Pilates Studio West

I have been to a lot of pilates studios, so I know what I’m talking about. Jo Ellen is fantastic! She has terrific knowledge of anatomy and what the body needs. She has made a HUGE difference in the way I breath & carry my body throughout the day. I also love that no 2 days are the same. She always keeps my workouts interesting by introducing new exercises every session. The hour flies by and never gets boring. I LOVE this pilates studio!!!

Jo Ellen is a fantastic Pilates teacher. She got me into excellent shape and I never felt better when I was working out with her. Being a good Pilates instructor is not easy. To teach Pilates correctly, a teacher must be attuned to noticing technical imperfections. Jo Ellen has an eagle eye, and she always kept me on track and even inspired me to do more than I thought I could. I recently went to the UCLA exercise clinic and had a posture study done. They told me EXACTLY what Jo Ellen had been hammering me about my posture! Clearly, this woman knows her stuff. She knows how bodies move, and she is patient at retraining muscles that have become used to «taking the easy way out.» She’s also a super nice person and taking Pilates from her was such a joy. (I stopped going when my mom got sick; I need to start going again before I become any more flabby!) Jo Ellen also puts an emphasis on safety, so the student always feels comfortable with what’s happening. Pilates can be very scary, but I was never afraid because Jo Ellen was always right there beside me, telling me what my body could — and could not — do. The studio was always clean, and the equipment was always in excellent working condition.
For all of these reasons, I strongly recommend Jo Ellen and the Pilates Studio West.

I’ve been looking for a great Pilates studio for years and luckily stumbled upon Pilates Studio West. Jo Ellen is FANTASTIC! She’s focused, tailors workouts to her students and makes them more challenging over time.
2 things makes this studio special:
1) Jo Ellen encourages and pushes you, and as a result you progress and see results. I started working with her after I had my daughter and have lost 30 pounds in 3 months.
2) She focuses on form. I’ve been to numerous studios where instructors don’t pay close enough attention and fail to correct poor form. This leads to injuries and less effective workouts. I don’t have the time, money or patience for that. If I’m paying good money and putting the effort in I want to see results. Jo Ellen ensures you get the most out of each workout.

This is my first pilates experience, and I’ve been spoiled. Farrah seems to know what every single part of the body is all about and capable of. I can’t believe how knowledgeable she is. Pilates is not for wimps, but she is so very nice she makes it fun and the same time you are working very hard. I have total confidence in the movements she insists my body does. The studio is relaxing and low key. Like most pilates classes, private is not the cheap way to go, but it is an indulgence i have thoroughly enjoyed. I can’t recognize her highly enough.

I have been going to Pilates Studio West for just over two years. It has changed my body and consequently changed my life. I am a woman well past middle-​age and I believe the secret to remaining young is NOT smooth skin but rather a lithe and supple body.
Jo Ellen, my instructor at Pilates Studio West really understands this. She is mindful of my various injuries but also challenges me to get beyond them. She is a great person with a ton of energy and a genuine concern for her students. In the time I have been going to the studio I have lost weight, toned my body amazingly, and gotten much much stronger. Whenever I am out of town and go to a pilates class elsewhere the teacher always remarks on how well trained I am in proper pilates form.
Farrah, who is the owner of the studio is also a very good teacher. I take both private and group classes each week. I have met lovely people at this light, airy, pleasant studio. I can recommend it highly.

Amazing studio. Jo Ellen is wonderful. Privates & classes are great. Equipment is great & studio is clean. JoEllen knows her stuff & is a great teacher. Classes are lots if fun! I highly recommend this studio. Oh and parking is easy & free!

I have taken Pilates classes with Joellen for over a year and highly recommend this studio–
Great classes, great hours, and always a great group of people to work out with–

For the past 2 ½ years, I’ve been running about 2 – 2.5 miles, 4 – 6 times a week. I run because I love food, and therefore, my weight remains roughly the same. I’m happy with that. I don’t love working out, in fact, I despise it. But I love food more that I’m able to make my lazy butt run. So after two years I notice that yes, I am losing SOME fat, but my calves are getting huge. I want to be long and lean (I’m 5’2″ :()! I also look at gossip sites and see Miley Cyrus coming out of pilates and her body looks amazing all of a sudden. You can see where I’m going w/​this right?
So I start to scour Unilocal and search for any deals related to Pilates. But knowing myself, I know that if it’s not near work or my home, I won’t go. This is in my neighborhood so I make an appointment to have a private session with Jo Ellen. It has now been 2 months and I LOVE it. I feel stronger, there is more muscle definition, and I think by the end of my 3 month cycle I should see a bigger difference. BTW, I agree that I think in the beginning you should be going at least 3 times a week to maximize your results. And yes, it is pricey, but going into my third month, I’m mixing it up with classes. After that, I may just stick to classes since it’s more affordable and by then I will hopefully be at the maintenance point.
As for Jo Ellen, I love her! She’s a big big stickler for proper form. She’s a perfectionist. In the beginning, I was disheartened b/​c I felt like I was uncoordinated and I sucked. But after the end of the first month (roughly 10^th session), I was getting better at it. I realize how important it is for you to have proper form when using any of their machines (reformer, cadillac, ladder barrel, pike machine thingy, etc.), otherwise, you can either hurt yourself or not be working the muscles properly. Anyways, this is the only exercise régime that I actually look forward to. I love the quiet studio where at most there is one other person having a private session. I really hate classes and studios that pack themselves to the brim. I hope to stay at this spot forever!

This place is amazing. What a pleasure to work out in the company of instructors who are so incredibly well educated in pilates, the body and exercise. Both Farrah and Joellen are wonderful .The studio is clean, comfortable and always very friendly.
The privates are incredible as they take you from the reformer, to the cadillac to floor mat and various other equipment with a mix up that never gets dull, gets your body charged up and works muscles you never knew you had.
The reformer classes are wonderful too with hands on instruction, correcting your every move while teaching you the right way to do the various movements.

If you live in or near the West Side, this is THE choice for reformer Pilates. Farrah is not only an excellent, highly motivational instructor, she knows so much about fitness, diet and exercise it’s not funny. Don’t look anywhere else: Pilates Studio West is the place.

I have been doing Pilates for over 13 years. I have had many different instructors and, I must say, there are none better than Farah and her mom, Joellen, at Pilates Studio West. They are simply AMAZING!!! They each have their own, unique, style; different, yet the same in terms of a kickass workout. Their knowledge and skill is unsurpassed by the many instructors I have had in the past. Plus, they make it fun! You can’t help but smile as you’re complaining about the intensity. As Farah would say A W E S O M E N E S S!!!

This is a great pilates studio. Going here is soothing and relaxing, and I also get a great workout. After just two weeks, I could already see my body getting leaner. There are only four reformers, so the class size is necessarily small. This means you get a lot of personal attention so that you do the moves correctly for maximum benefit. I am very happy that I found this place!

There is no doubt that Pilates Studio West is the best in town! Thanks to Farrah, the owner & instructor, I have learned so much about my body! The studio is Immaculate! It’s got such positive energy that you almost want to camp in there and not leave! It’s beautifully decorated, airy, crisp and most important of all, the instructors know what they are doing! Would I recommend this studio to anyone looking into Pilates? YES! YES! YES!

I LOVE PILATES STUDIO WEST!
For almost a year now, I’ve been taking private pilates lessons with the amazing Farrah once a week, and it has changed my life! I went in thinking I’d just take one or two classes, but now, I can’t imagine ever stopping. (Keep in mind, I’m a low-​paid production assistant. I spend my money carefully, and these classes are SO worth it to me.)
Farrah is my secret weapon. She has an amazing ability to analyze your specific muscle imbalances and movement patterns and pinpoint exactly which exercises will benefit your body the most. I came to her with poor posture that resulted in low back pain and a hip flexor injury, and now, I feel stronger and healthier than ever. Not only is my pain gone, but my body is toned in a way I’ve never seen it. You can actually see my abs now (I’m talking REAL definition, people!) But what Farrah’s done for me is so much more than skin deep. The exercises I do with her have completely changed the way I move my body. My posture’s so much improved, and I’m finally recruiting all my muscles properly. Before Farrah, I had no idea how to engage my core. Now, I can feel my core working all the time throughout the day to keep me stable and help me avoid injury.
On top of all that, Farrah and her mom (who also teaches) are the most fun, enthusiastic, down-​to-​earth people. I love the vibe in the studio. It’s so warm and inviting. I’m usually pretty quiet and let’s-get-down-to-business when I’m taking a class, but with these ladies, you can’t help but LOVE to chat it up with them. It’s like hanging out with friends, while getting an amazing workout.
I can’t recommend Pilates Studio West enough! Anyone can benefit from these classes. All I suggest is to go to at least a few (not just one) because it takes some time for your body to react to the exercises. But take it from someone who knows and who doesn’t have a lot of money to spend, it is SO worth it.

I read other reviews on Unilocal to help me find the best Pilates studio I could find. After 3 epidurals, COUNTLESS doctor bills, drugs, etc, the spine surgeon suggested Pilates over physical therapy, IF I could find a good Pilates instructor.
Farrah is everything and more than I could have hoped for. She is knowledgeable, she knows everything about the body, she has a million tricks up her sleeve and she’s fun. In whatever condition I walk into the studio, I always know I will leave feeling better.
I had never done Pilates before so I thought I would have a tough transition but she makes it so easy to want to come to the Studio. In fact, I’ve cancelled almost all of my other activities to focus on Pilates. As a side benefit, I seem to be losing weight without even trying.
Farrah is THE BEST!!! I highly recommend her.

Great Pilates studio. I’ve been doing Pilates for nearly five years. Started out at a Therapeutic Studio on the advice of a Chiropractor, later tried two other studios before finding Pilates Studio West owned by Farrah Faulkner. BY FAR THE BEST.
Pilates Studio West is located in the heart of Brentwood with plenty of free parking and easy access to coffee shops and Whole Foods, etc. The Studio, on the second floor of a courtyard building, is one of the largest in the area, spotlessly clean, beautifully decorated and filled with light. A very calm and Zen-​like setting.
Unlike many studios that only offer classes mid-​day or at odd hours (when there is no demand for private one-​on-​one instruction) Pilates Studio West offers a variety of options; in addition to private one-​on-​one instruction, the Studio offers group classes and mat classes at accommodating hours.
Best of all is Farrah herself – she knows her stuff! She is well-​trained in body mechanics as well as Pilates. She can tailor private sessions to a client’s individual needs, whether those clients be teens or senior citizens. In fact there are several mother-​daughter pairs who frequent the studio and enjoy interacting with Farrah and her mother, who also is a Pilates instructor. Everyone who studies at Pilates Studio West is made to feel at home, and friendships develop among the clientele.

There are certain places in LA that are true hidden treasures. Pilates Studio West is one of them. I have been doing pilates for 8 years (2 with PSW) and I’ve never been to a nicer studio. Beautiful light, fresh air, and always clean. The equipment is well maintained and the energy of the place is relaxed and non-​intimidating. As for the people… well, this is where the magic happens. Pushing a client to challenge themselves and build strength is part of any good pilates experience, but what is really remarkable about Farrah and Joelle is that they have a true understanding of the body in general, and your body in specific. They tailor and tweak things and teach you how to push yourself and be in your body and build strength where you are the most susceptible to injury. They are patient, motivating and knowledgeable. And two of the loveliest people you’ve ever met. I wouldn’t go anywhere else for Pilates!

This place has changed my life.
My mom introduced me to Farrah and Pilates Studio West, which makes sense because this is such a family place. Farrah’s mom works as an instructor here, and there are a ton of mother-​daughter students who go here. Anyway, my mom always raved about what Farrah was doing for her balance and strength, and I nodded distractedly like daughters do, until…
I got pregnant and had a baby, and in the process, um, gained a few pounds. In an effort to help me regain my strength (and my figure), my mom very very sweetly signed me up for a series of training sessions with Farrah. Amazing. In addition to being the funnest, funniest, coolest girl you would ever want to spend time with, Farrah knows *EVERYTHING* about the human body.
In six weeks, all while still nursing and therefore still eating for two, I lost 12 pounds, three inches off my waist, two inches off my hips, and I regained abdominal strength and just strength! I literally cannot describe the depth and breadth of Farrah’s wisdom about health and well-​being, in part because I literally don’t know all the words for all the muscles and moves that she incorporates, but there is a seemingly infinite variety of creative exercises in her magic hat.
She’s also incredibly supportive and kind and funny and so cool. I love going to the studio, which is located in a beautifully remodeled, midcentury-​style building in Brentwood, across from the Longs Drugs. The place is spotless, but never sterile. The floor is a great dark wood and it’s so tastefully decorated. This is the Pilates and workout studio you would install in your house if you had the money. But it’s not just the physical appeal of the place – Farrah’s created a real community here. The other instructors and other students are a genuinely friendly and lovely bunch, and it’s a pleasure to work out with them.
If you’re looking for a new Pilates studio or just need any kind of wisdom about any aspect of your body or physical fitness, don’t be shy about visiting Pilates Studio West. We all love it and you will too!

Farrah is the best best best!!! :)
There is nothing better than a fitness instructor who knows their stuff and cares about their clients. Farrah has been my instructor for over a year. She doesn’t just provide exercises, she teaches you how to get «into» your body and emphasizes the importance of control, proper breathing, keeping your core tight, and targeting the correct muscle groups. It’s not just about putting weight on a machine and doing the movements, it’s about focusing your mind on your body — ultimately increasing strength and flexibility! (And who couldn’t use a little more flexibility?)
Pilates Studio West has a comfortable ambiance, great trainers and they provide results. Plus… They are located in the heart of Brentwood — Perfect location. I wouldn’t go anywhere else! :)