Move Well Within: Pilates & Z-Health

Oakland, United States

5

11 reviews

By Appointment Only

Contacts

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Telephone:
+1 510-908-1098
Website:
www.movewellwithin.com
Address:
399 Grand Ave, Oakland, CA, 94610
b/t Staten Ave & Ellita Ave
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
0.5 miVeterans Memorial
0.8 mi19th St Oakland
0.8 mi19th Street Oakland
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Bussiness info

Good for Kids
No
By Appointment Only
Yes

Today

Today –
Local time (Oakland) 17:18 Saturday, 14 June 2025

Business hours

Monday 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Tuesday 8:00 am – 8:30 pm
Wednesday 8:00 am – 8:00 pm
Thursday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Friday 8:00 am – 6:00 pm
Saturday –
Sunday –

Description

Specialties

Alissas approach to holistic fitness uses the inner power of the body to uplift the spirit and mind. She believes that physical movement and health form the centerpiece of a deeply satisfying life. She earned her BA in American Studies from UC Santa Cruz, additionally practicing Spanish, community theater, yoga, dance, and mixed martial arts. Alissa first experienced the transformative power of Pilates at age 17, as an out of shape, injured, and anxious teen. Since then, she’s used Pilates as the number one foundational practice in order to keep her body mobile and strong, and her mind focused and calm. Her work with midwives in rural Oaxaca, Mxico gave her a deeper appreciation for how important embodied movement training is for humans of all ages, and inspired her to return to the U.S. to do her certification in Pilates equipment and mat work through Integrated Teacher Training, San Francisco…

History

Established in 2010.

Alissa has studied Pilates since 2000. She went to work as a Pilates instructor after receiving her comprehensive certification in 2010, and has worked at corporate gyms, physical therapy centers, yoga studios, and now runs her business privately at two locations: The Working Body (614 Grand Ave, Oakland), and Innerstellar Yoga & Pilates (2800 Adeline St, Berkeley). She’s enthusiastic about helping her clients reach their goals while befriending their bodies in the process.

Meet the Business Owner

Alissa G.

Business Owner

Pilates is the main tool I use to help people take a mind-​body approach to fitness. Sessions might also include some bodywork and wellness coaching, but mostly I aim to help regular people take joy in their bodies while getting in shape, recovering from injury, or rebounding after pregnancy. Check out my website for full details, other offers, pictures, and testimonials. www​.alis​sag​ib​bins​.org

Born and raised in Oakland, CA. I enjoy skiing, hiking, traveling, singing, cooking, dancing, yoga, and tripping out on the natural world.

Move Well Within: Pilates & Z-​Health also recommends

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«Dr. Tara is amongst the most bad-​ass you will ever encounter in the field of naturopathic medicine (i.e. western medicine meets nature).»

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«Dr. Tara also sees some clients in Oakland. She is amongst the best detectives in rooting out the cause of ill-​health.»

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Chiropracteur

Alissa G. says,

«I trust Dr. Naweed immensely. His work is efficient and highly effective, and he brings his fun, and down-​to-​earth personality to every session.»

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11 reviews of Move Well Within: Pilates & Z-Health

No registration required
Place rating: 5
Oakland, CA
Well, 2 years since my first review and I can’t sing Alissa praises enough! Unfortunately I have recently moved and I miss Alissa’s workouts SO MUCH! I went to her weekly before I was pregnant, throughout pregnancy and also postpartum. She is very knowledgable about the postpartum body. I have had some problems since delivery (ab separation and some minor low back pain and uneven gait) and Alissa was helping these problems. Since I moved I tried a new instructor and it made everything worse! So now I’m in physical therapy, doing really well, and guess what exercises I’m doing with my PT? The same ones that Alissa would run me through! I so wish I could continue to see Alissa for the amazing whole body workout and seriously, the stress would just melt away! I miss you Alissa xoxoxo!
Place rating: 5
Richmond, CA
As a professional musician, I needed help with strengthening and stretching overused muscles. Alissa addressed a lot of tightness in my lower body and gave me many ways to loosen up tense muscles. As an experienced Pilate’s instructor, Alissa knew exactly what to focus on to help my body function at a higher level. I feel great and highly recommend Alissa!
Place rating: 5
Oakland, CA
I have been taking private lessons with Alissa for a year and a half now. I went to her initially because of a back problem (which turned out to be a disc herniation) and our sessions were more therapeutic in nature. As she encouraged me to be consistent with my exercises, I got stronger and the back problem subsided. Now she is more like a personal trainer in that she is guiding a re-​invigorated workout routine and helping me return to activities which I had missed out on for years (bicycling, to name one). In the process, not only am I in better shape but also healthier in general.
I’d like to point out as well that Alissa is not only knowledgeable and intuitive, she is very sensitive and emotionally understanding. My injury was difficult for me to accept and manage psychologically, and Alissa was always patient and encouraging. She focuses on solutions that can be effectuated in the current moment and on looking toward the future goals at a rate comfortable for her client. She is never pushy but always encouraging. To me, this arguably more important.
Place rating: 5
West Oakland, Oakland, CA
In case this review shows up twice, I was signed up in Unilocal through my partners account. We deleted the review on his account and i started my own account!
Alissa is an amazing teacher. I have been taking privates from her once a week for over ten months now. I came to her after the birth of my second child. I have never been very athletic in my adult years and was really starting to feel how out of shape I was with my postpartum body and a full time life. Working out had been on my todo list for a very long time. I didn’t think that going once a week would make a big difference but I felt like I needed to do something for me. My body has changed! I’m stronger, my posture is better, I come in every week excited to work with Alissa even at 7am! She always checks in with me to see where my body is and of course, with 2 small children and a job in health care, I suffer from aches and pains and sleep deprivation but after my session with Alissa the pains are gone and I feel aligned, stronger in my body and energetic ready to play with my kiddos.
Alissa is a knowledgable teacher and creative in keeping things fresh and challenging. I highly recommend her. As a beginner to Pilates I am hooked. Thank you Alissa!
Loretta
Place rating: 5
Berkeley, CA
Alissa offers a through knowledgeable, gentle, often really humorous and delightful therapy for me. I have pain in my hips, and she knows both instinctively and professionally how to help. The home exercises she suggested have relieved the pain when other physical therapies have not. She has an infectious spirit that helps her clients take delight in the process. Importantly, she give me visuals to help me break down any motion when I’m stuck or confused. She is prepared, knows what we’ll work on each session, and helps me see progress. I couldn’t recommend anyone more highly.
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
Alissa Gibbins is a gifted healer. I have been suffering from severe back spasms for two years, stemming from a long-​term spinal issue (spondylolisthesis). I had tried everything: chiro, acupuncture, yoga, massage, pharmaceuticals, the works. Many of these things brought some relief, but my back still hurt and felt weak.
Then I started working with Alissa. I have known her as a friend for a few years, but never worked out with her before. A particularly savage spasm led me to call her up and make an appointment.
She asked for my x-​ray analysis, and did research before the meeting. Then she spent a lot of time watching me walk and move and bend. She studied my body and the way I moved. And then she started teaching me a different way.
She noticed my posture was off, and that my arches had fallen. We began work on my feet and ankles, and my upper spine, always being really careful to take care of my low back.
She taught me exercises to strengthen my body in areas that would help to self-​correct my posture and walking style. She gave me awareness of how my joints and spine worked, and how to hold myself in standing and walking and sitting. She gave me homework, simple daily exercises (about 15 minutes worth) and I did my homework.
I have been working with Alissa for two months, and I feel great! I have not had a single spasm, or even much stiffness. My belly and my core feel like iron right now (I love having people poke me with a finger!). I can pop out of bed without a 20 minute warmup. I feel vigor and zest for life and sports.
I feel like myself again. I am profoundly grateful to Alissa, and I urge you to work with her if you are having any of the sorts of problems I was.
Place rating: 5
Emeryville, CA
i’ve taken a bazillion pilates classes and one-​on-​one sessions with Alissa, finally got around to making a review. I’ve taken pilates for years at all different studios and she is one of my top all-​time favorite teachers. she is super insightful and spot on with her lessons and really goes above and beyond to make sure you get the most out of her class. i always totally look forward to them.
Place rating: 5
Costa Mesa, CA
I just started working with Alissa and after two sessions I have felt so much better. I have had back problems for a while and thought to try Pilates to strengthen my core. I’ve been to so many different gyms but can’t seem to get the hands on attention I need. Am I doing this right? Alissa walks you through each posture and makes sure you are doing it right every time, maximizing the workout. My booty is so sore!
Place rating: 5
Oakland, CA
Alissa is an amazingly intuitive and skilled assessor of the human body. Sure, she knows her pilates exercises, and can teach with the best of them. But where she really excels is in her ability to look at a body and determine what needs to be strengthened, what needs to be stretched, what needs to be realigned, and then put together a program to make those things happen. There is no «typical» session with Alissa, as each session takes your individual, unique needs on that particular day into account.
One day we spent 30 minutes working on my ankles, and you know what? Getting those damn ankles mobilized make SUCH a difference in everything else — my back, shoulders, hips. Not everyone would have taken the time to check it all out — so easy to just do some pilates curls, a couple hundreds, and call it a day. But not for Alissa. Go see her! You’ll be glad you did, and your body will thank you.
Place rating: 5
Alameda, CA
As a health practitioner and an athlete, its always challenging to create a trusted network of like-​minded professionals. Luckily I got it right with Alissa. She has been seeing my patients for as long as I have known her (almost 3 years) and I have heard nothing but praises.
I tell my patients its not JUST pilates you need, its guidance, and that is what Alissa is great at, guiding your body in the right direction to reach optimum balance and sustained overall health. Pilates is the preferred method of rehab and core strengthening, and Alissa is the right person to get that job done.
I have had the pleasure of experiencing her work first hand, and seeing amazing results with my patients, which gives me great confidence knowing she is capable and knowledgeable to handle the most delicate cases. These are unique characteristics not found in my instructors.
I highly recommend this dedicated professional not only because she is good at what she does, but also because she has a wide knowledge base and most importantly… a caring heart.
Place rating: 5
Oakland, CA
My Dr. and physical therapist referred me to Alissa Gibbins for instruction and guidance in building my core to help with chronic back pain. I had never done one-​on-​one pilates before and really didn’t know what to expect but within the first few minutes of our initial meeting I felt that I was in very good hands.
I view Alissa as a healer who specializes in Pilates. She uses a whole mind-​body approach and customizes each workout to her clients individual needs. There were days when my pain limited me from doing much exercise and in those instances Alissa would offer massage, accupressure, relaxation techniques, etc. She truly cares about each client and even discussed my specific issues with her mentor as well as doing research on her own time for ways to help me.
After about 20 sessions, Alissa suggested I see a specialist for my pain before continuing. Upon her advice I had an MRI done which confirmed my problems needed some medical treatment so I stopped my regular pilates sessions. I am currently in the process of managing my pain to the point that I can return to pilates as I am certain (as is my Dr.) that strengthening my core is essential to supporting my back and helping to relieve my pain.
I cannot recommend Alissa Gibbins enough. If you want a personalized experience with a dedicated instructor who is passionate about her work and truly cares about her clients, you can’t go wrong! She is the real deal.