About Us.
About Ridgewood Pilates!
Ridgewood Pilates is a vibrant modern studio located on the border of Ridgewood and Bushwick, connecting these two unique neighborhoods in the name of health and fitness. We specialize in small group Pilates Reformer/Tower and Mat classes, as well as, private and duet sessions for those needing more of an individualized approach/training. All classes are 55 mins long taught by highly trained and experienced instructors. In order to ensure safety and the highest quality of instruction, we offer classes that are capped at 6 and or 4 participants. We recommend starting with the Pilates Essentials class or a private session to help you become more familiar and comfortable with Pilates equipment and terminology. This keeps our classes flowing and ensures a good experience for everyone. Our equipment is the latest state-of-the-art Studio Reformer/Tower by Balanced Body, allowing for a complete workout taught by teachers from various Pilates backgrounds.
What is Pilates?
Pilates is a highly effective series of low-impact exercises that dramatically improve your overall well-being, flexibility, core strength, and muscle tone. Popular with physical therapists, dancers, athletes, and the mainstream gym culture, Pilates is a mind-body workout that uses controlled movements and breathing on the mat and spring-based equipment designed by Joseph Pilates. Many exercises are performed in lying down or sitting positions making it a suitable option for anyone with injuries or movement limitations. Proper breathing is essential in Pilates because it helps to execute movements with maximum power and efficiency. A typical Pilates workout includes exercises and stretches that lengthen and strengthen all the major muscle groups. The entire musculature is evenly balanced and conditioned, helping you enjoy daily activities and sports with greater ease, better balance, and less chance of injury.
Pilates is truly “a full-body” workout. With many coordination and balance exercises integrated into one program, your brain is constantly focused on every movement, improving your neurological functions while keeping the whole body moving. It is an extremely flexible exercise system due to its modification options to most of the exercise repertoire which allow for a range of difficulty level from beginner to advanced. Pilates exercises can help with injury prevention and/or recovery, pre and postnatal wellness, flexibility, and posture. It is suitable for all types of bodies and all levels of fitness; and it can be done at any time of the day as it leaves you feeling refreshed, energized and grounded. But don't take our word for it, see what our clients have to say!
Meet The Team.
Gosia Calderon (she/her)
Gosia is a native from Poland who has made Queens her home for the past 30 years. In 2008, she decided to trade in her career in environmental policy for helping people achieve their own health and fitness goals and live healthier lifestyles. She has been practicing the STOTT Pilates method for the past 20 years, incorporating cardiovascular and strength training principles into her programs. She is a fully certified Pilates Instructor and a NASM certified Personal Trainer. At the core of her teaching, Gosia works with her clients on understanding and learning about their bodies and how to incorporate mind-body awareness and connection into their other exercise programs and daily lives. Most of all, she wants everyone to not feel intimidated by Pilates or exercising. Her classes are tailored to suit everyone's individual needs and fitness levels in a safe yet challenging way. Her own fitness experience includes Ice Dancing, Yoga, Ballroom Dancing, and weight strength training. It’s an honor for her to return to Ridgewood and share her passion for Pilates with the community.
You can find Gosia teaching Reformer Pilates/Open Level and Tower/Mat Pilates Open Level.
Amanda Kolsch (they/she)
Amanda is a Pilates instructor, yoga teacher, dance educator, and mover! They have been dancing since they were 3 years old and haven’t stopped moving since. Amanda’s mission with Pilates is to encourage students to discover and develop advocacy over their bodies through movement with others in the community. Amanda received their Pilates training through University of Wisconsin alongside earning a Bachelor of Science in Dance. The somatic and mindfulness of the Pilates practice has been a grounding and enhancing part of Amanda’s dance training. Amanda is excited to continue growing, connecting, and moving with the community of Ridgewood.
You can find Amanda teaching Strengthen and Lengthen Open Level Reformer, Amped Up Reformer, Cardio Jumpboard/Reformer Pilates, and Tower/Mat Pilates Open Level!
Maria Lorenzo (she/her)
Maria brings over 40 years of experience in the health and fitness industry. With a background in corrective exercise and injury prevention, Maria is dedicated to helping people thrive at every stage of life. She specializes in creating safe, effective workouts tailored to individual needs. After struggling with pain from scoliosis, Maria discovered Pilates, which transformed her body and allowed her to live pain-free again. As a Certified Pilates Instructor and Medical Fitness Specialist, Maria is passionate about guiding intentional movement through all phases of life, empowering others to stay strong, injury-free, and healthy as they age. She is thrilled to share her knowledge and experience with our Ridgewood Pilates community!
You can find Maria teaching Reformer Pilates/Open Level, Strength & Flow Reformer and Cardio Jumpboard Reformer classes.
Josephine Chung (she/her)
A competitive runner and cyclist since her teenage years, Josephine went in search of cross-training methods that would sharpen her performance and speed injury recovery. She found thatPilates was ideal for this and other health goals. While living in Hong Kong, Jo became a certified Polestar® Pilates teacher and taught in Asia for 10 years before returning to New York in 2020. She is also a yoga instructor who emphasizes alignment-based teaching. Jo thrives on connecting with clients and motivating them in Pilates practice by focusing on alignment technique and benefits.
You can find Josephine teaching Pilates Essentials/Beginner’s Level and Reformer Pilates/Open Level.
Kimberly Stoeckley (she/her)
Kimberly Stoeckley is an A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor with twenty years experience in the fitness industry. She specializes in Reformer Pilates & Mat Pilates, as well as Barre. Kimberly teaches multiple fitness formats including pilates mat, barre, trx, kickbox, trampoline, yoga, body sculpt, H.I.I.T. and cardio dance.
You can find Kimberley teaching Reformer Pilates/Open Level, Trampoline Cadio/Mat Pilates Open Level, Reformer Pilates Express/Open Level, Pilates Essentials/Beginner’s Level, Savor & Synchronize Open Level Reformer, Open Level Reformer with Props, and Reformer Power Hour.
Cheyenne Boccia (she/her)
Cheyenne fell in love with Pilates about 10 years ago and has taken a class almost daily since. After so many years of self practice, she decided to make it official and begin instructing full time. Cheyenne loves to honor the classical method of contrology during her classes, but is always up for fun contemporary twists on the classical repertoire.
Cheyenne has always been a lover of movement, practicing dance for almost twenty years. She believes in the strong connection between daily movement and mental health. She treats every class taken and taught as tool to crate a moment of peace and control over body, mind, and spirit.
You can find Cheyenne teaching Reformer Pilates/Open Level, Pilates Essentials/Beginner’s Level, Intermediate Reformer Pilates and Glutes & Abs Open Level Reformer.