Congratulations to Saskatoon Pilates, Your Trusted Saskatoon Pilates Studio For 10 Years

29. Aug 2023 Trusted Saskatoon

TRUSTED SASKATOON RECOGNIZES OUR PARTNERS WHO HAVE BEEN TRUSTED FOR OVER 10 YEARS!

In this series of articles, we continue to shine a bright spotlight on the businesses that have been Trusted Saskatoon partners for over 10 years. This year, we recognize the Trusted Saskatoon Partners that joined us in 2013. We want to thank them for TRUSTING our team, and we are identifying each of them individually for providing 10 years of OUTSTANDING service to the citizens of Saskatoon and the surrounding area! The latest article celebrates and recognizes Saskatoon Pilates and its owner, Kathy Bond!

Celebrating 10 years of trust and 25 Years of Pilates Excellence: The Inspiring Journey of Saskatoon Pilates and Owner Kathy Bond.

2023 has been a big year for Kathy Bond, founder of Saskatoon Pilates, one of Saskatoon’s most beloved wellness establishments, reaching an incredible milestone - 25 years of shaping bodies and transforming lives through the art of Pilates. This anniversary marks a quarter-century of dedication to health and well-being, and we celebrate the studio moving to a beautiful and modern new location. We also are thrilled to commemorate a decade of distinction and integrity as a Trusted Saskatoon Partner.

At the heart of this enduring success story is the indomitable spirit of its owner, Kathy Bond, whose journey has been nothing short of inspiring.

It may surprise you to know that Kathy was close to closing the business and retiring in 2022. COVID was particularly difficult for the fitness and wellness sector; they were hit with lengthy restrictions. Kathy shared that 'safe class sizes' simply didn't pay the bills. We are so grateful that a combination of fate and Kathy's well-known grit and determination combined to provide an opportunity for the business to evolve and endure!

Saskatoon Pilates is a household name in Saskatoon, and it is synonymous with fitness, flexibility, and holistic wellness. Founded in 1998 by the visionary Kathy Bond, it started with humble beginnings as a small studio with a big dream - to introduce the people of Saskatoon & Regina to the transformative power of Pilates. At a time when Pilates was relatively unknown in the region, Kathy's dedication to spreading awareness about this unique fitness discipline laid the foundation for what would become an iconic institution.

Over the years, Saskatoon Pilates has established itself as more than just a fitness studio; it's a community hub where individuals come to rejuvenate their bodies, minds, and spirits. The studio's emphasis on personalized attention, expert instruction, and a nurturing environment has allowed clients to experience the true essence of Pilates. With a range of classes catering to various skill levels and needs, Saskatoon Pilates has become a place where people of all ages and backgrounds can embark on a journey of self-discovery and transformation.

Kathy Bond: A Trailblazer in Wellness

At the heart of Saskatoon Pilates' success story is Kathy Bond, a trailblazer whose passion for Pilates and unwavering commitment to her clients have driven the studio's evolution. With a background in dance and a deep understanding of human movement, Kathy's approach to Pilates goes beyond just exercise - it's a holistic philosophy that promotes balance, alignment, and well-being.

Kathy's journey in the world of Pilates is a testament to her dedication and resilience. She has shown remarkable leadership, from introducing Saskatoon residents to the benefits of Pilates to overcoming challenges and embracing innovation. Her ability to adapt to changing times while staying true to the core principles of Pilates has been instrumental in shaping the studio's legacy…. In 2012, she added TRX classes; in 2015, Fascia Release was offered; Essentrics was added in 2022.

As the studio in Saskatoon grew, Kathy needed more teachers, and so began the Teacher Training programs.

A Decade of Trusted Partnership

In 2013, Saskatoon Pilates was nominated and passed the verification to become a Trusted Saskatoon Partner. This distinction, earned through consistently exceptional service and client satisfaction, reaffirmed the studio's commitment to upholding the highest standards in the industry. For ten years, Kathy Bond and her team have upheld the 5 Trusted guarantees with ease, and they have provided a safe and welcoming space for individuals seeking physical wellness, mental clarity, and a sense of belonging.

What Saskatoon Pilates Clients Say...

" I have taken Pilates from the owner, Kathy Bond, since she started coming to Regina in Jan. 2000. She taught 6 week mat classes at Fieldhouse for 2 1/2 years.
In 2002, she hosted a Pilates Mat Instructor Training.
Not only was this the beginning of a whole new career for me but I am happy to say that I have kept Kathy as my mentor. I have been able to continue building my Pilates repetoire.
At the age of almost 52 I was able to complete the Advanced Level training with some modifications due to MVA injuries.
Many of the woman I know who took those classes with Kathy (2000 - 2002) have become Pilates instructors. I take classes at other studios & thoroughly enjoy the instructors. I'm just kinda of hung up on Kathy. She brought Pilates to Saskatchewan. " - Karen Freitag

" Kathy Bond is truly the pilates expert in this city. She is so inspirationall and is in better shape then most of us. If anyone is having back problems, or you just want to stay flexible, book with Saskatoon Pillates. She solved my chronic back problem after years of suffering. " - Leanna Keyes

A Message From Kathy About What It Means To Be Trusted

I am so proud to be a Trusted Saskatoon partner for 10 years. Congratulations, Sara and your team, I know for certain that the Trusted Team really cares for the small local business that are the Trusted Partners! Being "trusted" holds immense significance for my business. Trust is the foundation upon which strong relationships are built, and it plays a pivotal role in shaping a business's reputation, success, and longevity. In the context of being a Trusted Saskatoon Partner, it signifies a seal of approval and endorsement from a reputable local organization, that highlights my business's commitment to reliability, quality, and ethical practices.

A word from Sara, the Trusted Saskatoon founder, about her personal experience with Kathy Bond and Saskatoon Pilates.

" I consider myself fortunate to call Kathy Bond a valued partner and a friend; she is a special lady who is passionate about Pilates and life in general! When I think about local business owners who embody what we seek at Trusted Saskatoon, Saskatoon Pilates is a beautiful example that is always top of mind! Kathy is simply an amazing human and a visit with her always brightens my day.
The way I see it, TRUST is about more than just offering decent products or services; it's about embodying values, building relationships, and consistently demonstrating integrity in all aspects of the business. Business owners like Kathy understand the importance of trust, and she actively works to cultivate it daily! Unsurprisingly, after 25 years in business, Saskatoon Pilates continues to thrive, creating lasting impacts within the health & wellness industry and the wider community. Congratulations, Kathy! The Trusted team is proud to promote and support you! "

Celebrating 25 Years and Beyond

As Saskatoon Pilates celebrates 25 years of excellence, the journey is far from over. With a gorgeous new location at #6 – 816 1st Ave N Saskatoon and a legacy built on passion, integrity and a deep-rooted commitment to well-being, Kathy Bond and her team are poised to continue transforming lives through the next chapter of their story. The studio's anniversary is a testament to the power of dedication, community, and the pursuit of a healthier, more fulfilling life.

Saskatoon Pilates' journey from its humble beginnings to its current status as a pillar of wellness in the community is a tale of resilience, inspiration, and the profound impact of dedicated community-minded individuals like Kathy Bond. As the studio marks 25 years of empowering people to achieve their best selves, it also looks ahead to a future filled with possibilities, continued growth, and the promise of transforming lives, one Pilates session at a time!

As they say at Saskatoon Pilates…

"EVERY BODY MATTERS!"

Read more about classes and see more reviews on their listing - Saskatoon Pilates is your Trusted Saskatoon Pilates Studio

Trusted Saskatoon Pilates Experts at Saskatoon Pilates Center Now Offers Core Dynamics Teacher Training.

13. Sep 2019 Ally Saskatoon Fitness & Gyms, Saskatoon Health & Wellness, Saskatoon Pilates, Trusted Tips

Saskatoon Pilates Centre is Saskatchewan’s premier Pilates Centre– the largest and most fully-equipped Pilates studio in the province. Saskatoon Pilates Centre is your Trusted Saskatoon pilates studio.

Saskatoon Pilates Now Offers Core Dynamics Pilates Teacher Training Program

Kathy Bond, award winning founder of Saskatoon Pilates, shares information in their latest article about the Pilates Teacher training offered by Saskatoon Pilates, and specifically why she has chosen to work with Core Dynamics.

Core Dynamics Pilates Teacher Training program places its focus on developing trainees to embody the Pilates method, understand human movement as well to teach the Pilates method correctly to a wide variety of clientele versus just teaching the exercises of leading classes. Core Dynamics offers a unique ‘boutique’ program based on historical Pilates, with small class sizes, individual attention, mentorship experiences and a select group of highly qualified educators and affiliates. Core Dynamics is the approach to Pilates teaching that was created by Eve Gentry and developed by Michele Larsson.

"I have now been teaching Pilates for 20 years and have worked with several “elders” in the Pilates world. Ron Fletcher, Kathy Grant, Mary Bowen, Lolita San Miguel and several of their protegees, plus second-generation teachers like Dianne Miller, Alan Herdman, Gillian Hessel, and Elizabeth Larkham. I did not personally work with Eve Gentry but was introduced to her work through Michele Larsson and this is the one that resonated most with me.
Eve was a professional dancer who worked with Joseph Pilates and with his guidance was able to fully recover from a radical mastectomy.
When Eve moved to Santa Fe, she started working with compromised bodies that were not able to do a full Pilates program and thus began the Fundamentals that we use as the basis for all of our clients and programs. I did try other teacher training programs, which were good, but none of them gave the same in-depth training that Core Dynamics gave." Kathy Bond, Owner Saskatoon Pilates

A History Of Excellence

In 2005 Saskatoon Pilates became a mentoring studio for Core Dynamics and trained 8 comprehensive teachers as an affiliate Since becoming the Canadian trainer, I have trained 4 comprehensive and 1 mat teacher, with 2 teachers ready to finalize their comprehensive certification. With the new Pilates designation of Nationally Certified Pilates Teacher (NCPT) through the Pilates Method Alliance, it becomes imperative that the quality of teacher training programs has national recognition. Core Dynamics has that! The team at Saskatoon Pilates are responsible for keeping our clients safe and that we are recognized as professional movement educators.

Let Saskatoon Pilates Centre Trusted Saskatoon Pilates experts help you find that “zest and pleasure”!

Trusted Sara's Trusted Saskatoon 2018 Fitness Focus Challenge -Week Four -Nothing to see here

11. Jun 2018 Trusted Saskatoon Saskatoon Fitness & Gyms, Saskatoon Health & Wellness, Trusted Tips

Trusted Saskatoon owner and founder Sara Wheelwright recently accepted a fitness challenge from the excellent team at Trusted Saskatoon gym Fitness Focus. Over the next few months, you can follow along on her fitness journey as she blogs and video journals her motivations, successes, failures, frustration and her pain as she struggles to get fit and fabulous in her forties!

Fitness Focus Challenge -Week Four- Sara Fell Off The Fitness Wagon...HARD.

Well, it happened ....what happened?

LIFE, Life happened.

The biggest barrier to me starting this fitness challenge before now, was my life is so hectic and often it sabotages my plans to prioritize myself. This has been the case so far in June. My last work out with Denise was May 31st and every time I have tried to go to the gym since then something has wrecked my plans.

I was on a cancellation list for the periodontist - and 2 appointments in 1 day came available so I had to take them, an unplanned business road trip to Manitoba robbed me of another 2 days, Trusted 7th-anniversary event, a family event in Regina, my son's school city track meet- one thing after another conspired to stop me moving. Then the events - with wine and food. Essentially taking 2 hours to go to the gym would have meant missing client deadlines or important family moments - and I wasn't getting to bed till at least 11 pm every night ( sometimes not getting in from work stuff till then).

Activity? What activity?

See my Fitbit for visual representation! I dropped from averaging over 75,000 steps a week to my ' old habits ' of just over 40,000. I did go paddleboarding and walking at the lake this weekend, fit in a bike ride with my kids last Sunday night and tried to walk the stairs ...but as you can see it wasn't enough.

Weigh-In

This, of course, means I didn't lose any weight, in fact, I put 1lb back on and I feel like 2 big steps back as my energy levels have dropped off.

I can't express to you how much I am disappointed in myself, as I should have cut back / modified my food ( and drink ) intake to accommodate my crazy schedules impact - but I also failed miserably at that too.

So I failed - this is when people normally quit ( and when I have before to be honest ), but I am not going to let this happen.

It happened, its done - now time to start over again!

I have booked 6 more Denise sessions, my first is on Wednesday- I am going to go to the gym at least 5 days this week and will be sticking to salads and shakes for the foreseeable future.

ROUNDUP

Postive of week 3-4

I ONLY gained 1.LB back.
I was able to be there all day to see my son compete at track and field ( he was awesome)
Trusted had an amazing 7th-anniversary event- my clients are amazing and all the extra work / long hours has resulted in lots of new contracts/work for the team.

Negatives from week 1

Too many to mention.

Week 3 goals

1. Eat salads and drink less ( I see a theme here )

2. Take the 5 flights of stairs to the office instead of the elevator.

3. Increase Cardio on all days - I need to speed up the fat burn.

4. Go to bed earlier!

Wish me luck.

Trusted Sara's Trusted Saskatoon 2018 Fitness Focus Challenge - The Kick Off

6. May 2018 Trusted Saskatoon Saskatoon Fitness & Gyms, Trusted Tips

Sara's Fitness Focus Motivations.

The first warm day of Spring in Saskatoon brings out hordes of people. They swarm the sidewalks, parks and river trails on bikes, roller blades, or just on foot. It is the Saskatoon way of saying good riddance to a long cold winter. We all celebrate the arrival of warm weather and look forward to a glorious Saskatchewan summer of decks, lakes, fireside sing songs and other outside activities. We live in a weird place, this April I saw people sunbathing on the downtown beaches as chunks of ice floated by on the Saskatchewan River. When the warm weather arrives, Saskachewanians dust off Summer wardrobe and pack away our big bulky coats and winter boots. In fact, we try to completely forget that Winter and the minus 40's are inevitably coming back again in 7 months or so. The shorts, summer dresses and bikinis are pulled out, and the weight we put on over winter starts dropping off as we move around more. Although for me, I've been gradually losing Summer clothing options, the stuff I have that I like got tighter each year and then most just didn't fit, so for the last two years or so I have been resigned to buying larger roomier items that feel comfortable in public.

I was always pretty trim, and before I started Trusted in 2011 I was at the gym three times a week and felt great( the pic below is - just over seven years ago... I had abs!). If I put on 5lb or so on in the Winter, I lost it pretty quickly, and I was never concerned about my weight or my health. So what changed??

In April 2011 I left my fulltime job and took the risk of following my dream to start Trustedsaskatoon.com. Not long after this, I cancelled my gym membership.

I did this for two reasons:

1. To save money. My income was much lower as a new business owner, my life savings and every spare $ went back into the company.

2. I couldn't justify the time. As a single Mom with three young children and new business to grow I felt I had to put 100% focus on those 2 areas- so my needs came last.

Now I realize that was a huge mistake. My sedentary entrepreneurial lifestyle combined with getting older ( I turned 40 in 2014) and my love of wine and good food has caught up with me. I have put on 30lb, have aches I never had, sleep is more fitful, and my ability to handle stress has most definitely been affected. In 2015 I had an attack of shingles, and it has happened a few times since (that's a huge indicator that my body's immune system is weak). On top of that, I feel I have aged in the last six months, and this is not what I want for myself or my future, so I have decided to take on the challenge and make the change.

There is nothing more motivational than making a goal public, it doesn't get more accountable than that! The team at Fitness Focus had brought up the idea of a fitness journal blog last year, I wasn't ready then, but I am now.

I met with the fantastic Denise Kominetsky from Team Warwyk- who are the personal trainers based out of Fitness Focus, she asked me to fill out a questionnaire and send pictures, and today ( May 6th, 2018 ) I had my first personal training session. I know this is NOT going to be easy, so we have several goals for the next 12 months. I am going on vacation to the UK to visit family at the end of July, so my first goal is to fit in the clothes I want to take with me!

Check out my first video below and follow my journey as I pursue a new lifestyle of health and fitness. Thanks must go to Fitness Focus and their dedicated team of personal trainers!

Find Out More about Fitness Focus:

Saskatoon Pilates Centre your Trusted Saskatoon Pilates experts share a tip

2. Mar 2015 trusted Saskatoon Fitness & Gyms, Saskatoon Health & Wellness, Trusted Tips

Saskatchewan’s premiere Pilates Centre– the largest and most fully-equipped Pilates studio in the province. Saskatoon Pilates Centre continues to provide top quality classes with the most experienced and dedicated teachers helping you to experience the integrity of the Pilates exercises integrating body and mind for everyday living. Sounds great, doesn’t it?

Trust The Experience!

Saskatoon Pilates Are Trusted Saskatoon Pilates Experts

Here Kathy shares a tip on her Continued Education:

Every year Kathy attends this conference and returns recharged and reconnected with her Pilates colleagues and peers!

Continuing Education

-Requirements:

PMA certification is valid for 2 years. The PMA requires all PMA Certified Pilates Teachers to earn 16 PMA approved CECs (1 hour = 1 CEC) in order to renew certification at the end of their two year term.

Rationale:

As stated in the PMA Code of Ethics, PMA-certified professionals agree to continue gaining education to enhance their skills and knowledge, and to provide the highest quality services to clients.

First and foremost, the purpose of continuing education is for the protection of the public. Continuing education that advances knowledge, skills, and abilities, supports the Pilates professional in providing safe and effective instruction.

Secondly, given the dynamic nature of the Pilates industry, it is imperative for Pilates professionals to go beyond entry-level and embrace the cutting edge of scientific understanding and validation of the Pilates Method; to stay abreast of the development in the field in order to stay competitive; and to broaden their skill set with a variety of approaches including training beyond the Pilates paradigm in order to enhance their capacity to work with a variety of clients including special populations.

“You only have one body and you deserve the best.” Kathy Bond

Trusted Tips & Resources

Congratulations to Saskatoon Pilates, Your Trusted Saskatoon Pilates Studio For 10 Years

Celebrating 10 years of trust and 25 Years of Pilates Excellence: The Inspiring Journey of Saskatoon Pilates and Owner Kathy Bond.