Club Pilates: Cleveland Gym Guide

I had a mixed experience here. The front desk staff was kind and friendly, which made a great first impression. The facility itself is well-maintained and very clean. However, I’m knocking off a couple of stars due to my experience in Tony’s class. While I liked the format and structure of the class, Tony's approach didn’t feel very welcoming. He speaks softly and often gave instructions from across the room, which made it difficult to hear, especially for someone like me who’s getting back into Pilates and trying to follow along the best I can. At one point, I clearly missed a cue and was scolded for not having my reformer in the right position. It caught me off guard and left me feeling uncomfortable. In a beginner-level class, I would expect a bit more patience and understanding that mistakes are part of the learning process. Maybe it was just an off day, but the interaction left me not feeling great about the experience. I’d be open to trying another instructor.

I was so turned off by this place that I didn’t even stick around to take a class. I am experienced in fitness — including yoga and Pilates — and would not recommend Club Pilates in Fairview Park to anybody. —— Fuller story: I have been working out regularly — weightlifting, various fitness classes — for the better part of a decade. I have been a yoga teacher since 2014, a competitive runner before that, and have been doing Pilates one-on-one with an instructor for the last 18+ months. I am also a small business owner — three times over, in fact. In none of these experiences over the years have I felt quite as alienated or unwelcomed as I did at Club Pilates in Fairview Park. This was my first time taking class at this location. I walked in without as much as a greeting. After a bit of an awkward staring contest, the first words spoken by the person at the front desk were, “Um… Are you here checking in for a class?” Yes, I said. “Um. Ok. You know about this class, right? This is a combination of Pilates and cardio.” I assured her I had been taking private Pilates for more than a year. Next, I was shown the jump boards for what seemed to be the sole purpose of intimidating me. I was warned—not asked: “You’d tell me if there were any injuries I need to know about…” After all of this, I was directed to a signature prompt, where I offered a fake squiggly line onto what I imagine was a waiver (that I was not actually able to read from the instructor’s computer screen, just told to sign…). The final straw was *my* knowing that I should have Pilates socks. As I made my way to the reformer room, I turned to the instructor to ask, “Should I have Pilates socks?” Yes, it turns out I was supposed to have them. Yet somehow the person at the desk—seemingly determined to dissuade me from taking the class—could not care enough about this experience to ensure I had the proper equipment. By the time I was ready to purchase a pair, I realized I had no desire to give this place a dollar of my money. As you can probably tell, I am no shrinking violet. Suffice it to say, I realized in that moment that I wouldn’t trust this instructor to offer a positive experience, let alone trust her with my health and safety. At the thought of purchasing socks, I laughed to myself, told her to forget about it, and left. “Would you like me to book you for another class?” I said, “No” with a face that must have read total disbelief. Even still, rather than troubleshooting or discerning what might be the issue, the woman let me walk out. Courtesy, respect, and sense of welcome are important for ANY business asking for my money. This one falls short on all those accounts and more. I would not recommend the experience to anyone.

I'm going into my 3rd month experience of pilates at club pilates. It has been hands down the best investment in myself. The staff is so knowledgeable and helpful and invested in helping me better myself and strengthen myself from the core. Already seeing results and feeling great!

Just took my first pilates class ever and loved the simple breakdown. The front desk gal was so welcoming and the instructor was great. The movements felt great in my body and I can’t wait to incorporate this into my routine!

I have been a member since they opened, and love it. I have been doing Pilates for about 25 years, and was so excited to find out they were opening one near me. I have had some private lessons before, but love the group classes. I am also going to look into teacher training. Teaching Pilates is something I've wanted to do for years. It can be a bit pricey, but worth it. Its great for your body, and you only get 1! Take care of it!