Testimonials

Client Testimonials

Names:

Joan & Wilder Best

Age:

38 & 4 Weeks

Practices:

Fusion Pre & Post Natal Classes

Joan was interested in finding a fitness program she could do while pregnant with her second child. Her husband spotted the posters in the windows at Fusion and Joan started attending classes the week after the studio opened.

We asked Joan about how the classes worked for her. “The classes helped me tremendously throughout my pregnancy. While I was pregnant, I could tell I was building strength in my body but it wasn't until after Wilder was born that I really realized what a difference the class made. It's only been four weeks since I gave birth and my body feels strong and toned.”

"I was on bed rest for a long time during my first pregnancy and was really unprepared for how much strength was needed for labor. For this pregnancy I didn't have any complications and I really wanted to continue exercising safely throughout it so that I could be better prepared. I felt so comfortable doing all the exercises Jen recommended because I knew how knowledgeable she is. I didn't have to worry in class about “is this safe for the baby" the way I did in some of the yoga classes I took. In fact she taught me a lot that I was able to use in my yoga practice.”

"The biggest surprise though was how much the class helped me during my labor. When it came time to push without even thinking about it I closed my eyes and focused on hearing Jen's voice in my head directing me to how to best use my muscles to push. It was like having Jennifer as a doula right there in the delivery room.”

Joan worked as an advertising copywriter in New York before moving back home to Asheville to care for her family Jackson, 3, Wilder, 4 weeks and husband Nathan.

Joan says, “Jen and Kelly are so much fun and so nurturing that I always leave class feeling so good and upbeat. With all the hormonal fluctuations of pregnancy and with my focus so much on caring for our 3 year old and the growing baby inside, I loved having an opportunity to focus on doing something good for me. I couldn't recommend the class highly enough to other pregnant women.”

Joan continues her work at Fusion Pilates Asheville by attending the Pre & Post Natal class with her new gorgeous baby Wilder.

Names:

Mike & Nancy Byer

Ages:

61 & 59

Practices:

Mike- Men's Reformer Class
Nancy- Reformer and Mat Classes & Gyrotonic^®

NANCY:

Nancy has been a Fusion client from the beginning. She had been practicing Pilates in mat classes for three years, but was looking for a chance to explore the Pilates equipment work.

Nancy says, “The Reformer targets the core very well but also the upper body and legs. I notice an increase in my strength & balance. I notice more stability in everyday activities such as using stairs, carrying heavy items, gardening, hiking (better endurance). In addition to my exercise at Fusion, my everyday activities include walking with my dog & hiking - especially on the Mountain to Sea Trail & the Blue Ridge Parkway. I enjoy gardening, reading, sewing, crochet & knitting. I love Astronomy & have several telescopes. I volunteer at The North Carolina Arboretum & am a member of the Asheville Mushroom Club.”

Nancy is a retired RN and was an active runner and cyclist for 20 years.

MIKE:

As with most men, Mike was a little less excited about the prospect of starting something new, like Pilates. But Angelo emailed him about a new class called “Pilates for Men of Ill Repute" and he couldn't say no.

Mike had some specific problems that he wanted to address including a “lack of flexibility, poor range of motion, and general malaise. After partial knee replacement, I was looking for a low impact strengthening exercise program.”

Mike owns and operates Mike Byer Auto, which is located across the street from the studio, so making his Fusion Classes is a breeze. “I have been an automotive and heavy truck mechanic since 1967 and still have an obsession with cars dating back forty five years. My business has been operating in downtown Asheville for twenty years and with a little luck and some help from Pilates I will still be here twenty years from now.”

Mike talks about the benefits of the classes this way, “I am now able to bend over to tie my shoes and reach around for my seat belt. Fusion has made me feel better overall. I wake up without stiffness or pain and I now sleep through the night without waking with back or joint pain. Although a glass of wine at night still helps! My other exercise activities include walking and paddling kayaks (which I can now get in and out of a lot easier). I used to be an avid cyclist, which I hope to continue again in the future.”

The Byer's have one son who lives in Asheville and are originally from Evansville, IN. They lived in Florida for 17 years before moving to Asheville in 1988.

Name:

Laura Frisbie

Age:

49

Practices:

Gyrotonic Tower Classes and Mat Classes

Laura started at Fusion Pilates in August of 2007, and her progress and transformation have been amazing.

Here's what she has to say about her experience.

“Thanks to Fusion Pilates, you can call me a late bloomer. Just a few months ago, I was facing the harsh reality of a body that had never found a regular sport or exercise. I was in a catch-22 of getting stiffer and tighter from non-movement and getting injured with every attempt at movement. Plus, I just couldn't find an exercise routine that felt GOOD... that I enjoyed doing. Over the years, I have tried a LOT of different things!

I learned about Pilates from women my age who look great. I had looked into Pilates but the cost was too high. The pricing at Fusion Pilates was so reasonable, I decided to try it. I knew instantly that Fusion Pilates and Jennifer and Kelly were the answer to my prayers. Now I am a new person! This has been a fitness program I love and it has also been physical therapy for me. It has the perfect blend of mind/body connection & flexibility and strength. My clarity, energy and mood have improved dramatically along with my body. I am no longer afraid of injury. I LOVE going to Fusion Pilates. I would go every day if I could. I am so grateful and amazed that Fusion Pilates has shifted me into an upward spiral of well-being. Gyrotonics^® works so deeply, I have literally felt my tissues releasing toxins. I'm certain it is the best fitness value in Asheville.

Fusion Pilates came at the perfect time in my life. I do “Resonance Repatterning" (healing/personal growth) phone sessions and I am also writing a very large website for depression self-help. I spend almost all of my time sitting. The difference in my mental clarity and productivity is noticeable. Plus, now I can recommend exercise as a key factor for well-being from my own experience.

Who knew?!

Thanks... thank you, and THANKS!”

Name:

Kerri Saum

Age:

43

Practices:

Pilates & Gyrotonic Privates, Equipment and Mat Classes

Kerri was one of our very first clients and is also one of our most advanced. Here's what she had to say about her experience at Fusion Pilates.

“I saw on add for Fusion Pilate's in the paper and was thrilled to find it was such a high end studio. It has everything! Jennifer is as knowledgeable as you can get.

I've been doing Pilate's for over 10 years and teaching it for over five. I always wanted to do Gyro-tonics but never thought I could afford it, until now.

I have noticed, simply, that I have more confidence. In Gyro tonics I move in such a way that makes me feel longer, leaner and more graceful (and I'm only 5'2 so that's saying something.) More specifically, I have noticed a narrowing of my thighs and hips and a nice toning in my upper arms and back. Oh, and my husband is very pleased with my stomach.

I think my work at Fusion has given me more energy & confidence and generally makes me feel younger... really! And it definitely helps me teach a better Pilate's class.

My favorite exercise is the Double Spiral (see photo). It is a very graceful and beautiful movement.

I have two daughter: Zoey 8 & True 5. They know how important it is to move their bodies and eat smart. It's never EVER about being skinny. It's about wellness. I painted a big sign for them that says: Be Smart, Be Fit, Be Kind and Be Grateful. I think that covers just about everything they need to know for now!

Finally, I'd like to add that Fusion Pilate's ROCKS!”

Name:

Christy Larson

Age:

49

Christy has been a client at Fusion Pilates Asheville for about five months, and in that time we've seen her progress at an amazing speed. We asked Christy a few questions about her experience with FPA and we'd like to share her thoughts:

"I had been interested in taking Pilates equipment classes for a long time, but knowing that consistency is key, the cost for private classes was prohibitive. When I saw that Fusion offered group equipment classes, I thought “woo-hoo!" and signed up immediately. The supportive atmosphere of a group class and the personalized instruction offered by both Kelly and Jennifer makes the classes something special.”

"My back was becoming stiffer with age and inertia and I thought Pilates and Gyrokinises would help by giving me more core strength and flexibility. My lower back pain is now negligible and my overall strength and flexibility has improved greatly. I used to almost be able to touch my mid-shins (after warming up). Now I can stand on my palms (with straight legs). I'd call that a miracle.”

"I just returned from a vacation in Hawaii. While I was there, I took surfing lessons, hiked a volcano, rode horseback down into a volcano, went sea kayaking, snorkeled, and zip-lined through the trees. The fact that I was able to do all of these activities with little difficulty and no pain during or afterwards is linked directly to the improvements my body has gone through since starting at Fusion.”

"My favorite exercise on the Reformer is the Tree. I love the feeling of hanging upside down in the well and then being able to use my abs to pull me out of there. Prior to Fusion, I would never have been able to bend that far back and if by some miracle I got back there, I would never have been able to get back up. It is the best example of how far I've come.”

Christy and her husband (David) are both retired air traffic controllers. Christy's interests include hiking, kayaking, yoga, cooking, gardening, and traveling, and “pretty much anything that gets me outdoors and/or moving.”

"The biggest endorsement that I can give about classes at Fusion is that as I enter my next decade, I am healthier, stronger, and more flexible than I've ever been. Fusion provides a nurturing and challenging environment that coaxes the best out of me. It's the real deal.”

Name:

Lemona Ledford

Age:

39

Practices:

Pilates & Gyrotonic Privates, Equipment and Mat Classes

Lemona heard about Fusion through our first advertisement about a month before the studio was open and was the first person to call and sign up. “I saw an ad in a local paper and had always wanted to do the real “Joseph Pilates" method with the equipment." Her initial excitement has not waned a bit- and there are times when she visits the studio seven times a week!

Lemona explains, “I chose Pilates and Gyrotonic^® as my fitness routine because I wanted a dancer's body, not a weight lifting body. In the time I've been coming to the studio I've noticed a great difference. All of my clothes are getting loose in the waist, thighs and buttocks. I feel like my arms are starting to take on a longer, leaner look.”

"The work at Fusion has caused me to stop looking at the number on the scale and to really start to notice the way I look in the mirror and how I feel when I get up in the morning and go to bed at night. It's great!!!," said Lemona, “I came to Jen with an old shoulder injury, and a recent ankle injury. Pilates and Gyrotonic have been great for both. Jen knows how to work around your limitations and still give you the best workout. SHE IS GREAT!!! Asheville is lucky to have her.”

Lemona is a local business owner and a native of Asheville. “I have always been interested in fitness is some form (weight lifting, running, walking, aerobics and yoga). I am married to a great husband who really supports my Pilates Habit (addiction)!”

"Lastly I would like to tell you what my husband asked me the other night. He said 'You really believe in that Pilates don't you?' My response 'Yes, it is the real deal.'”

Teacher Training Student Testimonials

“I embrace high standards, and for that very reason I have incorporated Jennifer's Fusion Pilates for Pre and Post Natal as an elective for Professionals throughout the year and during my Teacher Training courses. The feedback and enthusiasm from the students and the demand for a year round schedule speaks for itself…”

—Marie-José Blom-Lawrence
Long Beach Dance Conditioning
Master Pilates Trainer, Studio Owner
Marina del Rey, CA

“I have attended this program myself and it reflects Jennifer's years of experience in teaching with excellence. She embraces her students with care and professionalism as well as charisma and light. The knowledge she has to pass on is invaluable…”

—Lisa Marie Goodwin
White Crane Movement Arts
Gyrotonic^® Master Trainer, Studio Owner
Los Angeles, CA

“Jennifer's Fusion Pilates for Pre & Post Natal was an unforgettable event for the Japanese community. She is not only a wonderful teacher, but a wonderful person with high spirit. Her deep understanding and knowledge about pregnancy helps fitness instructors from different backgrounds open their minds to these exercise modalities…”

—Akemi Inoue
Studio Natural Flow
Gyrotonic^® Master Trainer, Studio Director / Owner
Tokyo, Japan

“The information regarding the pelvic floor and its anatomy that was taught by Jen and her course has been incredibly valuable for my teaching. It goes beyond just my pregnant or post pregnant clients. It has given me insight and understanding on how to approach post op, aging and other special populations…”

—Sheri Katz Schlobohm_Pilates,
Gyrotonic^® & Yoga Instructor
Los Angeles, CA

“Jennifer's course is wonderful; her training is extensive and practical. It compliments Marie-Jose's work beautifully and is a must for any teacher who is working with pregnant clients.”

—Adrienne Dalsemer
Pilates Instructor, Certified Doula & Birth Coach

First let me tell you what a wonderful experience this past weekend was for me! I came away with so much that I can not only apply to myself and pregnant clients, but also all of my other clients. Thank you!

—Sydney Craig
Teacher Training Student

I attended your training in and was 5 months pregnant with my first child at the time. I just had my baby 3 weeks ago and wanted to say I found your pre & post natal Pilates training invaluable in my pregnancy, labor & delivery & even so far during my recovery! I believe your training is the main reason my pregnancy went so great. I just want to say thank you for creating such a great program. I have been using all the concepts we talked about in my mat classes with older women & have had great results. My students' understanding of the work has really deepened since I returned from Asheville. I have added a Pre-natal class to my schedule at my studio & one of the doctors at my Ob/gyn's office has asked me to give her some cards so that she can refer patients to my studio!

Thank you for a wonderful program. I hope to attend more of your certifications in the future.

—Niccole Z. Gray
Breathe Pilates & Movement, LLC
Wesley Chapel, Florida

You are a great teacher and you inspire me to learn all there is to learn with Pilates. Thank you so much for adding to my knowledge as a trainer and my life!

—Taft Draper
Pilates Instructor
Asheville, NC

Jennifer was wonderful. Several notches above any type of Pilates training I have had prior. I am 5 hours away, and am glad to know that excellent training/studios are this close by. (As opposed to New York and LA.) Her scope was specific to our needs, her presentation provided different methods of learning and was clear, unrushed, and open to discussion. Thank you.

—Susie McFadyen
Pilates Instructor
Fayetteville, NC

What an incredible amount of information to process! It's exciting just to listen to Jennifer talk. She so obviously has so much information and experience to share. I really enjoyed the physical activity that Jennifer incorporated during class time. Thanks for the learning experience!

—Jennifer Dowler
Student

I wanted to again express my gratitude to you for an insightful, thorough, and enjoyable workshop this past weekend. Thank you for enabling me to feel more confident with my pre & post-natal clientele. I am thrilled that I can utilize the exercises to enhance the quality of movement and detailed core connection with all my clients as well. It is a true gift to have your studio in this part of the country.

With sincere gratitude,

—Susan Simon
Pilates Instructor & Studio Owner
Harmony Pilates Studio
Apex, North Carolina