About Us - Client Testimonials

Client Testimonials

“You’ve created a wonderful healing place at Balance Within, and I’ve walked out the door each time with not only a better sense of my body (a better toned body too), but with the gift of an hour spent in a truly caring community surrounded by laughter, friendship, respect, and encouragement, and…so many things. I came to find a different body all those years ago. I found that, but I also found personal strength and joy that I didn’t really know I had. In short, you have created a place that let me become more like myself.” » Michelle Vanhee, client since 2002 (age 36)

“I first went to Balance Within on a recommendation from my chiropractor as a final phase in recovery from a car accident to improve core strength and flexibility. I found much more.

Gail Anderson and the instructors at Balance Within create an environment that challenges each client individually, but is always focused on the client’s physical safety. The level of technical understanding of body mechanics is phenomenal. Working with them, I have learned a lot about my own body. The instructors understand the Pilates exercises thoroughly. They do not follow a fixed routine, but pick the exercises that will work best for your total body on that day. I feel confident trying more advanced exercises because I know they would not suggest anything that would hurt me.

I have a successful career which means I spend long days in meetings and at my desk, and I spend too much time in the car. We all know that it is important to balance work and family. In that struggle it is easy to forget another piece of the balancing act—yourself. Working out at Balance Within evens my life out physically. Twice a week I end the day with a session at Balance Within. These two hours a week of “me time” keep me healthy and relaxed. I believe this allows me to bring more energy to both family and work.

As I age, sometimes gracefully and sometimes kicking and screaming, my goal is to be as strong and healthy as possible for as long as possible. Pilates at Balance Within is an important part of my plan to achieve that goal.” » Barbara Cowan, client since 2003 (age 49)

"What is impressive about Balance Within are the personnel. The overall atmosphere is set by Gail Anderson. She is very interested in education and doing the best for here teachers and clients. Both teachers and clients respect her. In my ten months at Balance Within I have seen many of the teachers in action and at play. They are very professional but also fun-loving; it is a close group that appears to keep on learning.

For three years I had been dealing with pain and restricted motion in my wrists, hands, elbows, shoulders, and upper back. I also discovered I had a scoliosis and spinal rotation and although therapeutic massage and chiropractic helped a great deal I eventually had two frozen shoulders and weak musculature. I had always heard good things about Pilates for rehabilitation and discovered Balance Within from a neighbor who was a client there and had a good experience with the training team. So, in 2007 I went to Balance Within.

My first session with Gail Anderson was an eye-opener: I discovered I was holding myself up by my upper traps and the rest of the muscles weren’t doing anything! Click! For years my neck and shoulders had ached and I was always asking my husband to massage them. Gail referred me out for additional body work with a manual PT, Katherine Yano, and when I started my once a week sessions with Kandace at Balance Within I found the combination helped me immensely. As muscles strengthened and were retrained to work correctly, I increased to twice a week with Kandace. She knows my issues and problem areas and watches me closely and makes those little positional changes that make a huge difference to the overall exercises and resulting benefit. I am very pleased by my progress: both frozen shoulders are freed and even my feet and gait have improved I have run into many friends and colleagues and they have told me how good I looked and asked what I was doing. I told them Pilates and many times I heard something like, oh I did that but the teachers were never the same and I just could not get into it. I have told them about Balance Within, because I believe it is a unique environment that is geared to empowering the individual to learn about their bodies proprioceptively thus making making long term changes. Each client is different and requires a different approach. I have seen that at Balance Within they understand that and tailor the approach to the client. There is also a very strong standard of excellence that the teachers hold themselves to that gives the place its credibility."

» Paula Mahoney, client since 2008 (age 53)

“After nearly ten years of practicing Pilates at Balance Within, I find it just keeps getting more fun and interesting. Taking the teacher training workshop as a client made me aware of how deep you can go with the exercises and how challenging even the simplest ones can be. Even so, I can clearly remember what a difference my very first lesson made in how I felt—I left feeling strong and energetic, which is not what you get after wringing yourself out at the gym. That’s the genius of the way they teach at Balance Within—they tailor the work to give tangible benefits to everyone, from the beginner to the advanced student.”
» Elizabeth Mitchell, client since 2000 (age 43)

“My chronic lymphedema went unaddressed for many years until I found Balance Within. Pilates has taught me how to be pain-free physically. From hiking and biking to working in an office 10 hours a day, I can apply techniques that give me the physical performance and comfort I haven’t enjoyed for a long time. Gail Anderson encompasses the knowledge, kindness and truly intuitive nature of a great Pilates master. What a joy to find guidance, relief, and a new way of physical enjoyment.”
» Jody Smith, client since 2007 (age 61)

“I came to Balance Within following two spinal fusion surgeries and several years of living with chronic spine pain. I had tried various exercise and strengthening programs with little or no benefit and there were no more medical solutions to my difficulties. I knew about Pilates, but was reluctant, afraid I might make matters worse.

After a great deal of research, I made an appointment for an assessment with Gail Anderson to determine whether I might benefit from individual Pilates instruction. I knew that knowledge of my surgeries and limitations would be necessary for me to feel comfortable about my ability to be helped. It turned out to be the best present I could have given myself!

Over the past several months, I have worked with Gail and have made significant gains in understanding body mechanics and movement patterns, improved my balance and stamina, and most importantly, have seen a dramatic improvement in pain levels and an ability to enjoy a busy and productive day to its end. All of this has taken place in a supportive and knowledgeable studio where other clients and teachers engage one another in fun and encouraging relationships. It is a place where one can learn and practice body patterns that are appropriate to one’s particular needs and abilities.

Gail has trained and certified most of the instructors who work at Balance Within. Her work with clients and ongoing education with her instructors incorporates her commitment to continuing education in bodywork. As a result, one can feel comfortable that they will work with the best instructor for their particular needs.

Being a student a Balance Within will be a life long pursuit for me, one that I know will support me both physically and mentally as I continue to learn and practice this important form. It is a place I look forward to coming to and always leave better than I came.”

» JoAnne Holt, client since 2008 (age 65)

“As a mother of five with shoulder and chronic low back problems, it has been thirty years since I held a tennis racquet. My expectations were low when my family asked me to play tennis. To my surprise, I was able to play better than I had those long years ago! What was going on? Pilates! It’s been a year now, and I will be going for the rest of my life. It has given me back and enhanced my body anew. Move over aging process, I’ve got Pilates.”

» Cheryl Steele, client since 1999 (age 58)

“I would never want to be without the superb training I have received in Pilates at Balance Within for the past twelve years. Originally I joined seeking better posture through flexibility and strength. Important exercises improved core abdominal strength, correct alignment of the body, articulation of the spine, and freedom of movement. The teachers are super—highly trained, meeting exacting requirements. When teaching, they pay close attention to the particular needs of each client. This well-run studio with a comfortable, happy atmosphere cannot be equaled.”
» Jeanne Kirk, client since 1997 (age 75)