The Bendy Bulldog: Core Fitness

I decided to try out The Bendy Bulldog based on the recommendation of a friend. I was a little unsure of what to expect, having never attempted pilates before, but ended up being surprised by how much I enjoyed experience.
The studio itself is great (clean, quiet, and welcoming), but what really set The Bendy Bulldog apart for me was the quality of the instruction. It’s clear that Nancy is an expert in her field who knows not only the full range of pilates exercises, but the underlying physical principles behind them. She takes the time to understand exactly what you want to get out of class and then puts together a custom workout perfectly tailored to your level of fitness and experience. During class she is highly attentive and is constantly providing positive feedback as you work. The end result is a phenomenal workout that leaves you feeling great and noticeably stronger after just a few sessions.
Whether you’re a longtime pilates pro, or just starting out like me, I don’t think it’s possible to find a better overall fitness experience than The Bendy Bulldog. I’ll definitely be back for more!

Nancy is a top-​notch instructor, who challenges and encourages you. She tailors the workout to meet your needs and clearly explains how to perform the different exercises. She possesses a very positive attitude and great sense of humor, which makes the time seem to fly by. My back pain and soreness has greatly decreased since getting turned onto pilates by Nancy. The studio is always very clean, has a nice outdoor patio patrolled by Pancakes the bulldog, and is located close enough to walk for some post-​workout beer and pizza afterwards. The Bendy Bulldog rules!

Bendy Bulldog is amazing, affordable and the highlight of my week.
Thank you Unilocalers, for giving such an accurate picture of Nancy! I generally prefer to get personal recommendations but ultimately turned to Unilocal after my physical therapist suggested Pilates could help me recover from a broken ankle. Based off all the 5-​star reviews, I called Nancy and made my first appointment. Six months and many visits later, I’m in way better shape and a PIlates addict.
Nancy is a talented Pilates instructor who is patient, motivating and creative when it comes to workouts, which she always tailors to your requests and needs. She has been instrumental in helping me get back in shape. Somehow I always feel a mixture of rejuvenated and exhausted after every class.
I’ve now been to 6 Pilates instructors around SF, but Nancy is hands down the best.

I’ve been to a group mat class and semi private pilates classes with Nancy.
This is an awesome studio. It’s in the back portion of the building and you walk through a long hallway (adorned with interesting artwork) into a really great airy space. Usually there is a super cute french bulldog lounging in the courtyard. The studio is nicely laid out and very clean.
I have taken a few yoga classes, but never tried Pilates before. Nancy is a great instructor. She is clear in her directions and really pushes you without being annoying. I have some problems with my back and she took extra time to make sure I was comfortable and gave me modifications when necessary. I highly recommend!!!

I’ve been going to Nancy’s mat class for about 2 months. I’ve tried out a few different exercise classes, and this is by far the best– totally worth my commute from the Mission!
Nancy is such a great teacher! Every class is challenging and different from previous classes. She’s great about checking to make sure we’re doing each move correctly, and about modifying poses for class members depending on our skill level. It’s always a tough work out, but I always leave feeling stronger and more energized.
She’s a really considerate, friendly, and professional teacher, and I highly recommend her classes to anyone who wants a great workout!

It is no suprise that Nancy has only 5 star ratings. I have been going to the Bendy Bulldog for semi-​private reformer classes for a little over a year now and have loved every second of it. I go once a week — but would go at least twice if I could.
Nancy has an amazing way of making every class hard, while still doable — giving her students the ability to consistently improve. She is really smart — always knowing exactly how the class should flow and always able to answer any questions you might have about what’s going on with your body. She is also a pleasure to be around — tough and sweet at the same time.
If you’re thinking about trying pilates or are not entirely happy with your instructor, try the Bendy Bulldog. It has to be the best workout in town!

Nancy rocks my world. Every time I go to one of her classes I feel like I got the best workout of my life! On top of that, I just stare at Nancy’s rockin’ bod and that gives me motivation to keep coming back for more, in hopes that one day I look like her.
I teach yoga and Nancy’s classes have helped me progress with my arm balances and inversions 10 fold.
Thank you Nancy for all that you do!
xoxo

Been attending Nancy’s mat class for about 6 months now.
Wish I had more moola to spend, cause I’d love to take her machine classes (which I’m sure are awesome).
Each mat class is different. They’re always challenging and I feel like a badass afterward (I know it’s probably in my head but still, I like it). Usually the highlight of my Wednesday.
Nancy is great. She is friendly and accommodating and pretty much a pilates goddess. Also, her dog is quite possibly the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.
You should check her out.

I’ve been doing triathlons for 2 years now, and I’m always looking for an edge. I heard that pilates was a good way to build up core muscles, but I admit that I thought that it was an easier workout targeted toward middle-​aged women. I was wrong. I told Nancy what my goals were and what I wanted to focus on, and she listened to me and personalized my workout to fit my triathlon training. It was nice to have a trainer who actually knew which muscles were involved in the training that I did, and how to build up other muscles to maximize my performance. I’ve been with Nancy for 6 months, and I’m very pleased with the results, especially with the swim which I’ve noticed is more balanced, but also with my lower back strength that’s been suffering from long bike rides and a history of bad posture. I’m not much of a Stanford fan (Go Bears!), but I’ll make an exception for Nancy.

Nancy is AMAZING!!! She is a great teacher, she really takes her time to teach you the correct way of using the machines and has a very calm tone while doing so.
She makes you feel very comfortable while working with her. My mom and I took a class from her and had so much fun! I look forward to working out with Nancy!!!

As a masters swimmer, I am always looking for little ways to improve my swimming performance (short of spending 20+ hours in the pool).
A friend of mine suggested Bendy Bulldog and Nancy. While I had been exposed to some pilates mat exercises, I had never done anything with machines. Nancy was excellent about introducing me to the basic concepts of what we were trying to do and slowly introducing more challenging exercises as I developed my form and strength.
She is a great teacher because she engages both your body (by correcting your form) but also your mind (by explaining why you are doing something that way).

Having never done pilates, but always wanting to try it, I gave The Bendy Bulldog a try and I LOVE IT! Nancy is an amazing instructor that is inspiring, pays attention, and knows what she is doing! I leave my session always feeling amazing thanks to her instruction! I recommend this studio to everyone!

Wonderful pilates studio, Nancy is informative, patient & made me feel very comfortable. Great workout! Looking forward to another session when I come back to SF!

As an East Coast guy who never thought he’d EVER take yoga, much less something as crazy as pilates, I’m surprised to say that I go every week. Pilates is a great complement not only to my gym workout and running routines but also the stresses of running my own company. I feel so much better after each class, my core is stronger, my posture has improved and I’m more relaxed. Nancy is great, particularly for people like me who haven’t quite figured out that whole listening thing. Each class is different and tailored to my needs. Highly recommended.
PS — Don’t tell my friends back home.

If you’ve been thinking about giving Pilates a try and want an intimate, private venue where you can get great 1:1 instruction, then Nancy’s new studio is the place to go. She has everything you need for a great workout and she takes the time to explain what each pose and exercise does. I was definitely feeling muscles I didn’t even know I had when I left her. Plus Pancakes, her bulldog, will keep you in line if you try and cheat:)

Nancy is great! After moving to the city I needed to find a new Pilates instructor. I hit up Unilocal and started going to every studio in my neighborhood. That’s how I found Nancy. I haven’t wanted to change teachers since:)
I really like that she knows the right things to say/​cue words to engage your core, target a specific muscle (muscle group), walk you through each exercise etc. She has a great upbeat personality. She is smart and knows her stuff.
I have been doing Pilates for a number of years. My last teacher (out of the area) really started to relax whenever I came to work out. It is nice to have a new instructor who is hands on to correct me on the things I have forgotten.
I look forward to our classes (even if they are Saturday mornings). I am excited she found her own studio and I plan to continue working with Nancy in the future. You should defiantly give her a call.

Nancy is an AMAZING pilates instructor. I don’t say that just b/​c she is also a friend. I say that b/​c she is highly skilled, knowledgeable, patient, and attentive.
Her classes are great. She has interesting & *tough* routines, and she pays a lot of individual attention to the students, making sure that you both push yourself but also focus on correct form. (She literally walks around the room checking/​correcting everyone’s form.)
Best of all, after Nancy’s classes, I get that great type of «sore» for days! Take one of her classes — you’ll be glad that you did!

Nancy rocks. I never really expected to give Pilates a shot. I was really impressed by Nancy’s teaching strategies and professional (yet friendly) demeanor.
She gets an enthusiastic recommendation from me.

I’ve been seeing Nancy for over a year now for private sessions. She provides a great mix of both traditional and innovative pilates. Nancy works with you to understand the fundamentals and challenges me every weekend with more advanced movements to push me forward. She’s really great about tailoring our workouts to my fitness goals. My body has responded so positively to the pilates regimen that we’ve planned out together. She’s a great teacher and I highly recommend her if you’re a beginner or more experiened.

I attended a couple of this instructor’s classes a few months ago, and she was really good. For most guys (myself included), pilates is a pretty intimidating proposition. Nancy made it very approachable, and I discovered that it makes a great complimentary workout to my regular running, strength training, and sports. Highly recommended.