What Our Clients Say About Us

Sara Peri

I joined IMX Pilates studio 2 months ago and it has been one of the best decisions I have ever made for myself. I have been a competitive snowboarder since I was 16 years old and have always resisted the training aspect of the sport. I gave up quite a few opportunities to be on high level snowboarding teams when I was in my early 20's because I did not want to wake up every morning and go to the gym to train with the team. That being said I am not a gym or workout type of person...(Or I should say I wasn't)......That mentality has carried me through my teens and my 20's but a life threatening injury 2 years ago from a snowboarding accident woke me up to the reality that I am now in my 30's and can no longer carry myself on my youth.

Last year I continued snowboarding but I had fall after fall and my balance was completely off. I gained 20 pounds and became depressed. I was on a path of self destruction and a good friend of mine suggested I try out IMX. She said it would be a great environment for me to be in. I resisted of course but eventually I tried it out....and came into the most supportive, warm environment I have ever been in involving exercise. The personalized attention is what really got me. The fact that the trainers took the time to get to know my story, and my extensive injuries from snowboarding showed me right off the bat that this was the place for me. Their patience and personalized moves for my specific issues gave me the CONFIDENCE and courage that I can do this! I can create the body that I want. I can show up every day and actually enjoy working out! Something I have NEVER ever enjoyed!! I dropped down 1 pants size in 6 weeks and can feel an incredible difference in my body. I have started going to a chiropractor per the suggestion of Chanda, and am now paying more attention to my overall health.

I started my season with snowboarding a few weeks ago and never in the past 17 years of my career have I began with such confidence and balance in the beginning of the season. My body responded so well to what my brain was telling it to do. The younger generation of kids who see me snowboarding and talk to me on the chair lift all think that I am about 20 years old because of the way that I snowboard. I know that with the help of IMX trainers in addition to my motivation , I will continue snowboarding this way for the next ten years. I am a realist and fully aware that I am getting older and that snowboarding is something I will eventually have to slow down on. But with the amazing support of the IMX Team and my new found energy to maintain my health, I plan on competing again this year and charging as long as possible. And now it is possible! Weight loss, strength, courage, and confidence are what IMX has given me and I am forever grateful :)

Beth Gilbert

Being a member of IMX is not like any of the gym memberships I've had in the past. I've had several gym memberships and that wasn't what I was looking for this time around. I wanted something very specific and I wanted something that was as close as possible to a personal training experience. That is what I found at IMX - intimate class sizes that allows for a more personalized training experience.

I am a veryactive person - I cycle, dance and play roller derby (yes, roller derby and we do have a local team in Santa Barbara). The one area that I wanted to work on that would make me stronger in each of these activities was improving my core strength. I've always been open to new types of training, but I never tried Pilates. After my first private session, I knew that this was exactly what I needed. It was challenging (and I'm always up for a challenge) and after a short period of time I felt my core getting stronger. The bonus for me is that IMX is not just about Pilates. With the variety of classes offered, I've been able to create a diverse workout regime that leaves no room for boredom or burn out. Each of the trainers adds their own flavor to classes, which I love.

Everyday I look forward to going to the studio. It is a great way to start or end my day. I've been a member for almost three months and there is a noticeable difference in the way my body looks and feels. With all the activities I've done in my life, I've never seen results this quickly. Thank you to the IMX family for creating this space for me to expand my training.

Kate Lanier
In 2007 I had a car accident which crushed the whole left side of my upper body and left me with a severe brain injury. At the time, I was fairly fit - hiking, riding horses, working out at the gym. As a child and into my twenties I'd been a dancer and gymnast and I retained a degree of flexibility and strength from that. Being a single Mom with two young sons (7yrs and 5yrs at the time) I was pretty active just keeping up with them, as well as working full time as a screenwriter.
Eighteen compound fractures, a collapsed lung and a shattered shoulder blade later, I couldn't imagine that I'd ever get up and play with my boys again. I spent weeks in the ICU and then more time at the rehab center. I had to re-learn how to write, speak, balance myself and remember basic skills like cooking, walking, reading. My prognosis was pretty bleak and depressing: I'd probably never be able to "live unassisted" and I'd surely never gain full mobility in my shoulders, rib cage or neck. Who knew if I'd ever write again!
I struggled, that first year, with intense pain and lots of physical therapy, and I made progress to the point where I COULD function "normally." I did progress in my ability to speak, read and write. Two years later I felt almost healed, but I missed having the range of movement, strength and pain-free power I had had in the past.
I'd seen the IMX Pilates studio driving home on State Street and I was curious about it. I knew Pilates was originally created to help rehabilitate dancers and so I thought it might help me: every physical therapist I'd worked with was satisfied with how I'd healed, but cautioned me not to expect that I'd ever actually get in "dancer" shape ever again.
I started working one-on-one with Chanda and I was blown away with her expertise, compassion and ability to figure out exactly how to strengthen and work my body. The fact that she was also a former dancer helped me to trust her understanding of what my body was capable of.
There is something about the way Pilates focuses the breath into core strength and flexibility that felt RIGHT to me. When I first started taking classes, I still had limited range of movement and strength in my left shoulder and arm as well as constant pain in my neck and shoulder. Months lying in bed had also left my posture caved in and weak.
In the time I've been coming to IMX, I've had dramatic improvement. I no longer have pain in my upper back, shoulder and neck. I can actually hold a heavy pot with my left arm. My range of movement is at about ninety percent and I feel stronger and more flexible than I have in years. No physical therapist I'd worked with has helped me as much.
What I love about coming here is the concentrated intensity of how all the teachers push me through a class. It's challenging and absolutely gets results. Chanda and all the teachers have always been available to talk when I have questions or specific problems with my injuries, spending time after or before class.
I honestly don't think I'd have healed the way I have if it hadn't been for this studio.

Testimonial

Shannon Coburn

I have always claimed to be one of those people who was born without the "workout gene." And like so many others I have joined a couple of gyms over the years (actually 3 to be exact) and only used them for the first ten weeks or so until the novelty of it all wore off. After the third, I finally learned my lesson. I will never join a regular gym again as long as I live. Needless to say, I was extremely apprehensive when looking into IMX Pilates because I didn't want to regret joining once again. It took a year of driving by the studio and agonizing over taking the initiative before walking through the door.

I have been attending approximately three days a week (five classes of TRX, Pilates and Spinning) for about four months. I have not changed my diet except for to try to eat a little extra protein on the days that I workout. Friends, clients and family members have ALL commented positively on the changes in my body. I am in better shape now than I was in my twenties and I'm now 37 with a 3 year old child. Granted, I have always been thin but have never been tone or muscular in the slightest bit. I feel stronger, more self-confident and can once again wave at the garbage man or mail carrier without worrying about the back of my arm flapping around. The trainers have all been exceptional and I have enjoyed getting to know the other members at the studio. I highly recommend IMX Pilates and couldn't be happier with my decision to join. I truly look forward to working out now- I can't believe it!