“I’m so happy to be here in Bellevue. It’s important to me to take time to connect with other local female-owned businesses. When women support one another, great things can happen!” – Cynthia A., owner of Bellevue Pilates

Cynthia has lived in the Pacific Northwest throughout most of her life. She graduated from Inglemoor High School and spent most of her adult life with her husband in Seattle. They spent some time in Phoenix, Arizona, but ultimately decided to move back to Washington after the pandemic with their hearts set on the Eastside. 

Her faithful commitment to Pilates started about 20 years ago at the suggestion of a friend. She began at a studio that was certified by Romana Kryzanowska, one of a handful of teachers who was trained to teach directly by the creator of Pilates himself. Pilates was created in the early 20th century by Joseph Pilates. His basic concepts and principles make up the authentic style of Pilates with which Cynthia initially fell in love. “Once you’ve experienced Pilates that remains true to Joseph’s concepts and principles on the equipment he invented, you don’t want any other type of Pilates,” she says. Cynthia promotes the amazing benefits of Pilates including a strong core, increased strength, injury prevention, and good posture.

When Cynthia and her husband returned to Bellevue, she knew she needed an authentic studio close to home. She began faithfully commuting across the toll bridge to her beloved Master Teacher’s Pilates studio in Seattle for the first year, but eventually the construction and traffic on the bridge got to be too much. Cynthia then found a gem of a studio in Bellevue that had all Gratz equipment – the best Pilates equipment on the market.

Following her first class, Cynthia was disappointed to hear that the studio would be suddenly closing its doors in two weeks. “I asked my teacher, and she confirmed what I had heard. Then, she jokingly asked me if I wanted to buy a studio,” says Cynthia. “I initially said no and went home, but then I thought about it some more. I did want to own a studio but had never found the right time. When this opportunity came up, my two sons were grown and had graduated high school, and I finally had the time.” Cynthia began to work closely with the owner on purchasing the equipment and, within a matter of weeks, she opened Bellevue Pilates.  

Cynthia opened her doors in mid-September of 2023. That was just the beginning. The studio also needed a makeover. As Joseph Pilates once stated, “It’s the mind itself which shapes the body.” With that in mind, Cynthia set out to create a haven within the city. She put in the work to create an unplugged environment away from the hustle of city life. “Pilates is about connecting the mind with the body and being present,” Cynthia shares. “Here, you won’t hear the sounds of tv or music, the clanking of weights, or other background noise you might get in a club or gym.”

The studio’s smaller size also allows for more personalized sessions. The Bellevue Pilates teachers all have 600+ hours of comprehensive training. “Each one of them has their own style, and I love learning from all of them,” shares Cynthia of her team. They offer a variety of appointments including one-on-one private sessions, semi-private sessions with 2-5 clients per teacher, or mat and tower classes.

Cynthia even plans to offer free mat classes in the park this summer, hoping that the sun returns to the Pacific Northwest. “Imagine bringing your mat and meeting up with one of our teachers and your neighbors to enjoy a class in the fresh air on a beautiful summer day,” Cynthia expresses. Her studio also recently started offering online sessions to help those who may be traveling to keep up with their practice. Another upcoming idea is a concierge-type service for businesses who want to offer classes for their employees.

Aside from these new offerings, the main difference between Cynthia’s studio and other Pilates studios is largely in the instruction. Bellevue Pilates is committed to teaching in Joseph Pilates’ original style with authentic equipment. “The style is timeless,” Cynthia shares, “and it really is for everybody – young and old, men and women, athlete and non-athlete. It helps you to learn and understand your body so that you can do everything you do in life, but better!” 

Learn more about the benefits of Pilates by reading Bellevue Pilates' new blog series on their website, www.bellevuepilates.com, and be the first to know about Bellevue Pilates news and events by following them on Facebook or @pilatesbellevue on Instagram.