Pilates of Forest Acres, Columbia

Drawing from her training in dance and yoga and the Pilates certification she earned in 2001, owner Ashley Hayes leads fitness classes that emphasize mindful movements. She animates a hands-on mentality during Pilates sessions, which require students to consistently monitor their range of motion. Ashley imparts this approach to help her students increase stamina and muscle tone through the repeated execution of the proper technique, as opposed to brute repetition. Her elegant exercise regimens can build long, lean muscles over time while encouraging the kind of posture that makes a drill sergeant feel like Quasimodo.