Frequently Asked Questions

We recommend wearing comfortable, form-fighting athletic apparel to promote maximum range and allow the Pilates teachers to see how your body moves. Some poses may require upside-down stances, which baggier clothing may not be conducive to. We recommend grippy socks, but bare feet are OK. Don’t forget a water bottle! (But if you do, we have water here.)

As a small, owner-operated studio, we recognize we may cost more than surrounding chains or franchises. We pride ourselves on intimate class sizes, top-of-the-line equipment, and personalized attention from expert teachers. Our classes start at $20–35 apiece. Private lessons are $85, semi-privates (up to 6 people) are $40 per person, and duets (two people) are $50 per person. We do offer 5- and 10-packs, which lowers the cost per session. View more on our pricing page.

Prairie View Pilates is located in Oswego, Illinois. If you’re looking for expert-led Pilates in Naperville, Plainfield, Yorkville, Aurora or anywhere in the Western Chicagoland region, you’ll be in good company here! We’ll make it worth the drive, we promise.

Classical Pilates is Pilates as intended by its creator and namesake, Joseph Pilates. It’s a disciplined practice marked by a fluid sequence of movements and a focus on breath, control, and strength. No class is quite like the other, with our expert teachers taking care to adapt the flow and sequence to the skill level and limitations of practitioners. Becoming a Classical Pilates teacher requires a rigorous training program and a minimum of 600 hours of training/apprenticing. While there are many options to choose from these days, much of contemporary Pilates offerings are infused with other disciplines, straying from the original methods and principles. 

We make it easy to book our Pilates classes using the Mindbody app, available for iPhone and Android phones. You can also use the desktop version if you’d prefer. Check out our schedule page for an up-to-date class calendar and to reserve your spot.

Whether you’re new to Pilates or just new to our Pilates studio, we encourage you to start off with a private session. If you would prefer to jump right into group classes, we recommend Pilates Mat, Beginner/Intermediate Reformer, or a Tower class. Learn more about our different offerings.

A private session will allow us to get familiar with your strengths, level, and any injuries we may need to accommodate. You’ll also be able to check out our studio and learn more about the various apparatus so that you’ll be ready and more confident for your first group class.

Mat Pilates harnesses Pilates fundamentals while leveraging body weight and simple props, such as resistance bands, Magic Circles, and stability balls. Equipment Pilates supports exercises by adding spring-loaded resistance for arms and legs, as well as straps and pulleys that allow for a much larger range of motion and complexity. They are both wonderful workouts, and we recommend mixing it up!

It can be easy to conflate the two, but Pilates and yoga are quite different. They are both low-impact and emphasize breathwork, but Pilates movements are dissimilar to yoga poses, and tend to be more fluid than static. There is also a large spiritual component of yoga that is absent in Pilates. Perhaps the best way to understand the difference is to understand their origins: Pilates was created by Joseph Pilates to keep his mind and body in tip-top shape during his time in a World War I internment camp. Yoga is over 5,000 years old, closely tied to Hinduism and Buddhism, and has a deep emphasis on meditation, energies, and mental stillness and acuity. Modern yoga as exercise took off in the late 20th century, giving way to many variations and versions.

Practitioners 16+ years of age are welcome to join our open classes. We also offer private group sessions for teens and kids as young as 8 when you coordinate with the studio. Many young athletes and dancers have found Pilates to improve their strength, flexibility, and balance. We require parental consent on our waiver for those under 18. 

Our group classes are small and have practitioners from all ages and backgrounds. Your teacher will cue the class and individuals as needed, and offer available modifications – please share any injuries or concerns with your teacher at the beginning of class. Expect some light verbal and physical adjustments to ensure your safety and workout effectiveness. Because of our small class sizes, we can help you seamlessly set up equipment if you need. You can also expect a lot of fun – we take Pilates seriously, but we always have a good time.

Yes! Please contact us via email.