Escape Pilates Studio, Costa Mesa

The instructors at Escape Pilates Studio boast a diverse range of skills and experiences from playing collegiate water polo to earning degrees in kinesiology and biology but all share an abiding passion and studied expertise in Pilates. They practice the method of Pilates developed by Joseph Pilates, which was designed to rehabilitate those suffering from spinal injuries. With these principles in mind, their courses present an achievable challenge for students of any fitness level, ranging from those recovering from an injury to robust athletes. Escape Pilates's homey studio, which is characterized by plants, dark-wood accents, and ample sunlight, is chock-full of Pilates Reformer machines—a system of pulleys and weights designed to add resistance to workouts without straining the joints. Here, instructors lead small-group classes, semiprivate sessions with up to three students, and private sessions, for those who would like a dose of personal attention more concentrated than teatime with grandma.