Movement as Medicine

At Great Falls Pilates, we work with all levels—from beginners to elite athletes and everyone in between. We’ve created a calming, supportive space designed to help you step away from the demands of daily life and reconnect with your health. Our space is purposely designed as is our programming.

We specialize in spine care, osteoporosis, prenatal and postpartum recovery, orthopedic rehab needs and neurological support. Each instructor is comprehensively trained and mentored to offer expert-level care and truly individualized programming.

We don’t just teach exercises — we teach a full movement system to support your growth, integration, and long-term results.

FAQs

  • What Can Pilates Do for Me?

    It can change your life. You may find a huge range of positive changes and it truly is a mind-body life practice.

    Improve posture. Build core strength. Add muscle without bulking up. Increase flexibility. Improve balance and coordination. Develop neglected muscles. Retrain faulty movement patterns. Improve range of motion. Develop a sense of body awareness. Help prevent muscle and joint injury. Prevent or Improve back pain. Stand taller with confidence. Stress relief. Overall physical fitness. Develop a centered self. Create a mind-body connection.

  • Is it Safe?

    Pilates is a safe, low-impact form of exercise for most people. It is wonderful to use preventatively, post-injury, and during or after a pregnancy. As with many exercise programs however, there are risks of injury. If you have medical problems or recent surgery that restricts you from working out, you need to be cleared to participate.

  • Just like with anything, the more you practice the sooner you will notice improvements. I strongly believe that once a week will reap benefits. I have heard so many successes shared even after just the first session. If Pilates is new to you, there will be a learning curve. It is a new language, likely new muscles, and new equipment! Clients come anywhere from once a week to several times a week.

  • Why use the equipment? 

    Classical pilates incorporates many different apparatuses, each with a unique purpose! Most equipment uses spring tensions to allow for assistance and resistance. We have equipment designed to specifically stretch your neck and strengthen your toes! Straps can be used in your hands and feet. Equipment challenges and supports your body as you learn to move more efficiently while building strength and length.

  • Come in comfortable workout clothing. We do not allow zippers, snaps, etc., that might get caught on equipment or scratch the upholstery. If you wear shorts, please be certain to wear fitted shorts underneath as your legs will be up in the air! Grip socks must be worn on the equipment at all times and are available to purchase.

    Please remove all dangling jewelry as it might get caught in the equipment. No gum, perfumes or lotion is allowed in the studio.

  • Joseph Pilates is famous for saying, “In 10 sessions you will feel the difference; in 20 you will see the difference; and in 30 you will have a whole new body.” When you teach your body how to move well, your body wants to do it! You can improve how you feel in your first session.

  • Yes! As long as you have been cleared from your medical provider for regular exercise, Pilates is excellent for rehab. We can work around an injury and get you a very effective workout without causing you pain.

  • YES!! One of the very best things you can do for your back is to strengthen your core muscles. When your core muscles are engaged and strong, you take pressure off of your spinal discs and give them a healthy blood flood to heal and stay healthy. Pilates can help alleviate and prevent back pain. We’ve helped many clients break their back pain cycles in Pilates.

  • Pilates will help tone and lengthen your muscles. I do tell clients that the majority of weight loss is in the kitchen. You may notice your waistline slims as your core strength improves. As you work on your health and make more mind-body connections, you fuel your body as a whole and get into a better healthy mindset to make positive changes.  As a whole body exercise system, it helps establish a steady metabolism.

Resilient Bones Program

Our modified Pilates program is designed for those with osteopenia or osteoporosis and can also be used with individuals who have spinal fusions, scoliosis reconstructive surgeries, or acute pain where we simply want to limit forces on your spine. We follow current research, the National Osteoporosis Foundation guidelines and best practices in the industry. Many fitness professionals just don’t learn how important these spine safe movements are but the data and research is very clear. Pilates for bone strength is not “baby” Pilates, just different to make sure we get you as strong as we can safely! You will definitely get a workout in and never be the wiser!

Benefits to Bones: Your bones respond best to weight based and site-specific training to stimulate bone growth. Variety helps challenge your muscles and bones. The more you exercise, the more you build. Your balance and fall risk will improve as well! You are never too old to help improve your bone strength!

Movements We Avoid: We teach you how to move better in life. We avoid certain movements like flexion and rotation to reduce your fracture risk. We focus on strengthening your back and postural muscles and give you site-specific variety to stimulate good bones!

Kathy Grant’s Work

Kathy Grant (1921–2010) was one of only two people ever officially certified by Joseph Pilates to teach his Contrology method. A professional dancer and lifelong educator, Kathy dedicated her career to helping people move better, feel better, and recover from injury. She was known for her extraordinary ability to see the body and adapt Pilates to meet the needs of each individual.

Kathy taught movement as a language of healing with playfulness. She created her own unique teaching vocabulary—small props, fundamental warm-ups, hands-on techniques—that empowered students to sense, correct, and control their bodies from within. Her “cats” and straps are uniquely hers. Kathy’s teaching was deeply intuitive, creative, precise, and caring.

Though she never sought the spotlight, her impact is profound. She quietly trained and mentored a generation of teachers, many of whom continue to spread her knowledge today.

Her legacy lives on through the Heritage Training® Program, developed by her long-time student and protégé, Cara Reeser. Great Falls Pilates is proud to be part of Kathy Grant’s teaching lineage. Studio owner Ashley is a graduate of the Heritage Training® and continues mentorship with Cara. She is dedicated to preserve Kathy’s movement in her teaching.

Kathy Grant’s Before the Hundred mat work and fundamentals are game changers for so many of our clients. Kathy’s spirit is with us—inviting you to slow down, go deeper, and discover how good movement can feel.