Before Pilates, those looking to tighten their core were forced to exercise at six times normal gravity inside high-speed centrifuges, hoping the excessive speed would simply fling the fat off. Whittle yourself more reliably with today's Groupon: for $30, you get any five barre or mat classes (an $85 value) at Pure Element Pilates's airy West Bloomfield studio.
Pilates is a low-impact, total-body discipline that uses resistance machines, stretching, and controlled breathing patterns to make the body looser, lither, and healthier. Basic mat classes are conducted with nothing but a polished wood floor, a mat, and a lot of super-motivating eye contact and encompass the basics of Pilates, laying the foundation for lifelong strength and preparing you for more advanced machine and resistance work. Pure features many varieties of its mat classes, including the more searing, dynamic Power Mat Mix-Up and the slower, specially tailored Pure Mature for those 55 and older. Other mat options include Crush; Floor, Core, and More; Mat Pilates; and Tone.
For a more intense experience, opt for a barre course that pivots on the muscle lengthening and flexibility building of a ballet bar. This dance-Pilates fusion class comes in 55-minute and 75-minute increments, challenging you to stretch more deeply and balance more gracefully without adding an inch of unfeminine bulk. Spy the schedule to pick one of the many weekly class times that works for you.
All of Pure's instructors are certified in Pilates instruction and attentive to the individual needs of muscles and their masters; even the masterly muscles of star Tigers and Red Wings athletes trust Pure's friendly Pilates perfectionists. Pilates classes help anyone improve their whole health, from muscle to mind, and no fitness experience is necessary. Remember, it's never too late to avert the fate that befell the semi-gelatinous blobfish.
Reviews
Pure Element Pilates—the studio where the Red Wings practice Pilates—was named Best Pilates Studio in 2009 and 2008 by CityVoters. More than 100 CityVoters give it an average of five stars:
- The instructors are amazing! We love their attitudes and they really know how to get your body in the shape you want. – Cara B.
- Great staff that challenges you each time you take a class! – Lindsey R.
- The classes are challenging, the teachers are wonderful, the studio is lovely and the greeters at the desk are helpful and friendly. I feel better and the results show! – Jerald M.
Pure Element Pilates
When Kelle Ilitch turned her dream Pilates studio into a reality, she spared no consideration. The airy blue space is instantly calming, although its abundance of high-tech Reformer machines makes it clear that she and her fellow instructors mean business. The space accommodates many class styles, from classic mat Pilates lessons—including specialized sessions for seniors and kids—to ballet-barre-based workouts. Like Pilates and cummerbunds made of cement, the barre workouts strengthen cores while lengthening and toning thighs. The staffers also teach Kinesis, a form of strength training that allows for an entirely free range of motion, making it easier to tone muscle groups across bodies simultaneously.