There’s old as in “old hat” and old as in “classic”—and Pilates is certainly the latter. Joseph Pilates created the discipline in the early 1900s as a rehab regimen that eventually became popular with ballet dancers, but some would argue there’s no better way for anyone to build overall strength and flexibility, improve posture, and hone those all-important core muscles. Today there are many permutations of the discipline, from $15 mat classes to $85 private lessons on the equipment, from prentatal classes to those that prep you for the ski season, and from a calmer, more “mindful” approach to “all about the ass.” But make no mistake, you’ll always work hard—and that’s why Pilates works.

 

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A great butt
Mercury Fitness High Performance Pilates, a year-old studio on Laguna Street, lives up to its name and motto, “All vanity, no shame,” with a particularly athletic, fast-paced version of Pilates. The instructors—led by former gymnast Lara Hudson, who founded the studio—are exquisitely careful about form and technique, but they make you work hard so you can get “the body you’ve always deserved.” Machine classes generally include no more than four students, and you can also take private lessons. No sun-drenched rooms here: the place has a low-light glow that makes you want to hunker down and move. 2904 Laguna St., S.F., 415-567-9009, mercuryfitness.com

Mindful exercise
If classes at Mercury Fitness feel like boot camp, those at Simply Balanced have more of a coffee-klatch ambience. The mat room is full of bright, natural light (all instruction is on the mat, though you can also take private lessons on the machines), and students feel comfortable enough to interject jokes and casual remarks throughout the class. The studio even has a “vibe room,” which houses a contraption they claim can “rebalance your internal vibrations on a cellular level.” But the regimen is not all touchy-feely—you’ll definitely be worn out by the teachers’ careful choreography.
2845 California St., S.F., 415-567-4349, simplybalanced.com

Custom attention
The Body Gallery also has a motto: it’s all about “the art of personalized Pilates.” The strictly one-on-one instruction is tailored to anything a client wants, from injury recovery to pre- or postnatal exercise to a rigorous workout. And the teachers are meticulous—they can tell if you’re a half-inch off in your movement and will gently guide you back into place. During a recent lesson, a series of poses was spontaneously designed to loosen up one client’s “computer shoulders.” The studio, a cozy room in Lower Pacific Heights, features a revolving display of work by local artists.
1527 Baker St., s.f., 415-776-6641, thebody-gallery.com

Pro-style training
If you’re confident in your core, or if you’ve harbored dreams of becoming an instructor yourself, Ellie Herman Studios are the places to go. Their advanced classes are popular with instructors looking for a boost. Herman sold her original Valencia Street branch to two of her top trainers last year, but the studio continues to offer the same extensive schedule and rigorous training, as well as acupuncture and massage. The Oakland branch is housed in a spacious flat on Grand Avenue, where instructors (all trained by Herman) have a knowledgeable but slightly boho-breezy style that tempers any whiff of East Bay suburbia. 3929 Grand Ave., Oakland, 510-594-8507; 1452 Valencia St., S.F., 415-285-5808, ellie.net

An athlete’s power
To get in shape for that 100-mile cycling trip—or to recover from it—check out Fit First Pilates. It’s the oldest Pilates studio in fitness-conscious Marin, and began training and rehabbing elite athletes years before Pilates became a household word. Sessions are generally one-on-one, though you can cut costs by teaming up with a friend, and they combine the rigor of traditional Pilates with the precision of physical therapy. The atmosphere, though, is all Marin: friendly camaraderie among the regular clients plus a peaceful garden view. 21 Tamal Vista Blvd., Ste. 162, Corte Madera, 415-458-4477, fitfirstpilates.com