Optimum Pilates LLC

I love Optimum Pilates at Piedmont. I have been going to OP twice a week and I’m very close to celebrate my 30^th class challenge. I already see improvement in my practice and in my body :)
The instructors are awesome! I’ve taken classes with Melissa, Anne and Barbara; all of them have contributed with something new, something fun, challenging and meaningful to my practice. I enjoy very much each class. Thank you ladies!
Optimum Pilates is a great place to start your Pilates practice, to recover from an injury and it is also great for seasoned practitioners. The space is nice and clean and with lots of props to use.
Kudos to Anne for having such a warm, kind, attentive and knowledgeable instructors!

I really enjoyed my private Pilates lesson today! Anne is extremely knowledgeable and kind — it was a great pleasure working with her! This was my first Pilates lesson and Anne expertly guided me through it. She explained everything carefully, gave expert tips and corrections and also shared great information about the body. I never felt confused or intimidated. It was the perfect introduction to Pilates!
My left hip is healing from an injury and Anne was very conscientious about it. And guess what, the Pilates actually helped my hip feel better! After the session I also felt taller and better aligned. My posture improved and walking felt smoother. I was more aware of my core and engaged it more throughout the day. With just one lesson I experienced a greater sense of well-​being!
I also loved that it was gentle and slow and required concentration to be precise. What a great way to slow down and clear the mind of chatter! It was almost meditative for me. :)
Oh, and the machines are actually fun! ;) And the space is really clean and nice, too. I like that the ceiling is painted like a sky. ;)
I’m very happy to have discovered Optimum Pilates!

Just had my first pilates session EVER and I loved it. Anne and Optimum Pilates was such a great entry into pilates for me.
Truthfully, I’d been a little resistant to pilates (maybe even a little intimidated?) and wasn’t sure if it would be the right fit for me. That’s until I met Anne. Her warm, personable, knowledgable demeanor really encouraged me to give it a try and I’m so glad I did!
The space is very clean, welcoming and well set up. I walk by the studio almost every day so it was really nice to get a chance to see and use it. Anne was a very patient, helpful instructor and although the equipment was unfamiliar, she made the session very do-​able for me. I have some knee issues and Anne worked around those easily. I can see how regular sessions will really help strengthen me from the inside out.
Looking forward to future one-​on-​one and group classes here!

As a certified yoga instructor for 17 years, I can be rather picky when it comes to choosing classes for myself, but I’ve been very impressed with Optimum Pilates.
I’ve been taking reformer classes with Anne and she is just fabulous; she’s very personable and knowledgeable about anatomy and technique, as well as attentive to individual’s needs. She’s happy to answer any questions and really cares about her clients. Even though class itself feels peaceful and relaxing, I’m always pleased to discover that several muscles are sore the next day, which is really the best workout possible — the kind that gets results, but doesn’t feel like drudgery! It’s been a nice combination of strengthening and lengthening for my muscles. And the exercises are very democratic — what you do on one side of the body you always do on the other, so my body feels balanced (unlike when I do sports like tennis, Frisbee, volleyball, etc), which is really important for my scoliosis.
The studio is located in a nice space tucked away on Piedmont Avenue, a lovely retreat from the urban hustle. The studio space itself is clean, quiet, and has great natural light. It is very well appointed with a variety of equipment to keep your exercise varied, yet without the big gym feel and in a much more intimate setting. Another aspect I appreciate about it is that the ceiling lights are covered by fixtures so that when you’re lying on your back on the reformers, you’re not looking directly at fluorescent bulbs — an important detail many studios overlook.
I highly recommend Optimum Pilates! Go with a package deal for better value.

I’ve been coming here for almost 2 years. All of the instructions are extremely nice and friendly. They are also extremely knowledgeable.
I go to class 2 – 3 times a week and the instructors have taught me so much about my body. I began by taking privates with Krista and then slowly integrated myself into their group classes. I have taken classes from most of the instructors and they are all amazing!
Mat & Reformer classes are great. You can do most of the mat exercises at home, which is great if you can’t make it to class a couple times a week. I really see a difference in my body and how toned I have become! I love this place!

I love Optimum Pilates for a lot of reasons, but here are the primary ones:
The new owner Anne, who also teaches at the studio, really cares about her clients’ experience. It shows in the way the studio is kept, in her prompt reply to e-​mails and questions and in the way she wants to make certain your body is lined up precisely in the middle of the reformer before you start!
Every instructor I’ve taken classes from (Krista, Anne, Olivia, Cynthia and Cathyn) has been professional, knowledgable and attentive to the varying needs of all of us in the class.
The classes are affordable and the location is ideal — especially because it’s directly across the street from the best juice bar/​café in Oakland, Café Crush.
Thumbs way up for Optimum!

I’ve been going to Optimum Pilates on average twice a week for over two years. Anne, the new owner has made a lot of great changes. The studio is spotlessly clean and organized and the class schedule is very convenient. The instructors are great — I’ve taken classes from Olivia, Cynthia and Krista over the years. I’m currently doing private lessons with Anne, who each week designs a customized workout that utilizes all the different equipment. All the instructors are keenly focused on addressing personal modification needs during the classes. Goodbye back pain, hello a lifetime of pilates!
Give them a try you won’t be disappointed.

What a phenomenal studio. Beautiful, clean, and warm, friendly trainers. Worked with both Anne and Cynthia and they gave me an incredible work out while making custom adaptations for an old injury. After just a month or so of classes I can already tell a difference in muscle tone, strength, and stability. I’ll be here for awhile.

I’m really disappointed in this business. I purchased a voucher from Amazon local over a year ago for $ 49.00. It was for three pilates classes plus 10% off a personal training session. I scheduled some classes but got very sick and was unable to attend. I called the business to cancel the classes. Then the voucher expired. According to state law, the amount you paid for the voucher does not expire; it’s always good for the amount you paid for it if applied to the same deal.
Recently I noticed that the voucher had been marked «used». I called the owner of the business, Ann Mawdsley, who said that she had recently purchased this business. She said the voucher was no good because when I called the business to schedule my classes the voucher was «cashed in», even though I later cancelled. After that, she said, I had 90 days to use the voucher before it was no good, even for the amount paid. I told her I didn’t think this was accurate, and that no one had explained that to me at the time. Also, she said, she recently purchased the business and was therefore not obligated to honor it.
I explained that I am willing to pay for four classes and a personal training session, minus 10% for the personal session, and minus the $ 49 I originally paid for the voucher. If she let me use the voucher, instead of alienating a potential customer, she would possibly gain a regular client and would still be paid a total of $ 138.50. This seemed to me the better business decision, but she was not open to it.
She interrupted me often as I talked and seemed rather inflexible. She said she wanted to call Amazon Local to discuss it. In the end, I left her to call Amazon. I called them myself and they agreed to credit the amount back to my credit card. I am satisfied with Amazon Local, but not with this business.

Never having been in a pilates studio, I had no particular expectations when I visited Optimum Pilates for Caitlin Smith’s class one Monday evening. The studio itself is a single room crammed with every bit of equipment you can imagine — there are reformers on one side, and then stations with springs attached to walls on the other side, along with other types of Pilates equipment in the middle.
The ceiling is painted sky blue (nice!). It’s pretty clean and well organized. IT doesn’t have any strange smells (doesn’t smell sweaty or dusty like some climbing gyms, no scent of harsh cleaning products or air fresheners, no overpowering odor of Domino’s pizza or sim0.
The only shortcoming is that there isn’t a real changing area or place to store your stuff — there is an alcove by the entrance to the studio (inside on the 2^nd floor, not down on the street!) — with some hooks — so be prepared by wearing clothes for the class before you arrive and don’t bring a lot of valuables with you. Parking is also kind of tricky in this area — so arrive on bike or bus, or be prepared to spend some time looking for parking as it is mostly metered.

Reason for visit: The reformer looked awesome… and it is!
Visit date: Summer 2012
First time? Yes.
My first reformer class was amaze-​balls! Both my friend and I fell in like with reformers and it’s now our personal mission to each own one when we grow up. We had purchased an Amazon deal for four classes. Each class was unique and focused on muscle groups I didn’t know I had. We took all of our classes with Avishag; she is a great instructor, especially if you’re a newbie to reformer classes. Reformer classes are small — up to four students per session — which makes it feel like a private lesson. Avishag was able to focus on each student, correcting posture as needed and making sure we were optimizing our workout.

I have been going to Optimum Pilates for a few weeks now after my physical therapist recommended it and I adore Avishag – she’s a great instructor and very patient; great for first-​timers or seasoned Pilates adherents but HARD to book.
The space is very clean and bright and QUIET, which is great considering it is right on Piedmont Avenue. Very small classes and relaxing atmosphere, I think it’s a great fit for someone who wants to come in, workout, and then leave without any huge hassle or overly intrusive class members.
A little pricey at $ 35 a class but they offer a lot of good deals! I wish they’d put their website on Unilocal though, it took me a minute to find.

I had worked with Kelly at Optimum Pialtes a while ago, and saw a huge difference in my body. The knowledge she gave me through Pilates, like how to move in the daily life situations so that I wouldn’t aggravate my back pain, was profound. Also, her personality, very caring and calming, helped me in the healing process. Unfortunately, I moved out of East Bay, and miss my Pilates sessions at Optimum Pilates so bad :(

Totally LOVE Ainka! Yes, she was late for my first class with her (I bought a LivingSocial w/​my sister)…but after getting to know her, we realize she’s commuting all over the place and you know how parking/​traffic can get.
My sister and I took her business card after our second class and were discussing possibly getting our other sister and/​or mom to come with us… if we could get a good enough deal. Both of my sisters are runners and unfortunately, we all have knee and back problems. We (sister and I) both agreed that our bodies were feeling so much better after our first class and are looking to make pilates part of our regular lives. =)

I’ve done some classes here after getting the living social deal. There is a HUGE difference between the instructors and their styles. I suggest you go to a a few different classes and find one that you click with. During one of my classes there was someone scheduled for a private session who came in at the end of our class and started working out and talking to the instructor. Um… I know I used a coupon, but I felt like we didn’t get out instructor’s full attention for the total time, and the private student should have waited until our class was over before she started her workout. They do have an online scheduling system which makes it easy to book classes.

My review is for Cynthia of Optimum Pilates. Cynthia has been working with me as my pilates instructor for over 5 months. I had known for a while that pilates — with proper instruction, would be of great benefit to my performance in both cycling and rock climbing as well as in treating the chronic injuries I have endured in my neck, arms and back. In the last 5 months, I’ve seen vast improvements in my agility and ability to recover from symptoms caused by my former injuries. I attribute a lot of these improvements to this work that Cynthia has been doing with me. Cynthia has tailored a workout specific to my activities as well as to my activity and strength level. She is passionate about what she does and it shows in this work she has done with me… thank you, Cynthia!

I have very much enjoyed studying Pilates with Cynthia Handel at Optimum — she’s a terrific teacher and really takes pains to explain WHY we are doing certain exercises and how they’ll help me. She’s also great at understanding prior injuries and weaknesses, and how to focus on those issues. I feel so much stronger!

i can’t believe i haven’t yet reviewed optimum pilates. i’ve been coming here for 2 + years now, taking group reformer classes with caitlin. the studio is bright and clean, and caitlin is a great teacher. very encouraging to new students, and knows how to work those who are more seasoned. be warned, that little girl will tear your abs up! it will hurt, and she will sweetly say, «just two more». always just two.
it’s worth it tho. i have to say that i am stronger, straighter, more balanced because of pilates. at $ 35 a reformer class it’s pricey, and also somewhat of an elitist exercise.
i do wish they had one more group reformer class because since they have offered a groupon it’s become more difficult to get into my regular class. i have to schedule way in advance. it’s also become more popular in general, likely because the teachers are good, so now there are simultaneous mat classes and private sessions going on, which means it can get loud and a little chaotic in there.
but it’s worth it. even if it feels like you got kicked in the stomach about 50 times the day after. i guess that’s how you know it’s working.

This review is for the Mat Classes only. The studio was really nice and clean. When I first started I took the first class for free it was great so I signed up for the Mat Class 10 pack which breaks down to $ 15 a class. A week after I paid the classes were cancelled for like a month. The worst part about this was when I signed up online for a class it did not say the class was cancelled so I came to class ready for Pilates and no one showed up. This happened to me about four times. The classes went back to normal I end up finishing up my classes and I do not plan on going back.

I go to group reformer classes twice a week and it is what keeps me sane, I love pilates, it seems to be what my body needs.
The instructors are nice as well as knowledgeable. The maximum class size is 5, but most often there are 2 to 3 people in the class and occasionally you get a private lesson for the price of a group class because no one else shows up.