Ab and Flow, Chicago

When Marie DiStasio, the owner and director of Ab and Flow, got injured while training for a marathon, she knew she would need to correct some of her body's imbalances. This inspired her to give pilates a try and from then on, she was hooked. She enjoyed it so much that she became a BASI certified instructor and opened her own studio where she aims to provide a challenging fitness experience that keeps her members guessing each time they begin a workout.

The classes she teaches at Ab and Flow suit students of all needs and fitness backgrounds. During the basics class, for instance, Marie and her staff teach the fundamentals in an attempt to awaken the muscles of students new to the world of pilates. The sweaty class, meanwhile, kicks up the intensity as the instructors aim to elevate the heart rate using a mixture of pilates and cardio movement.