“Gratz sets the standard and is the natural choice.”

- Kimberly Kay - Owner & Instructor
Urban Pilates Studio

 

STUDIO

Urban Pilates is a fully equipped Gratz studio teaching in the authentic, classical Pilates method. Located in the Alberta Arts district in Northeast Portland, Oregon, we offer Authentic Classical Pilates, using only Gratz equipment. Certified Authentic Pilates Instructors at Urban have undergone extensive training, testing and instruction to prepare themselves to guide clients through Classic Pilates workouts. That training is the foundation for the Urban Pilates approach, which is focused on full-body conditioning. We offer private, duet and group class instruction.

 

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EQUIPMENT

We have everything! Three 86” Reformers and one 80” Archival Reformer. One Cadillac, 4 Wall Units, 2 Ladder Barrels, 3 Wunda Chairs, 1 Electric Chair, 1 Pedipole, 1 Arm chair, 1 Guillotine, 4 Spine Correctors, 2 Small Barrels, 2 Foot Correctors, 6 Toe Correctors, 1 Bean Bag roll up device, 1 Breath-a-cizer, one 2x4, a pair of Push Up Devices, 5 airplane boards, and Magic Circles and pillows all over the place.
 

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About Kimberly Kay, Owner of Urban Pilates + Certified M.A.T Pilates Instructor

Kim has been practicing Pilates since 2012 and teaching since 2017. Her teachers Dorothee VandeWalle, April Tillman and Renata Jarvi have been the most influential to her own practice and teaching. In August of 2019, she had the amazing opportunity to become the new owner of Urban Pilates. Soon after, she finished her teaching certification by completing the M.A.T. Pilates Teacher Certification Program through our sister studio Metropolitan Pilates in Seattle, WA under the direction of Dorothee Vandewalle. Kim's infectious enthusiasm for Pilates movement will help you create a strong foundational Pilates practice that will keep you moving and leave you feeling lifted, calm and clear headed. During her free time she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, volunteering at her children’s schools, listening to music and singing.

Jacqueline began practicing Pilates over a decade ago when she discovered it was a great complement to her marathon training and interest in fitness and nutrition. Originally from the beautiful coastal area of Encinitas, California she has always led an active and healthy life; running marathons, traveling the world, hiking mountains and walking countless city miles. Jacqueline credits Pilates with strengthening her body as well as her mind and vastly improving her posture and flexibility. “Pilates leaves me clear-headed with the ability to sharpen my focus on the things that lie in front of me.” She teaches with passion and enthusiasm and is an active supporter of those seeking healthy changes in their lives. Jacqueline has taught since 2013 in San Francisco, Seattle and now Portland earning her classical Pilates certification from Metropolitan Pilates in Seattle, Washington.

 

Ali Formiller - Certified M.A.T Pilates Instructor

Ali initially discovered Pilates through mat classes at her local gym about a decade ago and soon after was introduced to more of the method through a friend. As a career server at some of Portland's busy restaurants, she found Pilates to be the perfect way to keep her body feeling at its best after working long shifts. Looking for a career change she decided to become a Pilates instructor. In 2014 began her first teacher training program studying the Peak Comprehensive Program. Upon gaining her certificate in 2016 she still felt something was missing from her Pilates practice and soon discovered the Authentic Classical Method through April Tillman, founder of Urban Pilates. In 2017 she decided to expand her teaching knowledge and embarked on her 2nd certification studying the Metropolitan Authentic Training (M.A.T.) program under the direction of Dorothee VandeWalle.

Ali has a passion for movement and she loves sharing that passion to help other people move well. She warmly welcomes people from all walks of life and she strongly believes that this versatile practice can transform anybody's body, mind, and life as it has her own. A native east coaster out of Pennsylvania she's lived in Portland for almost 2 decades. Outside of Pilates, Ali's favorite things are her senior dogs, pool time, dinner with friends, paddle boarding, camping and the the quick access to the beauty and amazingness that the Pacific Northwest provides.

 

Kelly Recktenwald - Pilates Instructor, Certified by Romana Kryzanowska and Pilates, Inc.

Kelly has been teaching Pilates for nearly 20 years and is a 2nd generation teacher, having studied and tested out with Master Teacher and Joseph Pilates protege, Romana Kryzanowska. Her initial Pilates education included a year-long apprenticeship under the tutelage of Teacher of Teachers, Zoe Hagler. She's since taken yearly continuing education courses and holds multiple specialty certificates (senior fitness, osteoporosis, postpartum core, post-rehab, etc) and has most recently been delving further into the archival details of Joseph Pilates' work. Kelly owned and operated Hillsboro's first classical studio, Trio Pilates. She's worked in a variety of studios and wellness clinics in both Los Angeles and Portland metro areas. Prior to moving to Oregon in 2006, she successfully created and grew a corporate Pilates service, which included teaching classes at a prominent Los Angeles hospital. Her extensive education and experience allow her to create safe and appropriate workouts for every client. Kelly started practicing Pilates in the mid 90's to address her chronic back pain and decided to become a teacher after surviving a head-on collision without injury, which she credits to the proper conditioning of the Pilates method. She believes that Pilates has supported her mental health, as well. Besides Pilates, Kelly loves to dance and is passionate about choreography. She received her B.A. in Dance from CSUF in 1994.

She loves living in beautiful Oregon, enjoying hikes and camping adventures with her husband, two children, and dog.

LOCATION

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