My Thrive Pilates

I still love My Thrive Pilates and felt inclined to write a quick updated review.

I have now experienced group barre, floor and reformer classes and still think this is one of the nicest and friendliest studios I have ever been in. I'm completely in love with reformer classes and the new machines are wonderful! Also, now that I am a little more experienced, I really like how the teachers push you to grow and leave your comfort zone but still provide modifications if you need them.
All the instructors I have had over the past couple of years have been great and Juniper in the front office is super helpful if you need anything.

I love this studio and look forward to many more sessions here!

Let me first say that I absolutely love this place! I have been trying to get into shape and not being a fan of most forms of exercise have found it a bit challenging. So, one day I saw a great deal pop up on LivingSocial and I had to jump on it. Boy am I glad I did. Never before have I gone through a workout where I'm totally bummed at the end because I want to keep working out (not because I have the energy by the end, but because it's so much fun!). After my discounted package was up, I wound up purchasing another package on their New Year's sale.

I love coming here and love the instructors. My personal favorite is Fiona - she will definitely push you, but not overly so.

As previous reviewers said, there isn't a huge emphasis on form as in some other pilates studios, but that also varies based on the instructor and most of them definitely check to make sure you are doing things properly.

There is a small waiting area near the check-in desk which they have made a little more livable lately.

If you are looking for a fun new form of exercise or are a pilates aficionado, I highly recommend this place. Keep your eyes out for a steal (not just a deal) on local sale sites (bloomspot, groupon, etc.) for the best deal. It's well worth every penny.

I have attended reformer classes at the Shirlington location of My Thrive for the past few years (additional locations in Courthouse and Falls Church). I love this studio! It holds a variety of classes (reformer, TRX, hula hoop, jumpboard, chair, circuit, mat) for various skill levels, and the teachers are meticulous about scaling the difficulty up or down in any given class for people who might be performing above or below the rest of the class. They have many options for people with injuries, sore spots, pregnancy, or any other issues.

I love the teachers! I regularly attend Andrea Milne's classes, Stephanie Westberg's, Robin Ashwood's, Jeff Yake's, and Lisa Morales - they are great teachers and awesome people with a wide variety in their practice. Jeff's classes sneak up on you - they are calm, quiet, and gentle, but you will be sore the next day! Stephanie is a lot of fun, but know you are getting Pilates boot camp when you go to her or to Carey Cavalcante! Robin is a master with props and she hates to see her students resting - her classes have terrific flow. I have never had a teacher who didn't bring something great to my class.

I have definitely lost weight, gained muscle and definition, and felt a holistic health benefit (including my sometimes tenuous mental health) from my Pilates practice - I enjoy it so much I am currently attending 6 classes a week (though I started out at once a week) with an unlimited membership.

The fellow students are about half regulars; I have really enjoyed getting to know the lovely women (and occasional men) who attend classes with me.

The eternal question of parking: there is a large garage with FREE parking right across the street from the studio. The bottom level is always available for people frequenting local businesses, and the upper levels are reserved during weekday work hours, but are entirely open with unlimited-time free parking after 5:30 on weekdays. There's also a free garage across from the Harris Teeter, and some limited on-street options.

Don't be afraid to come and try it out - beginners are welcome, and it's a friendly, happy environment to get your exercise on! Who knows, a few months down the line, you may find yourself giddily doing aerial maneuvers on the cadillacs!

I went to the reformer, mixed levels class and was sweating within 20 minutes. The class moved according to the students' paces, but there was always a next exercise to do. The instructor/owner was likeable, knowledgeable, and supportive. Due to the popularity of a Living Social deal, the studio added classes, which was very considerate. The online registration was easy to use.

The other students were talkative at first, until we were all working too hard to talk. There wasn't a lot of instruction about form, but that was fine for me, since I've taken numerous reformer classes.

The location in Shirlington is quick and easy to get to, even from downtown DC. The look (dark blue/purple walls and epoxy/garage floors) is modern, and not quite industrial. There are 6 sport reformers (balanced body), 2 chairs, and a cadillac in the room that opens onto the street; there's a separate room for yoga and Pilates mat classes. There were restrooms, a changing room, and towels.

The reformer class I took was great! The teacher was very good, knowledgable and pleasant. The studio is a bit small - but its clean and cute and everyone is friendly.

my only complaint would be - the customer signup process was confusing and I felt like they made it hard for me to sign up and I almost quit and went someplace else. Also seems to be a lot of booked classes almost 2 weeks out so I gave up and ended up going back to bar classes in alexandria - less hassle on the app to sign up and enough classes to choose from and get into. But over all - if you can make it through their difficult sign up process and actually get into a class you would find it very enjoyable.

I am certified to teach pilates and barre classes, so I may have more specific or higher expectations when taking classes as a student. I have my usual spot in DC that I go to, but I purchased a 5 class pass through Groupon at Thrive since it's close to my house and the reviews online seemed positive.

Overall, the studio is very nice, clean and has a welcoming environment. My review is with regards to the two classes I took- a Pilates mat and Barre class.

First, the Pilates mat class I took was below average, but not horrendous. The instructor did very minimal cue-ing and the class did not feel in sync. I did not feel challenged at all through out the entire class, nor did I break a sweat.

Second, the barre class. I do not expect an instructor to be fully ripped and muscular, but they should have some resemblance of being in shape. The instructor was completely out of shape and overweight. I'm not writing this to be mean, but what type of message does it send or standard does it set for an instructor to be out of shape?

Next, the barre curriculum was laughable. Not only did I not even come close to breaking a sweat the entire class, but I was not challenged once. I never felt my heart rate get above average.

In most barre classes you plie down into a squat and pulse up an inch, down an inch in the squat position to work your glutes and thighs. This never happened. We never faced the barre to do any seat work at all.

The instructor did the most minimal cue-ing, telling us the move to do, then would tell us when there were 2 moves left in the set. She spent very little time setting up positions, to ensure people understood what she was talking about. She never counted for the class otherwise, never cued to motivate the class, never cue-ed to correct people's posture or movements, and never walked to people to physically help them to ensure they were doing the class correctly.

The studio room itself has about 6 or 8 thin mirrors on one wall, the long vertical mirrors you can buy at Home Depot for about $20 each. Otherwise no mirrors to watch yourself and ensure you're doing the moves correctly.

If you're going for the reformers, that looked like it might be a good work out. There may be people walking through the class, as it's in the main area, where other patrons walk through to get to the back studio. but it's been my experience that this is pretty standard amongst studios.

I do not recommend the barre classes or the Pilates classes if you're an experienced Pilates student.

I think this place is awful and am shocked that it got some good reviews. I was super excited when I saw a gift certificate for reformer classes listed at a much reduced price and purchased it right away.

The studio really does not have a lobby/waiting area, so basically when you open the door you are walking into a reformer class. It is very strange and is very distracting for the people actually in class. There was not someone working as a receptionist either time I went, basically the teacher has to stop teaching and sign people in. It seems like the teachers hated signing people in and they were not friendly at all during the sign in process. My teacher basically stopped teaching the class early to sign the next class in.

The teacher of my reformer class asked me if I had used a reformer before. When I told her that I had trained for a couple years off and on at Excel's Movement Studio (awesome place) she told me that they teach a different type of Pilates. She said "I hear that traditional Pilates is really particular, our style is more physical. Some people like our method, and some people don't." I really should have asked for my money back right then. The class ended up being like a glorified bow-flex routine and did not use the Pilates method really at all. When the teacher brought in typical Pilates moves, she did not explain them the right way, nor give any corrections.

I took one yoga class and was not impressed with that either. The most irritating thing about this gift certificate purchase is that I guess a million other people bought one and the classes were always full. I think they have 7 reformers in the space. I tried to sign up for classes for months and still have not been able to go back to another reformer class. But I guess its not its not the biggest loss since it was such an unappealing experience either time I went.

Since MyThrive opened a Courthouse studio, I've become addicted! I'd attended classes here and there at the Shirlington location, but the new, closer location to my home lets me take advantage of the awesome unlimited monthly reformer packages they offer. Scheduling and canceling classes is really easy through the MyThrive app, and the classes themselves always stretch, challenge and relax me. I really appreciate how each instructor brings her own unique flavor to each class, and it's always appreciated when they ask if anyone has any requests for certain exercises and areas of the body they want to work.

I absolutely loved this place. The teachers are great and very attentive. Not one class started without them first asking if anyone had any injuries that needed to be taken into account...a testament to the fact they want you to get a great workout without further hurting yourself if you are on the mend.

I especially like Beth and Stephanie and tried to take their classes exclusively. Beth is kind, funny and knows a lot about what shes doing and working with people of all levels. Stephanie will give you a workout that is worth the money you paid times 10. Every single class I had with her was challenging and felt new. Her 6am Wednesday class is worth the early wake up. And her Friday afternoon Orbit class is KILLER.

It can be tough to schedule classes. But thats because this place is GOOD. Its small, personal and in an area with tons of parking and plenty of post pilates wine options. I am moving from this neighborhood and hands down, this (and the wine and cheese bar down the street) are the two things I dont know how I'm going to live without!

I'm giving 2 stars for location. I have a studio in DC that I normally go to but fighting the weekday traffic after work was getting to be way too stressful. So when Bloomspot offered a very reasonable Pilates mat package for Thrive in Arlington I thought ' I have to jump on this'! I wish I hadn't.

Like many of the other reviews have said, you walk through the front door and you're automatically in someone else's class. Very uncomfortable feeling. They don't seem to care about customer service - Receptionist barely looked up from her screen to direct me to the room my class was being held in. She pointed towards the hallway of (4) closed doors and said 'it's over there'... thank you? With the little direction I was given I was getting ready to walk into a random dressing room when the Reformer instructor again stopped her class, told me to get a mat, a ring, and pointed me to the correct room...

FINALLY I'm in! and the class was well... nothing to write home about. I love being challenged in my mat classes you know really break a sweat, ummm not at Thrive. The instructor gave the typical 'here's the easy version here's the harder', but here poses and movements seemed more like a fast-paced yoga class that counted out the 100s, than a true pilates mat class.

My suggestion- Use the studio's '1 class free' offer BEFORE purchasing packages from the discount sites. Unfortunately I still have 4 more classes on my account- I think I'll be donating them to my college-aged cousin. She doesn't care much about customer service or getting her monies worth. I'm headed back to Fuel Pilates in Georgetown. It may burn up my gas and hike up my stress level getting there, but they know how to treat a paying customer.