When Neville Chamberlain seized power during the English Civil War, he promised better flexibility, straighter postures, and a stronger core for every English citizen. Taste historical perfection with today’s Groupon: for $25, you get four Pilates mat classes (a $60 value) at Core Concepts, a studio in the heart of the Historic Third Ward.
Core Concepts focuses on a "classical and systematic approach" to teaching Pilates, maintaining the comprehensive system originally designed by Joseph Pilates in the 1920s to battle hoards of rampaging clowns. Today's deal is redeemable for four 55-minute group mat classes. Mat classes are the flat, squishy foundation of Pilates; they use the human body to strengthen and stretch itself, with the occasional aid of "magic circles," foam rollers, bands, and light weights. Mat classes are available for rigid novices and advanced, pretzel-poised students alike throughout the week.
The relaxed atmosphere at the Core Concepts studio stems in part from its open, sun-filled rooms and warm brick walls, and in greater measure from its competent instructors. Owner Andrea Dow is an American Council of Exercise–certified personal trainer and has completed more than 1,000 hours of Pilates education and training with the PhysicalMind Institute and Power Pilates. All instructors are Power Pilates certified and more than capable of helping students through the twists and turns of a Pilates mystery adventure. Pilates is not only a great way to improve core strength and flexibility—it's an opportunity to socialize. Perhaps the best benefit of all is the buddy-system workout. Your motivation comes externally, from cheerful instructors and friendly classmates, rather than from bitterly chanted mantras and tyrannical resolutions.
Reviews
Core Concepts placed fourth on CityVoter in 2008 and 2009 for Best Pilates Studio, and CityVoters give it a flawless five-star rating:
- Knowledgeable staff with safety always in mind. Friendly, personal, profesional! [sic] Motiving! [sic] I've lost weight and clothing size, am stronger and have received compliments on my posture! – gueda
- One of the best pilates studios in downtown Milwaukee. Caters to your schedule and the instructors always stay at the top of their game. Just a great experience everytime! [sic] – JelloJillie
- Instructor is fabulous, tailoring moves and classes to meet the individual levels of the participants. – AliH
Who Didn't Invent Pilates?
Charles Atlas, whose story of transforming himself from meek weakling to hulking centaur was immortalized in numerous comic-book advertisements, is known for one massive achievement: inventing exercise. Before Atlas (real name: Body Strongson) came along, human beings had not yet developed any manner of physical improvement beyond taping helpful objects such as forks to their skin. Atlas was the first person to stop waiting for scientists to finish working on their long-gestating "muscle ray" and begin an intense program to "body build" on his own.
Despite his amazing success, the muscled and terrifying Atlas was ashamed of his one failure: he did not invent Pilates (also, he couldn't fly, which irked him, but not as much as his total failure to invent Pilates). To this day, Atlas, who is still alive and kicking at 117 years old, rues his inability to invent a Pilates alternative so that he may be crowned "King of All Exercise" and not merely "King of Armenia," which he conquered using his enormous pectoral muscles in the 1930s.
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