New Businesses: Pilates Studio Flexes in Woodmere

Elementary school teacher turned pilates instructor Karen Riccio has brought her years of experience with the core building exercises to her new studio in Woodmere, Pilates Physique, which opened a few weeks ago on Broadway.

Riccio, of Rockville Centre, assures that she can teach pilates to kids and adults — her youngest client was nine while her oldest is 82 — with zero to varying fitness experience. She said that there are thousands of exercises in pilates, and those can change depending on whether participants are simply on a mat or using a piece of equipment.

“With working out, you have to change it up or the muscles remember what you’re doing,” she said. “In pilates, you’re constantly moving from one exercise to the next. When you move that onto the equipment, you get a completely different workout.”

Pilates Physique, at 1015 Broadway, offers small classes ranging in price from $24 to $35 each or discounted packs of five or more. Private sessions are available starting at $75. Classes include mat and barre (small amount of equipment); reformer, tower, circuit and jumpboard (large apparatus); and stretch/tone/core, TRX and BOSU (small apparatus).

Riccio came into fitness instruction by happenstance. She had been working out at a gym and noticed that space was available for rent. When she suggested to the gym’s owner that he offer a pilates class, he told Riccio that she should do it.

“[My partner and I] looked into it, went to school, got certified and opened the studio,” she said. “I had been doing [pilates] once a week and went full force into opening.”

Her partner, Geannine Milo, of Oceanside, suggested opening another studio. Riccio said she decided to open in Woodmere because she grew up in the area and knows the clientele.

Cheryl Paris, a Rockville Centre resident, walked away impressed after her first session.

“Karen is amazing, patient and energetic with a beautiful studio that’s calm and serene,” Paris said.

Riccio said she has taught pilates to a New York Rangers player as well as Olympic track athletes, adding that pilates has a lot to offer to people who are already fit.

“[Pilates] is a mentality because you have to match your breath to what you’re doing. We’re always moving,” she said. “You have to think a lot during pilates. It’s so much all at once.”