I had a few individual session at HEAL with Juna, she is so wonderful and knowledgeable! I am new to pilates so I didn't know what to expect, but she did a great job helping me understand how to use the reformer and corrected my form to make sure the exercise is done properly. I love my individual sessions and I will be also going to group classes soon. read more

Just started on my reformer Pilates journey and I'm so glad I picked HEAL. Everyone is so nice and helpful. The classes are small so you get individual attention if you need it. I've been doing some 1-on-1 sessions with Nadya and she's so great. Super chill, fun and loves (too much!) to challenge me. I've taken a few classes with other instructors and they are great too. I can't recommend this place enough. read more

All around great studio. Friendly, professional and skilled staff. Beginners like me as well as ongoing classes for experienced students. Cozy atmosphere, intimate. I recommend Synthia as a great instructor. read more

I have been going to HEAL: Pilates since it opened and I have never looked back. The weekly class I take is always a highlight of my week. If you are looking to actually learn Pilates or gain any sort of strength from this movement, HEAL is where you should go. Other studios that "teach Pilates" in large format just aim to make you sore the next day without any real attention to form. The class size at HEAL (5 reformers) is perfect for providing that feel of being in a class while also receiving 1-on-1 attention from the instructor when needed. The instructors all have their different teaching styles which provides a good variety of difficulty levels. If group class is not your thing, they also provide private lessons as well. This studio is great for beginners, those experienced in Pilates, and really anyone looking to recoup an injury. If you haven't tried Pilates, you must start your journey (or continue it) at HEAL. read more

I cannot express what a wonderful space HEAL is for all. First off, the studio has such kind and knowledgeable instructors who create dynamic classes, and provide a well-balanced practice. The studio itself is such a warm and welcoming space that allows for an immersive experience! The small class size is another wonderful aspect of the studio, making each session feel personal! I always feel well-supported by instructors and feel so in tune with my body both during and after each session. HEAL's health and safety policies add to the space and make me feel comfortable when practicing, and able to enjoy classes without any worries! I really appreciate the conscious, clean space! I look forward to coming to class each week and highly recommend this studio to all! read more

I used to think that Pilates wasn't for me or that it was way too hard, but then I started going to HEAL. First, I LOVE this studio because it feels accessible. As someone who has been in multiple accidents and has a lot of injuries, I have to be gentile and intentional with exercise (which is hard as a recovering aggressive exerciser). When I started going to HEAL about two months ago, I was recovering from surgery and had a bad case chronic lower back pain. After taking classes consistently two times per week, my back pain is 100% GONE (which is huge because I was ready for an MRI and physical therapy before starting). The small size of the studio means you get a LOT of personal attention from your instructions. I've been to other fitness classes and always HATED them because the approach felt very "one size fits all" --with everyone doing movements incorrect (and sloppy). At HEAL, you can rest assured that you are in the best hands: all of the instructors are very caring and want to make sure you protect your body and spine, while also helping you to get stronger. If you are looking for a place that allows you to have a good workout without running your body into the ground, HEAL is for you. I've taken classes with Ayanna, Synthia, Magdalena and Elise. All of the instructors are top notch!! I'm actually excited to work out again! read more

Heal Pilates is a wonderful, natural light-filled studio with easy parking & down-to-earth, experienced instructors. I'm amazed at how different I feel following a session, with much less (or no) pain & with better posture & body awareness. I signed up for several private sessions just before the pandemic hit & have recently (happily!) returned to in-studio private sessions. The folks at Heal follow appropriate protocol to keep everyone safe & I plan on spending more time there in the near future. Olivia is absolutely wonderful & I appreciate her attention to my specific injuries. I'm looking forward to checking out her restorative class soon! I highly recommend this studio. read more

I've been coming to this studio for about 1 1/2 now and can't safe enough great things about it! I found this studio after trying a few others in the East Bay. This studio is a perfect mix of intimate classes, a variety of classes times every day of the week at an affordable cost. I've done Pilates for over 7 years and this is one of the best studios I've been to. I've worked with all the instructors and enjoy them all. They all have different styles which means you can find a fit that is best for you. All the instructors are also amazing at communicating through out the class. They all explain how the specific exercise is affecting the body and how it contributes to the class repertoire as a whole. I work most often with Synthia. She is attentive, hands-on and encouraging. Every time I walk out of class I feel like my mind, body and soul has been improved and given care. Ayanna is the studio owner. She has a background in dance which makes her skilled in identifying the subtleties of each student's practice and ways to improve. Her classes are a bit more challenging and fast pace. I also really enjoy Elise's classes. Every time I walk out of her class I can feel the burn (in a good way). She's really good at pushing you to challenge yourself. I feel like her classes are a bit more detail oriented which gives you things to remember while in other classes. I highly recommend taking private classes to start so you can get to know all the teachers and styles. This is a great studio for newbies as well as experienced students. read more

Heal is a wonderful Pilates studio. I've had classes with a variety of teachers here since 2017. I can attest that every teacher Ayanna hires is extremely knowledgeable and attentive to the needs of individual students. I especially love Elise and Synthia. Heal did an amazing job transforming its practice to the virtual environment and I'm happy to see they'll be opening the studio soon for singles and duets. I just started taking their virtual yoga and am loving that, too. I highly recommend and think you'll enjoy being part of the Heal community. read more

I have been taking a 10-week 30 minute class called Posture & Shoulders - LIVE on Zoom with Synthia. It has been awesome to connect with her and other students every week and review helpful stretches to combat the "pandemic posture" that has come along with working long hours at a computer from home. Synthia is a great instructor and I always leave the time feeling encouraged and strengthened not only in body but in my mind and spirit. Highly recommend taking a HEAL Pilates course. read more

I just took the online mat class with Vanessa. I've been going to reformer class here for over a year now and was reluctant to try an online class, but I'm so glad I did! Vanessa gave us some useful suggestions and the class uplifted my spirit. Shelter in place has been tough for me and this class was just what I needed. read more

Nadya was so cool during for my first Reformer class .... made me feel comfortable. Loved the workout and going back!

Lovely place. Nadya was a terrific instructor. I love the reformer! I'm so glad they are here.

It's been a while since I practiced pilates and I've been having some back pain, so I signed up for private lessons with Rebecca Redman. She is fantastic!!! She's a super laid back, but very focused instructor. I'm having a lot of fun with her and my back pain is definitely gone. I feel stronger even after only a few classes. I'm excited to continue classes with her and to start taking some of their group classes. I highly recommend Rebecca and Heal Pilates! read more

This place is one of the best kept secrets in Albany. The studio is clean and bright and the cost is very reasonable. Group reformer classes are small (4 people in the class I typically attend) and feel almost like personal lessons. I had not done Pilates in a while and the beginners class has been a great way for me to reconnect with my body and recover from some weakness after a recent surgery. Ayannna's knowledge and keen eye and catch everything. But she is so supportive and encouraging, her instruction is fun and inspiring. As a side note group reformer classes with Ayanna are actually a lot better than some private pilates classes I've paid a lot more for at other studios. She's identified a couple of subtle changes for me or areas where I'm inclined to compensate with the wrong muscles - then of course I'm just annoyed that I've paid more in the past for incorrect instruction! So - yes, Heal is a legit, happy place of learning and health and worth every penny and then some! read more

HEAL is a beautiful studio with expert teachers. I've so far done private sessions and I'm looking forward to taking classes soon. The attitude at HEAL is welcoming, focused and professional. I had only been to a few pilates classes prior to starting with HEAL but that didn't matter - the teachers skillfully guided me through the movements. During my pregnancy I was experiencing pains that wouldn't let up. I had tried my chiropractor and yoga classes to no avail. Yet in a few sessions at HEAL the pain was gone and I was feeling stronger and more energized. The attitude there is totally judgement free and supportive while being focused on results. Now that I'm having new postpartum body pain, I can't wait to go back (virtually now) and get all sorted out again. Thank you HEAL! read more

Synthia Malina is an excellent instructor. I was new to Pilates and she was so helpful and made the private sessions fun, and she made me feel comfortable after letting myself get pretty out of shape after awhile of not doing much intense exercise (and eating too much pizza). I purchased the intro special with HEAL, and I highly recommend Synthia as an instructor. read more

Ayanna has created a beautiful studio. She has a gift of connecting with people in a very professional way meeting each of our needs with gentle encouragement. I will miss her class during this sheltering in place and look forward to the day we can enjoy the studio again!! read more

I was diagnosed recently with severe degenerative disc disease (DDD) and have suffered a lot of back pain since I had a c-section (and lost my core strength) 3 years ago. My orthopedic doctor and many others suggested pilates as a way to avoid back surgery and I decided to check out HEAL. I've had a few private sessions with Ayanna, Elise, and Magdelena and they've all been amazing in different ways. I've also started taking restorative classes which are great--small with only 4 people, so you really get one-on-one attention. I've already started noticing a difference in my back pain and don't seem to have the same fragility I had before. If you're new to Pilates, I *highly* suggest taking a few private courses (even just one!) to get used to the reformer and figure out what your needs are during a group class. This is a wonderful and transformative studio. read more

I liked this studio. Just the right size, clean and convenient. A friend and I took a 10 session series from Synthia. She is a good instructor and was able to explain and coach well. I enjoyed the personal attention and explanations. read more

This studio is great- clean, well lit, and relaxing. The machines are new and the instructor/owner, Ayanna, is a fantastic teacher. She has an acute awareness of your tiniest imbalances or incorrect form. I always feel soooo much better after a session. Def worth a try for anyone looking for reformer Pilates! read more

Ayannna is fabulous and always has the client's health and best interest in mind. Pilates is the only exercise where I see a physical, positive change in my body. I will be doing pilates into my old age!! read more

I'm a newbie to Pilates and using the reformer was a little intimidating to start, but Ayanna's friendly demeanor puts me at ease as she corrects me and puts me in the right position! The class sizes are small so I get a ton of attention, the studio is bright & beautiful, parking is no problem, and I'm well on my way to a super tight core!! Love HEAL: Pilates! read more

Ayanna at Heal Pilates has helped me and my middle aged body with a number of issues. I literally stumbled on Heal Pliates- parked in front and was intrigued by the sign. I saw Ayanna inside and waived. In her warm and approachable way she welcomed me in and we talked for a while. I decided to try it as I have been feeling frustrated by the fact that I have always exercised and done yoga but still struggled with my posture and lack of access to my core. I have been working with her for over six months and it has been transformative - I have built strength in my back and core (and know how to engage it) and my posture (while still a work in progress after 50 years of bad habits) is much improved. Another remarkable thing is what happened to my knee. I have a knee that acts up from time to time. One week it was getting so bad that I was taking the escalator at Bart, which I never do - I usually hustle up the stairs to get in a little exercise. I was starting to feel disabled. She always checks in about "the bod" and, at my next session, I told her about this. She tailored the session to help with the knee and much to my astonishment I walked out of there pain free! She gave me a few exercises to do at home to keep the knee happy and so far so good. For weeks I would take my first step up or down stairs expecting pain and each time was so grateful for Ayanna's skill at fixing this. On top of her skill, she is highly professional, communicates extremely effectively and is a delightful person to work with. read more

After several years of chronic pain, I decided to try Pilates. The moment I entered Heal Pilates Studio, I knew that this was the right place for me. The studio was neat and organized, and was very welcoming thanks to the owner and master teacher, Ayanna. The instructors of the studio, Synthia, Elise, and of course Ayanna, were not only professional, but also caring, nurturing, and sincere. They inspired me to learn more about the impact of the exercises on the body. The instructors were hands-on, attentive, and dedicated to meeting every student's needs. Additionally, the studio's climate was very warm and supportive, which contributed to the strong community among all of the members. After attending Heal Pilates religiously for four years, I became a pilates teacher myself. I couldn't have asked for a better environment to thrive and improve my health, and I highly recommend this studio to anyone looking to change their lives. read more

I love It here! Such a great place for people at all levels of Pilates. All the instructors are fantastic and take their time to show you how to do each move correctly and safely. I feel so much stronger since starting classes and my posture has improved 120%. Such a great place to do Pilates! read more

I am very grateful that I discovered Ayanna at Heal:Pilates. Although I have been physically active most of my life, I had developed chronic pain in my back and neck. I had tried physical therapy and chiropractic care, but it wasn't until I started working with Ayanna was I able to begin to improve from the chronic back pain. Ayanna is extremely knowledgable about the human body, and how to work with someone to strengthen and improve flexibility starting from a weakened state. Her personalized approach has been very effective in improving my core strength (which has eliminated my back pain) and improving my flexibility. Ayanna also makes each class a joy to attend. I look forward to every class since I always leave feeling better. read more

Pilates is an amazing approach to strength-building and flexibility for anyone, anytime, but especially as one's body ages. I have spent many years with various forms of exercise to keep flexibility in my joints and maintain overall strength as age takes its toll. I have utilized gym's and yoga, etc. A succession of years at a computer made it very apparent that if I did not do something immediately, I was headed for serious problems. Pilates immediately identifies where you are strong and where you are weak. Most noticeable with HEAL, is Ayanna's skill and ability to identify and develop the work needed to correct serious imbalance and overall weakness which was at the root of my personal struggle. This form of exercise is so basic but so effective and through Ayanna at Heal: Pilates, I am steadily regaining my lost strength and most importantly, re-establishing an overall balance throughout and the real gift is the absence of the almost chronic pain I had been experiencing before starting with Ayanna. The key to success is in the hands of the person you select to guide you. This form of exercise can be so well-tailored to an individual and the combination of a knowledgable and caring instructor with Pilates as the focus has absolutely changed my life. Based on my personal experience, Ayanna's knowledge and skill deserve your top rating! read more