+ Where is the Joy of Pilates studio?

Joy of Pilates is located at 2130 Grant Street, Bellingham, WA 98225. The studio is near Bellingham High School, Homeskillet and Erin Baker's, less than 1 mile from downtown Bellingham. Visit our Contact Page for a map and information about parking.

+ What Fitness and Pilates equipment does our Studio have?

Our Studio is fully equipped with six STOTT Reformers, one rehab balance body Reformer, Pilates Chairs, Pilates Cadillac, Wall-mounted Pilates Springboards, Arc Barrels, TRX, BOSU, and numerous small props and balls.

+ Can I rent studio space at Joy of Pilates?

Yes. You can rent more than 1500 sq ft of studio space in the front room. The open floor is perfect for workshops, dance classes, and meetings. The rental space includes one bathroom along with changing rooms. Renting the studio space costs $25 per hour. You can book for more than one hour or for multiple classes on weekends or evenings.

+ Does Joy of Pilates sell Fitness apparel and equipment at the studio?

Yes. We sell locally printed shirts and hoodies displaying the Joy of Pilates logo. Additionally, Pilates gear, mats, and rehabilitation equipment—including foam rollers, discs, and Franklin balls—also can be purchased in our in-studio store. We can also special order items for you.

+ What is the refund policy?

All purchases are nonrefundable however remaining sessions can be gifted to friends or family members or exchanged for other JOP services. A $10 admin fee will be incurred for any package exchanges.

+ What is the cancellation policy for Private/Duet/Trio sessions?

24 hours advance notice must be given for all appointments. All late cancellations will result in a $35 charge in consideration of our Instructors time. Private/Duet/Trio packages have a 1 year expiration from date of purchase.

+ What is the make-up policy for Reformer Classes?

For Reformer Members, each student is allotted 2 make-up classes per reformer series per month (up to 4 make-ups per month). For Reformer Series, each student is allotted 1 make-up per month per series. The make-up class(es) must be done within 30 days of the missed class(es).

+ What do I commit to with a JOP Membership?

You pay a single monthly fee for a minimum of twelve (12) months consecutively.

We also have a month-to-month membership that can be cancelled at any time with a 15-day written notification.

You can find more info about memberships here.

+ Can my membership be automatically paid through my credit card or personal checking account?

Yes. We can set up monthly automatic draft payments through your credit card or personal checking account. Your membership will automatically be charged 3 days before the end of the month for the following month.

+ What if I join mid-month?

No problem. If you join our studio mid-month, your membership can be prorated so you are not paying for the entire month of classes.

+ What classes do you offer?

Joy of Pilates offers a variety of classes for all fitness levels and interests. JOP's small class sizes allow the Instructors to focus on your personal needs, goals and make exercise fun.

+ How do I sign up for a class?

For mat classes you can sign-up using the Mindbody app or call the studio. Reformer classes are a Series Class, which means that you reserve your "spot" in the class by pre-purchasing your class one month in advance. Non-reserved spots in a Reformer class will then be availble for walk-in bookings.

+ What do I bring to a class?

Your positive attitude! At this time, we highly recommend you to bring your own mat, props and pillow to class. We recommend wearing Toe-Sox/non-slip socks in the JOP Studio. Clean in-door shoes are allowed.

Our Pilates line-up includes Mat group classes, Reformer group classes and Online classes (see below). We aslo offer TRX/PSM, Bosu, speciality classes for bone density and Fitness classes. Check out our schedule to find out what classes are currently being offered.

+ Do you have online classes and how do they work?

Yes, we have online classes that can be viewed at anytime for your convienence. Contact Info@joyofpilates.net for more information on online classes.

JOP offers a Private Facebook Group where Instructors host LIVE Pilates classes. Within the JOP Online Classes group, there is a video library of all past classes for you to watch at your convienence.

+ What do I need to do to take classes?

Before you attend any classes at the studio, you must complete our new client packet, which contains our studio policies, waiver of liability, fitness history and health history. The forms can be downloaded in PDF format in our Getting Started page or you may pick up copies at the studio.

If you are new to Pilates, you must take one session of private instruction before you can attend any of our group classes.

+ Is it required that I take a Private session before taking a Reformer class?

Yes. To join a Reformer class it is required that students take one Private to get acquainted with the equipment and to be placed in the proper level of class.

For Mat Pilates classes we require all new students to take a Private session or join one of our Free Mat Intros that we offer monthly. If you already have prior Pilates experience we can waive the Private for Mat Pilates classes.

+ Does JOP offer Private Training?

Yes. Private training is ideal if you are new to Pilates, are recovering from an injury, or have specific fitness goals. Our trainers look at posture, body composition, lifestyle and general movement habits to build a custom session for optimum results. Private sessions are made only by appointment with your desired trainer.

+ Can a friend and I get personal training together?

Yes. We offer Duets (2 people) and Trios (3 people) sessions. They are a great way to stay committed to a regular workout schedule, because your friend(s) will be counting on you. Duets/Trios work best when you and your partner(s) can commit to the same schedule every week and have similar physical abilities and goals.

+ Can I register for classes or training sessions online?

Yes. We use the Mindbody app for online registration and scheduling. Mindbody is used by many fitness, wellness, and beauty businesses around the world. Keep in mind that you must create a Mindbody account for each business that uses Mindbody. Click here to create or access your Mindbody account.

+ What is a class pass?

A class pass is a package of classes, typically 5 or 10, that is used like a punchcard. Purchasing a class pass creates a savings by lowering the cost per class.

+ What is a Series class?

A series class allows pre-booking of your "spot" in a class. This is typically done for Reformer classes due to the limited number of machines. You will pay a month's worth of classes before the month starts to guarantee your spot in the class. The remaining open spots are avilable for class pass holders and walk-ins.

+ Who was Joseph Pilates?

Joseph Pilates was a German physical trainer who invented the Pilates exercise system. Watch the history of Joseph and Pilates here.

+ What is Pilates?

Pilates is a method of body conditioning that develops the body uniformly, corrects posture, restores vitality, invigorates the mind and elevates the spirit.

+ How often should I do Pilates?

That depends on what kind of results you want. You can reduce back pain with one session. You can relieve stress at the end of a long week with one session. But if you want to get a six pack, run a marathon without injury, get back into pre-baby shape, or simply tone up, then a commitment to do Pilates 2-3 times a week will encourage long-term change. One of Joseph Pilates’ most famous quotes is, “In 10 sessions you will feel the difference. In 20 sessions you will see the difference. And in 30 sessions you will have a whole new body.” Joseph's book, Return to Life Through Contrology, is a quick and entertaining read originally published in 1945 that gives a peek into his mind and methodology. In his book, he states:

“If you will faithfully perform your Contrology exercises regularly only four times a week for just three months, you will find your body development approaching the ideal, accompanied by renewed mental vigor and spiritual enhancement.” Ideal body, mental vigor, spiritual enhancement! Who wouldn’t want all that with just 4x a week?!

Consider what kind of results you want from Pilates. Even once a week Pilates can:

• rehab injuries
• retrain muscular imbalances
• improve sports performance
• improve posture
• increase muscle flexibility
• increase joint range of motion (ROM)
• increase body awareness
• reduce stress
• build muscle tone

Be wary, however, of claims that Pilates is great for burning fat. If you expect a 1x week Pilates session to get you thin, you may be disappointed. But adding Pilates to a fat-burning regimen of cardio and healthy eating can keep you injury free while helping to sculpt and tone. Or, look for a Pilates fusion class that combines Pilates-based moves with fat-burning cardio.

+ How do I make Pilates a habit?

Ideally, Pilates is something you do 24/7. Joseph Pilates was all about the mind body connection. Ask google how long it takes to create a habit and you will get an answer around 21-28 days. (Though there seems to be little scientific proof!) Focusing on Pilates concepts everyday can help change old postural habits (e.g., slumping in our seats, rolling our shoulders forward, standing in one hip) The more you do it, the more natural positive postural habits become.

My favorite client feedback is when I hear, “I stood all day and had no pain.” “What normally would have been an unbearable plane ride was just fine.” “I found myself sitting taller.” “I noticed I was in nuetral spine."

Pilates builds a body awareness that translates into everything you do. So my response to the question “How often should I do Pilates?” is this:

Once a week is great. 2 times a week is better. 3 times a week is amazing! And remember, Pilates doesn’t have to be your only exercise. Commit to movement everyday! Pilates just happens to be a very fun and effective way to do it!

To help you, Joy of Pilates has a variety of private, small group, and classes to make Pilates part of your life everyday! Check our schedule for a a class that fits your lifestyle!

+ Who can do Pilates?

Pilates exercises that include core strength, flexibility, balance, uniform development, and efficient movement patterns are all beneficial to people of all gender and ages.