Kara Wily Pilates

I had no regular exercise régime since I hurt myself a year ago working out with a personal trainer. After turning 40 in January, I decided I wanted to try pilates and went to Kara Wily Pilates. I bought a package of 10 to give it a shot and see how things would go. After the first 3 workouts which I found challenging, I didn’t really feel like I was making any progress… until a few workouts later when I had to do an exercise I couldn’t do in the beginning — teasers! I now love pilates and look forward to my twice a week workouts there. Kara, Jennifer and Camille are all amazing teachers!

I’m incredibly picky about my pilates instructors after 10 years. Kara was recommended to me by my former teacher who moved away, and I have to say she is AMAZING.
Kara is professional, fun to be around, always challenging and engaged, and not «phoning it in» like so many teachers. She also has an incredible wealth of knowlege about the body, and has helped me recover from a painful injury, and work with some chronic issues I have related to my job. She will not let you cheat, and she will not let you get injured, and you will find yourself looking and feeling better if you work with her. I’ve had a few of the other teachers at her studio as well, and they are all very high quality, if you can’t get a session with Kara herself, you can trust that you are still going to get a good teacher.

Kara is super detailed which I love because now I feel like I’m actually being instructed and I’m a virgo. This is what a teacher is meant to be like. No going back anywhere else for me. She is also really sweet which helps so I’m not intimidated like some other pilates teachers. I also take mat classes at Hollywood YMCA and the pilates trainer (who is a total classical pilates snob) knew of Kara and they said she was one of the top pilates teachers in the country. She is an ex dancer and super passionate. I highly recommend her.

Even if you take Pilates group mat classes, everyone should do some private or semi-​private sessions. You learn so much more about your body and it’s capabilities. Kara Wily is a great person to see for the individual attention she offers. She takes the work seriously, so you get a lot done in a session. She has a range of machines but it’s her expertise and attention that count the most. The studio is hidden away on a quiet stretch of Larchmont Blvd., which is always nice to visit. And she has contemporary art exhibitions on the walls of the studio. The openings help build community amongst her clientele.

I’ve gone to Kara for Pilates for many years. She is a second generation teacher which means her instruction is very close to Joe Pilates actual teachings. When you train with Kara, you learn how to do Pilates and get results. She is patient, gives great cues, and ensures you don’t get hurt in process. In fact, when I started working with Kara, I had a bad shoulder problem. We worked through it and it has never returned. I also have a nice waistline and excellent posture as a result of working out with Kara. Her studio is comfy, has the best Gratz equipment, plenty of street parking and is in Larchmont Village. If you want to start, continue and explore Pilates, do it with one of the best in the business.