I cannot recommend Delaina Satterfield highly enough. I trained privately with Delaina twice a week…read morefor several months in San Diego, before she returned home to Charleston to open Cielo Pilates Studio. I would never have stopped training with her had she not moved.
Before selecting an instructor for private lessons, I tried classes with several instructors. The studio and instructors were all excellent, but Delaina was still an easy choice. Although her schedule was very busy, she fit me in.
I came to her wanting to improve my form, cardiovascular fitness, strength, flexibility, and--most importantly--my mental and emotional well-being. Delaina exceeded every expectation. She knew how to push me to the edge of my capabilities without letting me cross into unsafe territory. She constantly watched my form, made precise corrections, checked in with me, and knew exactly when to increase or reduce the intensity. Every session was thoughtfully designed around my body, goals, abilities, and how I was doing that particular day.
This was especially important because I have injured myself doing many other types of workouts. With Delaina, I trained extremely hard without getting hurt or being put out of commission. I lost weight and substantially improved my strength, flexibility, and balance. She also explained exercises in a way that worked for me and helped me better understand how my body should move.
Another major advantage of private Pilates sessions with Delaina was the extraordinary variety. We used the Reformer, Cadillac, Pilates Chair, Spine Corrector, and Ladder Barrel. Group classes rarely provide the opportunity to use such a broad range of apparatus. Even when other very capable instructors filled in for Delaina, we did not use the same diversity of equipment. She clearly put enormous thought into selecting each exercise and piece of equipment, how it would benefit me, and how everything fit into my overall program. The sessions never felt repetitive, and she could always make an exercise more challenging.
I also want to emphasize that Pilates is absolutely not just for women. It helped me address strength imbalances between the left and right sides of my body, improve my posture, and safely develop core strength that benefits sports, other workouts, and everyday life. The equipment allowed me to work strength, balance, control, and stability simultaneously while activating smaller supporting muscles that are easily overlooked in a conventional gym. I loved that I could work extremely hard while feeling lengthened and opened up rather than compressed.
The emotional benefits were even more important. I was going through a very difficult period in my life, and my sessions with Delaina helped change my mental and emotional state. Her warmth, encouragement, and positive energy were extraordinary. There were lots of high-fives and positive reinforcement--which, admittedly, I wasn't completely buying into at first. By the end, I loved it. I consistently left in much better spirits and always looked forward to seeing her.
Delaina's personal experience with scoliosis, spinal-fusion surgery, and discovering Pilates through rehabilitation gives her tremendous empathy and insight into adapting Pilates for different bodies, limitations, injuries, and experience levels. Her story inspired me to give every session my best.
She was also remarkably dependable. Whenever she was unavailable, she arranged for another instructor so I wouldn't miss a session. That care is one reason I would trust anyone she personally selected for Cielo Pilates Studio.
When I learned Delaina was leaving San Diego, I actually cried. I have never cried over losing a trainer or instructor before. That says more about how special she is than anything else I could write.
Charleston is incredibly fortunate to have her. Whether you're new to Pilates, experienced and looking to refine your form, concerned about injuries, or seeking a challenging personalized workout, take the opportunity to work with Delaina. If you can book private Pilates sessions with her, do it. I cannot imagine anyone giving her a chance and regretting it.
