The Pilates Body Loft, Coppell

For three decades, owner Debbee Sharpe has worn many hats to help others discover the benefits of fitness. Her extensive resume includes stints as an aerobics instructor and physical-education staffer at Duke University, and appearances on ESPN2 and the Health Channel. She shifted her focus to Pilates, as she found that it improved her posture, strength, and overall attitude in life, which motivated her to share these benefits with others at her studio The Pilates Body Loft.

Her classes encompass Pilates standards, utilizing equipment such as mats, balls, and TRX suspension, but also veer off the beaten path into barefoot BeamFit classes—combining Pilates and gymnastics techniques. But Debbee's creativity shines brightest in her Mat to Saddle Pilates classes, in which riders apply Pilates principles—including core strength, balance, and control—on horseback to improve their riding skills and their connection with their trusty steed.

Private sessions are also available for those students that want personalized instruction or someone with whom to reenact Laurel and Hardy scenes.