Pilates 909 In Press

West Coast Magazine
January 2011
"Your Body...Your Prison"
Click Here to Read Article

West Coast Magazine
October 2010
"Looking Beyond the Mirror"
Click Here to Read Article

West Coast Magazine
"Rebuilding the 'House' You'll Live in
for the Rest of Your Life"
March 2010
Click Here to Read Article

West Coast Magazine
"Hmm...Tummy Tuck or Pilates..."
January 2010
Click Here to Read Article

Inland Empire Magazine
September 2009
Click Here to Read Article

Inland Empire
June 2009
Owner Featured in "Women of Distinction"
Click Here to Read Article

WestCoast Magazine
January 2009
"Wow! Can I Have that Body?"
Click Here to Read Article

WestCoast Magazine
March 2008
Pilates and Weight Loss
Click Here to Read Article

WestCoast Magazine
February 2008
Pilates and Pregnancy
Click Here to Read Article

WestCoast Magazine
January 2008
Is Pilates for You?
Click Here to Read Article

"It's about the JOURNEY"...

by Cheryl Graves

Seriously? You're saying that to a control freak like me? Not good! I'm all about getting to the goal, seeing the end result...NOW! I want the 7-pounds-in-a-week plan! The "just-enough-to-fit-in-my-dress" plan for special occasions! Just give me the lowest amount of torture that I can endure so I can get what I want! So, I get determined, build up my discipline, raise my expectations, and reach my goal...then poof! The day comes and goes...now what? I worked hard, reached my goal, and before you know it the "big" jeans are being pulled out again!

Just like the journey of weight loss, lasting body transformations only happen when your journey becomes your lifestyle. Losing weight for that special event, New Year's resolution, class reunion, wedding, etc., is a great motivator, but unless you learn to enjoy the process it took to get there, it will only be that fleeting moment of happiness.
For one of my leadership trainings in college, I had to go on a 10-day grueling backpacking trip. I had only a certain amount of daylight and time to get to the next destination, so I was all about getting there as fast as possible to finally relax! I found myself getting irritated with my teammates for wanting to stop and take photos and enjoy the new sites and sounds around them. What a lesson for me. I had to learn to balance the inner conflict of reaching a destination while enjoying life itself. "Be here now" as someone said.

Finding the right exercise was key to my success. I found Pilates to be a life-long friend to my body. It moves me, gives me health, helps me breathe deeper, heightens my awareness and most of all gives me an exercise I can do for the rest of my life.

We are here for YOUR Journey...let it last a lifetime!

Posted 01/04/12

by Cheryl Graves

What started as a quiet hideaway for private Pilates training, has exploded into the Inland Empire’s most notable Pilates studio and recently voted “Best of the Inland Empire”.

Located on the corner of Haven and Foothill, Pilates 909 opened its doors March of 2006 to a only a handful of clients who were seeking the added benefits of Pilates training on the specialized equipment.  Many have tried “Mat” Pilates through infomercials or their local gym but few have experienced the workout on the Reformer, Cadillac or Wunda Chair.

Pilates is unique in that it truly creates a longer, leaner physique. Clients are changing their lives by developing better posture, stronger backs and smaller pant sizes! 

Featured in SHAPE magazine as a “cutting edge trainer”, owner Cheryl Graves, ATC, CPT shares her 28+ years of experience as an instructor in Beverly Hills, Pasadena and Westlake Village while also transforming her body from a size 16 to size 4!  Because of her own struggle she knows what works and how to get results. “You can’t trade your body in for a new one— take care of the body you’ve been given”

Tired of the “gym” atmosphere?  Pilates 909 offers a tranquil environment of privacy and personal attention.  Who doesn’t appreciate a spa-like experience while having the workout of your life!  Our focus is providing you a safe place for health and healing.

Pilates is probably different from any exercise you have ever experienced.  It requires concentration and a connection between mind and body. To achieve such levels of balance and strengthening of underdeveloped muscles, it’s imperative to find an instructor who is not only certified but who has the experience to correct the intricate movements and produce amazing results. 

No doubt, the success of Pilates 909 can be attributed to our exceptional trainers.  Selected for their years of experience, and unique training styles, our instructors truly are the elite of the Inland Empire! 

We want to thank each of our clients who have recognized the long-term benefits of Pilates and have faithfully trusted us to assist in their physical transformation each week.

A special thank you to our professional Instructors: Tisha Hollosy, Valerie Chargois, , Sue Muscarella, Kelly Bowser , Christine Ivy, and Yolanda Macias …..  You are truly the “heart” of what Pilates909 is all about. 

Also a big thank you to West Coast Magazine who put us on the map beginning April 2007!

If you want a toned body in correct alignment, strong and injury resistant, Pilates 909 is the place you’ve been looking for.  Looks like we are going to be around for a long time!

Am I getting the most out of my Pilates class?

by Cheryl Graves

Over the past few years, Pilates has gained tremendous popularity from celebrities who share their secrets to a newly trimmed/toned body on the latest infomercial. We have been led to believe that after buying a video and attending the mat class at our local gym, we have experienced all that Pilates has to offer.

Like many others, you may have felt disillusioned and disappointed in your results. The fact is, in an effort to reach the masses, Pilates has been watered down to a point where it has lost its effectiveness.

But wait…there’s still hope! With proper Pilates instruction, you can truly have a different body!

Consider the following about your workout:

1. Keep it small - Mat classes are usually too big for one instructor. In a class bigger than 6-8, the instructor can only give visual instruction on what the move is. But to truly get the benefit Pilates has to offer, you need someone to walk around and correct your every move. Specific corrections for your body are vital to your success.
2. Keep it real - Although easier on the budget and more convenient, videos are not a substitute for live instruction. Simply put, with videos you just can’t get the personal attention and feedback needed to make sure you are getting the most of the exercise. Whether it’s bi-weekly or a monthly check up, the personalized Pilates instruction will make the difference.
3. Get a qualified coach – Because of the Pilates boom, there are thousands of instructors who have just started in the business. Be sure you take the time to find a certified instructor with more than a few months training experience. The best instructors have an “eye” for catching your mistakes and the ability to give appropriate feedback to make sure you succeed. With Pilates, many moves are so small and critical that it can completely change a workout.
4. Get off the Mat – Although mat classes are a great form of exercise
the mat does not provide the specified resistance that you can
get from Pilates equipment. As with all exercise you need muscle to burn
fat and rev up your metabolism. Muscle needs increasing resistance to give you the toned sleek look you desire. Find a studio that has a Reformer, Cadillac/Tower and Wunda Chair to get the complete workout Pilates has to offer.

Remember that Pilates is life changing if done correctly. Achieving the fabulous body of a celebrity is just an added plus to relief from back pain, chronic fatigue and arthritis just to name a few… For most of us, having great posture, tone abdominals, a strong back and living without tightness and pain is worth the investment. Even a few private sessions with a qualified instructor could completely change the results of your Pilates exercise. Invest in giving your body what it needs to last a lifetime!

Pilates and Weight Loss

by Cheryl Graves

One of the most frequently asked questions about Pilates is; Will Pilates help me lose weight? The answer is a controversial yes.  Let’s face it; we’re all looking for the easy way out ---the miracle pill, exercise or diet to change us. The reality is that weight loss comes from using more calories than you take in. You can use more calories the fastest with activities that use your whole body—Pilates does this.--Every movement and breath uses both the mind with full body movements. By focusing your attention on changing the old thought patterns that got you there, eating smart and burning off layers of fat with cardio in addition to your Pilates, you WILL lose weight, drop sizes and have an overall feeling of well being..

How then does Pilates support weight loss? The obvious is that it is exercise and it burns calories—though not one of the top caloric burners this non-impact workout allows people with significant joint pain and restrictions to get moving. Pilates makes you feel good which means greater exercise adherence.

The second is that Pilates, especially using the specialized resistance equipment (Reformer, Cadillac and Wunda Chair), increases lean body mass thus creating a better metabolism to burn the body fat off. Pilates is well known for sculpting out a leaner sleeker physique instead of getting bulky from the resistance.

Pilates is unique in that it specializes in connecting the mind and body by promoting self- esteem and heightened lifestyle consciousness. This creates the inner healing work of taking care of the body you’ve been given instead of ignoring it. This is crucial to life changing weight loss.
Pilates also focuses on correct breathing and postural alignment. A beautiful posture is one of the fastest ways to look and feel thinner. Deep and efficient breathing is essential to calorie burning and tissue regeneration.

Precision is the key to getting the results you’re looking for. At the initial stage of learning Pilates it is important to establish inner attention and good alignment. As you become more familiar with the exercise movement you can increase the exertion level and thus increase your weight loss potential. A fully engaged attitude is where you get the results. Breathe deeply, stretch to your fullest length at every opportunity, go for the extra scoop in the abdominals and get precise instruction.

So if you want to connect to the real person locked inside an overweight body, Pilates will take you there with each breath and movement. With proper instruction and focus, you too can have the body you’ve only dreamed about.