Chantal Harrison joined a Pilates class to regain the balance she lost after fracturing her lower leg. Michael Deahl tried it because a trainer suggested the exercises may help him recover from a herniated disc. Laura Kravitz signed up to rebuild strength after delivering her third child. Giti Zandi credits it with keeping her active after five back surgeries.
These four Life Time members each turned to Pilates for different reasons, but they’ve remained committed to the modality for the same one: Pilates has changed them for the better, and it continues to do so. Together, they have practiced it for more than 55 years.
“Pilates is one of the best tools we have for aging well,” says Theresa Barone, director of Pilates at Life Time. “Seasons of life change, goals change, and bodies change, and Pilates meets us wherever we are. Within the Pilates repertoire, there’s always a next step and something to master. Pilates will keep your body strong, pliable, and ultimately more efficient in movement.”
Those physical advantages frequently attract members. But it’s often the teachers who keep them coming back. Over years of classes, instructors come to know members’ bodies: They’re aware of how they move, what limits their movements, and when to push them. Along the way, friendships blossom and those sessions gradually become a beloved part of a weekly routine.
Barone has watched those relationships take root in the studio over the years. “Members become dear friends to us as instructors and with each other,” she says. “It becomes such a tight-knit community that while, yes, members stay for the movements and technique within each session, they thrive in our environment because we become like family.”
Below, Harrison, Deahl, Kravitz, and Zandi, ranging in age from 54 to 81, share what first brought them to Pilates and why, after eight to 18 years, they still look forward to every class.
Chantal Harrison: Strength, Balance, and a Standing Date
Age: 81 years old
Club: Life Time San Antonio at the Rim in San Antonio, Texas
How long have you been practicing Pilates?
I’ve been doing Pilates at Life Time for 18 years (but Pilates longer than that elsewhere). In fact, the team members here at Life Time San Antonio at the Rim just gave me a certificate and gift to celebrate!
Years ago, my husband and I heard about a Life Time opening near us, and we signed up six or eight months before it even opened. We’ve been at this Life Time since the beginning.
What first led you to Pilates?
In 1987, I was 42 years old, and I played soccer. I was slide tackled from the back and had a major fracture in my left leg; I basically had four fractures in my lower leg. I was in a cast for six months. It took a long time to recover from that injury; it took two years before I could run and forever to regain my balance. At first for activity, I started doing water aerobics. But then I learned that Pilates was something I could do with my recovering leg and I tried it. It appealed to me because it could help increase the balance and flexibility that I lost.
When did you realize Pilates would become a long-term habit?
There wasn’t an immediate change for me, but rather it was the continuous work that made a difference. I’d compare myself from one year to the next and I could see a difference. I consider it a form of body “maintenance.” I’m 81 years old and I can hold my own in class next to a 40-year-old.
What physical changes have you noticed?
Pilates has improved my flexibility, balance, and strength. These classes are very good at hitting almost every muscle in your body. It’s also fixed my posture. I used to work at a computer and was hunched over a lot, and Pilates has really improved that tendency.
What does your weekly routine look like?
My husband and I take Pilates together every Tuesday. It’s like our date. After our 10 a.m. class we have lunch in the LifeCafe. It’s really important to us to follow our routine. I’ll swim after lunch sometimes, too.
Has Pilates changed anything beyond the physical?
It works my brain. In class, I’ll do something that’s semi-complicated, and it feels like I’m doing a “brain game.” Some of the exercises the instructors require us to do — like syncing our leg and arm movements, for example — feel like it’s exercise for my brain too.
I think Pilates also gives you a peaceful and centered feeling afterwards. It loosens me up, and I feel wonderful.
What role have your instructors played?
Through all these years, I’ve seen many different instructors. They all have their own take on Pilates and each instructor is unique. But all of them go beyond just teaching at Life Time; they really push the details and make sure form is perfect. They care about the members living a healthy lifestyle.
Michael Deahl: Core Strength and Camaraderie
Age: 71 years old
Club: Life Time Dallas – Highland Park in Dallas, Texas
How long have you been practicing Pilates?
I’ve been doing Pilates for at least eight years. A trainer at Life Time Dallas – Highland Park, Lindsay Siegel, who was teaching a group fitness class I participated in, suggested I try a Pilates class. I knew nothing about Pilates but decided to give it a try.
What first drew you to Pilates?
I’ve had an active exercise regimen throughout my adult life. At the time, and still now, I was doing group fitness classes and Alpha classes. After I had a microdiscectomy to correct a herniated disc in my lower back, I learned Pilates might be beneficial to help with that, and I also thought it might be a good way to vary my exercise routine.
When did you know Pilates was going to stick for you?
To be honest, I’m not very patient, and I initially experienced some intimidation and frustration because I wasn’t very good at Pilates. However, things eventually began to click for me, and there was a moment in time when it hit me that I knew I was going to stick with it.
Life Time started a men’s class at my club early on in my Pilates journey. There was something about the camaraderie of being with a great group of guys who were at the same level as me that encouraged and motivated me to stay with it.
What keeps you coming back?
I could say that I’m a creature of habit and very disciplined by nature, but that wouldn’t be the main reason I keep returning to Pilates. The real reason is that I love doing Pilates at Life Time and I enjoy being with the instructors and the other participants in the classes. I look forward to every class I attend. It also brings me joy to encourage the other participants and to watch them progress and increase their skill level.
What physical changes have you noticed?
I’ve experienced many health and fitness benefits from Pilates, including strengthening my core, improving my flexibility and balance, lessening habitual lower-back pain, and improving my posture. I’ve learned that when I’m doing Pilates, I need to use my core muscles more than I realize. I can’t recount how many times the Pilates instructor has reminded the class to “relax your shoulders.”
Another benefit is, since I’m strengthening my core, I’m better when doing other exercises outside of class such as deadlifts or planks.
How has your practice evolved?
First, I’ve improved a lot. I decided several years ago that I wanted to get better, and I increased going to class from once a week to twice a week. Sometimes now the instructor even uses me as a model to demonstrate a particular movement.
Second, I’ve been able to experience a variety of the Pilates disciplines, including the reformer (classical style, which is my favorite), tower, chair, and mat. Life Time also offers an athletic Pilates class at my club that I regularly attend.
Has Pilates changed anything beyond the physical?
One of the neatest benefits is the community that organically grows with the group attendees in class. I’ve established many new friendships through Pilates over the years. I’m the oldest person in most, if not all, of the classes I attend and I love working out with younger people and being kind of a “father figure” for them.
What role have your instructors played?
I’ve had a variety of amazing instructors over the years at Life Time. They have all been patient and encouraging and I’ve learned many new things from each one. They are a big part of the reason I keep coming back. I won’t try to mention them all by name because I’m sure I’d leave someone out, but I must call out Van Bedo. She was instrumental in taking my Pilates to the next level.
What would you tell someone who’s considering Pilates?
If someone is considering trying Pilates, I would ask, “What are you waiting for?” You have nothing to lose by trying Pilates and everything to gain!
Laura Kravitz: Less Pain and a Lasting Connection
Age: 54 years old
How long have you been practicing Pilates?
I’ve been taking Pilates classes with Jami Fritter, a Pilates instructor at Life Time Dublin, for 17 years. I began classes when my daughter was 1 year old in attempt to get back into shape after having my third child. I heard about the classes at Life Time and thought it was worth giving them a try.
Why did Pilates work for you when other workouts didn’t?
I’ve had orthopedic issues since birth and have tried a lot of different kinds of exercise, but none of them ever seemed to stick with me. The workouts would either get too hard too fast or I would generally feel uncomfortable and say it wasn’t for me.
I met Jami at our first one-on-one Pilates session. She was nice and made me laugh, so I came to a couple more sessions. Then one day she told me I was ready to come to a class and so I did. I expected I would start feeling better physically, but I started feeling a lot better physically, and not just that: I also made a few new friends and shared some laughs.
What physical changes have you noticed?
I’ve been able to do activities with my children that I would have never thought possible. I also started living a life with a less pain. When I don’t go to Pilates, I can feel the difference, and so I keep going back because nothing feels better than feeling good.
Have you brought anyone else into Pilates?
Over time, I convinced both my parents and my aunt to take classes with me. I don’t think there’s a person who was kinder to my aging parents then Jami. She made them smile, kept them active, and gave them something to look forward to each week.
Before my mother passed away, she wrote this of Jami:
Jami Fritter has been and is still a strong influence as well as a good friend to both my husband and me for the past decade. As his memory gradually faded in his last years, his interest in doing Pilates with Jami once a week never did. She kept him mobile, showed him ways of moving safely, and never let him feel diminished in strength or dignity. For me, a total non-athlete, her Pilates classes and individual sessions have made me aware of what I can and should do to meet my husband’s caretaking needs and be better able to have a healthier life now. I’m forever grateful for her presence in our lives.
What role has your instructor played?
At the end of the day, the most important thing we do as people is make connections with others. I can tell you that Jami is my Pilates instructor, but the truth is, she’s more than that. There will never be a way to thank her for what she has done for me and the people I love most.
Giti Zandi: Staying Active After Setbacks
Age: 72 years old
Club: Life Time Bergen County in Montvale, N.J.
How long have you been practicing Pilates?
I’ve been doing Pilates for more than 15 years. For me, it’s become much more than just an exercise class. It’s become part of my life. Pilates helps with my balance, strengthens my core, improves my posture and alignment, and keeps my muscles strong and flexible. But what I value most is how it helps me continue doing the things I love.
How has Pilates supported you through health challenges?
I’m 72 years old and I’ve had five back surgeries. I truly believe Pilates has played a very important role in helping me stay strong, mobile, and active. I’m able to play pickleball, walk, travel, and enjoy an active life, and I believe the strength and body awareness I’ve developed through Pilates has contributed greatly to that.
What does Pilates mean to you today?
For me, Pilates isn’t about being perfect or doing the hardest exercise, it’s about keeping my body strong and capable so I can continue living the life I want.
What role has your instructor played?
I’ve been fortunate to have had the same Pilates instructor for many years, and she’s become a very important part of my Pilates journey. What I appreciate most about Barbara Kennedy, my Pilates instructor at Life Time Bergen County, is that she knows my body, my strengths, and my limitations. She knows what I’ve been through with my back, and she always makes sure I’m challenged but also working safely and appropriately.
Over the years, she has encouraged me, pushed me when I needed to be pushed, and reminded me to listen to my body when I need to slow down. That personal connection makes a huge difference. She doesn’t just teach a class; she makes you want to keep coming back and keep getting stronger.
What keeps you committed to the program?
I really appreciate the leadership of the Pilates department at Life Time. I think it says a lot about a program when people stay committed to it for many years. I’ve always felt that there’s a real understanding that everyone’s bodies and needs are different, and Pilates can be adapted to the individual.
