot work out at all because he didn’t show and I can’t wait around hoping he will. The first time I went he was about 15 min late and did keep the class going — however, about 20 min after the scheduled end of the class I stopped mid-​exercise and excused myself, because I was already 20 mom late and just couldn’t he later. If you are a bored housewife looking for a distraction for a few hours, this may be a good place. Jake is a talker, and you can get some friendly company, some working out, and a total waste of most of your day. If you ever have anywhere to be, don’t bother. Pick a professional studio instead. I won’t be using the rest of my already paid for visits, because my time is worth a lot more to me than the money I spent on that coupon. Jake just doesn’t think so.

We took a gamble and bought 4 BuyWithMe coupons.
1.
The hours at the Hancock Street location are very limited. It looks like there is only one instructor who is also the owner — Jake. He seems to split his time between two studios — La Jolla and Hancock Street.
2.
On the first session we received no instruction about the exercises except «do what the others are doing.» The others were all younger women who were very fit, intermediate or advanced students. My buddy was brand new to this, which we told Jake when we signed up.
Jake, the instructor/​owner, is a nice guy but he leads the class at a very fast pace — a kind of aerobics/​Pilates with a kind of Military flavor to it, and lots of gossip about other clients and critiques of movies mixed in… but no real instruction on the exercises. I say he «leads» the class rather than «teaches» because he doesn’t really give instruction — more just calls out the exercises and sets the pace like a DI.
I have done Pilates before so was able to keep up, but my buddy was not
and hurt his groin on an excercise that looks easy but in fact can be quite dangerous — it involves standing with one foot on a gliding platform and the other foot on a stable platform. It was several weeks before the pain went away.
Pilates is a highly technical form of excercise that requires individual correction and instruction, especially on the machines, and especially for newcomers. Otherwise, injury to lower back or other areas is highly likely. I have been to about 10 different Pilates studios over the years in different cities and — except for a large group class at a gym — this was the only class that completely lacked ANY instruction for newcomers.
3.
My buddy didn’t want to return because he hurt his groin because of the lack of instruction; and I didn’t want to return because the restricted hours conflicted with my work.
4.
When I e-​mailed AND phoned Jake about a partial refund he simply didn’t return the e-​mails or the calls. In the message I made clear that I knew he only go a portion of the $ I’d paid for the coupons, but asked if Jake could refund that partial amount.
5.
So, if you already are an intermediate to advanced Pilates student and like a high-​paced aerobic class with no correction; and don’t care if the owner doesn’t get back to you when you leave messages, Pilates United for you. Otherwise, best to keep clear of it.
July 2011 Folowup: BuyWithME refunded us the money on the coupons with no problems.

I hate to workout and since I am now unable to run I noticed that I have been putting on a few pounds. I was refereed to Jake by a coworker. She has been doing Pilate’s with him for a few years. The reformer is a God send! The class size is small about 8 people per class so me being a beginner I am able to get some individual attention.
Jake is really down to earth and friendly. He is a professional and allows you to work at your own pace. The music is left up to the group. Which is nice since you can bring something if you want to share it with the group.
Price is pretty inexpensive $ 160 per month for unlimited classes at either this location or the La Jolla location. There are other packages availible but this one fit my needs. It works out great since I can go right after work on my way home.
Being a member is like having another group of friends. Jake will host events and allow you to sign up if interested. The most recent one was going to a shooting range!
The location is convenient, located just off the 5 fwy. The parking is the only negative. There is no parking lot and since United is located next to Bikraam Yoga parking can be an issue.