welcome to
BOWA is a San Diego Pilates studio born out of genuine love to guide you through movement that builds confidence, improves the quality of life, and is endlessly fun.
our story
When creating BOWA Pilates, I strived to invoke the beauty in doing the hard work, to make even the ‘simple’ movements sophisticated again, and to ensure I offered the highest quality, individual instruction to take on and off the mat.
I wanted to remind you all that less really is more, that quality of movement is important and that the body deserves to move, be worked, loved, and kept for many years to come.
So keep rediscovering your artistic side, working and sculpting the body into its own unique art form. I truly believe that every person is meant to move their body and hope BOWA inspires the beauty in doing the work.
Love,
ALANA X
welcome to body of work
Gratz | the original manufacturer of pilates apparatus
bowa is proud to be fully equipped with gratz equipment
Alana’s pilates Love letter
During a brief stint in San Francisco, Ca, I serendipitously discovered a Pilates studio down the street from my apartment. Having gone to a gym my entire life and being a self proclaimed meat head, Pilates was completely foreign. After one lesson I was hooked! My body moved in ways I never knew possible. From head to toe, Pilates cultivated a feeling of deep strength.
In 2015 I quit my job in tech, made a huge career pivot, and began my formal training with Rael Isacowitz at BASI Pilates. In 2016 I completed my 500 hour comprehensive certification and never looked back.
Since then, I was fortunate enough to experience authentic Pilates for the first time at S6 Pilates here in San Diego and have primarily honed my craft under the guidance of esteemed teachers, Chris Robinson, Mariano Dolagaray, and Angela Leone. Through lessons, workshops, and continued education with different masters of authentic Pilates, I’m persistently refining and broadening my skills in the classic repertoire.
I’ve devoted my life in pursuit of understanding the effect consistent and intentional movement has on the body, mind, and spirit. Physical fitness is tangible proof that time is the only thing between you and your goals.
The most consistent piece of advice received by those I’ve been fortunate to learn from is simple: Do the work. Do the work to learn, grow, and feel something new. Be a body of work.
See you on the mat.
Love, Alana X
Pilates FAQs
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Pilates is a mind-body method that requires core stability, strength, flexibility, muscle control, posture, and breathing. In Joseph Pilates’ book “Return to Life through Contrology”, his method is presented as the art of controlled movements, which should look and feel like a workout when properly manifested.
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Like any habit, Pilates should be an attainable addition to your lifestyle. Set yourself up for success with realistic goals that work for YOU. A daily Pilates practice is a great way to build a routine, feel the positive effects of consistent work, and see results.
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The Pilates Method is all about spinal mobility and strengthening the deep core stabilizer muscles. Prepare to move the body in all ranges of motion and feel muscles you’ve never felt before! Each session will consistently reinforce positive movement patterns to create length and space in the body.
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Yes! Pilates is one of the safest ways to work through pregnancy and injuries. “Control” is a main principle in Pilates, along with breath, mindfulness, centering, alignment, and precision. Practicing each of the above principles achieves Pilates' goal of an integrated mind-body workout.
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YES!! The inventor and creator of Pilates was a man. Joseph Pilates believed that the "modern" life-style, bad posture, and inefficient breathing lay at the roots of poor health. He ultimately devised a series of exercises and training techniques, and engineered all the equipment, specifications, and tuning required to teach his methods properly.
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Comfy athletic wear that won’t restrict movement. Please no jewelry or zippers as they can tear or scuff the vinyl.