Business Details
Your Trusted Pilates Studio in Manor, TX
East Side Balance Pilates studio was founded by Gary Ames and Linda Dumont with a mission to apply the health benefits of Pilates to improve overall well-being and counteract physical strains from daily life. Our approach emphasizes personalized Pilates programs tailored to individual lifestyles, whether you're an office worker, athlete, new parent, or retiree. With over 20 years of certification and 40,000 hours of combined teaching experience, we specialize in identifying unique bodily imbalances and guiding clients through customized movement combinations.Our studio blends traditional Pilates mat work with equipment-based training, focusing on postural symmetry, breath control, and muscle flexibility while integrating modern adaptations of Joseph Pilates' original methods. We prioritize creating a nonjudgmental space for clients to challenge themselves and achieve pain-free, active living through functional exercise and stress release.
Services
Pilates Sessions
Mat Pilates
Machine Pilates
Prenatal Pilates
Remote Training
Highlights and features
- Certified instructors with over 20 years of Pilates expertise
- Customized programs for individual physical needs and lifestyles
- 40,000+ hours of combined teaching experience
- Blends traditional Pilates with modern functional training
- Recognized as Best Machine Pilates by The Austin Chronicle
Associations and certifications
- Pilates Method Alliance
Services
Pilates Sessions
Customized one-on-one Pilates sessions combining mat and equipment-based training to address individual physical imbalances. Our certified instructors guide clients through personalized movement sequences to improve posture, flexibility, and core strength while reducing pain and enhancing mobility. Sessions focus on functional exercise patterns that translate to improved daily living activities and athletic performance.
Machine Pilates
Specialized Pilates equipment sessions using reformers and spring resistance systems modeled after Joseph Pilates' original designs. This method enhances strength gains, joint mobility, and muscular coordination through controlled resistance movements. Ideal for rehabilitation, injury prevention, and advanced conditioning while minimizing post-exercise soreness.
Mat Pilates
Traditional mat-based Pilates focusing on bodyweight resistance and core stabilization. Classes emphasize breath control, spinal alignment, and sequential movement patterns to build foundational strength and body awareness. Suitable for all fitness levels while complementing equipment-based training for comprehensive physical development.
Remote Training
Live online Pilates instruction via Zoom platform for clients unable to attend in-person sessions. Certified instructors provide real-time feedback and modifications for home practice spaces using minimal equipment. Maintains personalized attention while offering flexibility for clients across different locations.
Prenatal Pilates
Specialized Pilates program designed for expectant mothers to maintain strength and flexibility throughout pregnancy. Focuses on pelvic floor engagement, posture correction, and gentle core activation to support changing body mechanics. Sessions prepare clients for labor while promoting postpartum recovery in a safe, supervised environment.
People
Gary Ames
Co-Founder & Certified Instructor
Certified Pilates instructor with over 20 years of experience and 40,000+ hours of private session teaching. Specializes in using Pilates equipment and mat work to address individual physical imbalances through personalized training programs.
Linda Dumont
Co-Founder & Certified Instructor
Co-founder of East Side Balance with extensive experience in Pilates instruction. Combines artistic expression with physical training to create holistic wellness programs that integrate mind-body connections through movement therapy.
Questions
What Pilates equipment do you use?
We use reformers and spring resistance systems modeled after Joseph Pilates' original designs, similar to those used in professional studios worldwide.
Do you offer beginner Pilates classes?
Yes, we provide customized sessions for all experience levels, including complete beginners, with personalized instruction to build foundational skills.
Can Pilates help with back pain?
Our specialized programs focus on identifying and correcting bodily imbalances that contribute to back pain through targeted movement therapy and core stabilization.
Are virtual Pilates sessions effective?
Yes, our Zoom sessions provide real-time instructor feedback and modifications for home practice spaces while maintaining personalized attention and progress tracking.
What should I wear to a session?
Clients should wear athletic attire that allows for full range of motion, such as yoga pants, leggings, and fitted tops that won't restrict movement.
How often should I attend Pilates sessions?
For optimal results, we recommend 2-3 sessions per week combining equipment and mat work to maximize strength gains and movement pattern development.
Reviews (5)
Willmcm Willmcm
Dec 04, 2021
Report
Gary not only has vast knowledge of pilates, but also a deep understanding of the body as well. Gary takes a holistic approach to his clients needs and tailors workouts to individual requirements. He is a consummate professional and a healer. Highly recommend!
Susan Zakaib
Nov 27, 2021
Report
I have been doing Pilates with Gary and Linda for nearly a decade, and I can't imagine working out anywhere else. I love their tiny home studio, and I love that they tailor the workout to my own needs. I have chronic back pain, and have found that Pilates is the best possible remedy. Gary and Linda know that I'm in it for pain management above all else, they know I have certain limitations resulting from tendonitis and tight hamstrings, and they structure the workout accordingly. After hearing me rave about Gary and Linda for years, my husband finally started joining me for sessions to help manage
Tom Caven
Nov 21, 2021
Report
Gary and Linda really know Pilates and the science behind it. They also get to know their clients very well, adapting the Pilates regimen to areas that need work and with understanding of where the client is physically. The routine evolves over time, even session to session. I have done Pilates for years, this is maybe my fourth studio. For their flexibility, knowledge, and personability, Eastside Pilates is my favorite!
Curt Finch
Jul 08, 2019
Report
Gary has a Da-Vincian understanding of your muscles and ligaments and is a measured and compassionate practitioner of Pilates techniques. I got more improvement out of my first hour with him than with a year of acupuncture. My whole family is going there now.
Wendee W.
Sep 09, 2018
Report
Gary and Linda do a great job, I look forward to each session. I am a chiropractor and I appreciate the importance of training flexibility, endurance, balance and strength. I recommend to many of my patients pilates training with Gary and Linda.
