If you’ve seen the photos on my Instagram account, then you’ll probably notice a few things – I love food, I attend a lot of children’s events & that I like to work out! The food part is easy to explain – I like eating! I also attend a lot of kids stuff due to my day job. The working out part is critical for me, since I do have to offset all of that eating, but also it’s good for my mental health. My family knows that mama gets a little cranky if I go a week without exercising, whether it is jogging in the park, hitting my local Y or taking a spin class.
I had been hearing a lot of good things about WundaBar Pilates from my fitness blogger buddy Melissa. As much as I love my local Pilates studio that is 10 minutes from my house, I also enjoy the challenge that taking a class at a different studio can bring. Different teachers have different strengths, so I was anxious to see what sets WundaBar apart from other traditional Pilates studios.
First off, the WundaBar Pilates equipment is slightly different from the Megaformer that I’m used to using. Here’s a photo of a Megaformer which blends Pilates, cardio & strength training all in one. The idea is that you push or pull the “carriage” while doing lunges or squats. There are also pulleys & arm straps that will work out your arms & legs.
Traditional Megaformer
The patented WundaFormer is sort of similar to the above photo in that it is inspired by Joseph Pilates’ Reformer. However it also includes a Wunda Chair & Jump Board. By having those two add-ons, plus a Ballet Bar, the instructors at WundaBar are able to incorporate additional exercises into their 45-minute sessions!
The first class that I took at WundaBar was with Patrick. His style of teaching & the exercises that we did in that particular session reminded me of the Pilates studio near my home. One big difference though was the jump board. We started out the class by warming up with a series of jump exercises. While laying on your back on the WundaFormer, you do these squat-jump exercises, pushing off & landing with a heel-toe motion.
Jump Board
In looking back, I’m really glad that I took Patrick’s class first because it enabled me to get familiar with the machine. Usually I tense up when I’m unfamiliar with the poses or movements. If the equipment is new to me, I’m so busy trying to figure out the pulleys & positioning of everything. However Patrick’s laid back vibe & funny sense of humor made me relax. Also it helped that there was another newbie in the class with me.
The next class that I took at WundaBar was with Amy Jordan, who is the owner & founder of WundaBar Pilates. Amy brings high energy to her classes & from the moment we started, I knew right away that her class was going to be unlike any other! We utilized the Ballet Bar in our warm-ups & the exercises reminded me a little bit of the barre classes that I had taken last summer. Then it was on to the Jump Board & Wunda Chair.
Ballet Bar
Wunda Chair
Although Amy’s class was totally new & different for me, I was able to follow it because she is really good about demonstrating the moves. Not all teachers count things down or provide cues ahead of the moves. Amy did that & more, often times walking over to my bench & making slight adjustments to my movements or body positioning. Another unique aspect about Amy’s class is her focus on the biomechanics of the body. The way Amy taught her class made me more aware of the internal & external forces that a particular exercise or movement challenges my body. Amy has such a dynamic spirit that it’s no wonder that her classes are the most popular!
The most recent class that I took at WundBar was with Rendel. In that session, we used the Pilates Ultra-Fit Circle in exercises that helped tone our arms & legs. Much like Amy’s class, we utilized the Ballet Bar, Jump Board & Wunda Chair.
Did you know that your first class at WundaBar is free? I enjoyed my first class so much that I bought an Amazon Local deal! If you’ve taken Pilates before & would like to try something different, then I encourage you to try WundaBar. There are several locations in the LA area, including two in the Valley (Calabasas & Studio City). Check out their website for more info. Overall, WundaBar Pilates really lives up to its tagline – it truly is Pilates reinvented!
Disclosure: No monetary compensation was received for this post. I attended a complimentary class which helped facilitate this review. All images & opinions are 100% my own.
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