Community Highlights: Meet Autumn Schlosser of CENTRE PILATES

Of course! Well, I’ve been a mover my whole life. Growing up movement was present through my parents; they were into mostly yoga and marathons. I guess you can say I had a pretty good understanding early on of how important moving your body was. It’s just what we did to feel good! My Pilates journey started with a referral during Physical Therapy. I think that’s when my curiosity sparked to learn more about my body. I came with loads of questions to every session. My PT suggested I take a pilates class and told me I’d find all the answers to my questions there, haha… and was absolutely right!

My first pilates experience was on the mat. So naturally, it’s where I feel most at home, even with all my fancy equipment I have in my studio today. It was also the first introduction to the Magic Circle. If ya know ya know! I had never felt so uncoordinated in my life, concentrating like never before, but also, I was truly having a blast rolling like a little ball on my mat, stretching my body with such intention. The entire class was moving in unison and the teacher gave the best directional cues, my mind was exhausted by the end of class. Pilates introduced me to a whole new experience moving my body. I remember feeling so happy yet confused because what was that?! Haha Pilates humbles you, that’s for sure! The anticipation I felt on my way to class after that is what hooked me. I was certain the class that day would be nothing I had done before, without a doubt challenging, but I just couldn’t get enough. To be honest, I still feel that way today doing pilates. I witnessed the uniqueness of pilates right away, it was mesmerizing. People really enjoy working muscles they never knew they had. But the absolute best part of doing Pilates is watching your body transform. Everything about your body feels tighter, taller, and stronger. Your muscles wrap around your bones, your posture improves, you feel confident, your chest is lifted, your shoulders aren’t slouched over, your neck is longer, and your balance improves. Most importantly, though, the center of your body becomes a freaking Powerhouse! It was shortly after that I decided to do my first teacher training in 2009. I do enjoy being a student; learning is what fuels my love for teaching. Sharing what I’ve learned with my students/clients and including them with me along the way is the good stuff for me.

In Pilates, no detail is ever overlooked, and no corners are ever cut. The details are what distinguish and elevate Pilates from every other form of fitness and the reason the method has been so effective through the generations. To the naked eye, an adjustment of a millimeter seems like nothing, but internally, where alignment is concerned and pain relief is achieved, a millimeter is exponential! It’s literally the difference between effective realigning movement and everything else. Classical Pilates has taught me to feel strong in my body and to preach the integrity of the work. Preserving the way Joseph Pilates taught his system of balancing/corrective exercises is important to me and my preferred style of teaching. Opening a studio of my own was always the goal, and the vision I had for CENTRE was to create a space that honored the classical style of Pilates. Tailored Private and Semi-Private lessons in a boutique studio designed for comfort and privacy to ensure one’s focus and concentration. A bright, open, airy space with floor-to-ceiling windows for you to get lost in work. Most of 2022, I was studio hunting; it was a daunting process. There was not enough light, no tall ceilings, no hardwood floors, no parking, etc. I started to feel that the studio I had wanted so badly, was being pushed away. March 2023, I was down with the flu stuck in bed and decided to start the ole search again, and that’s when I found the one. The space was everything on my list! I dove headfirst, signed the next 3 years of my life away, and picked up my keys June 1st.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
There’s definitely a learning curve! Haha The first 6 months feel like a blur, but I feel like I’m in a nice little flow at the moment. I feel lucky to have the strong support system that I do. Opening CENTRE has definitely kept me on my toes and moving nonstop. Entrepreneurship is not for the faint of hearts. Starting a business takes serious guts, grit, determination, perseverance, and sacrifice. Is it incredibly tough at times, has moments of deep self-doubt, long days/nights, and endless unpaid hours. It has taught me new levels of trusting myself and to ask for help. It has given me the freedom to explore my own practice and be the student I love to be—a place for self-reflection, creation, and connection with my clients and community. Regardless of what life throws my way, I love what I do, plain and simple. I love helping people transform their mind + bodies and hearing how Pilates has changed people’s quality of life. I believe Walking into your own business, pausing for a moment to look around, and knowing that it’s the result of all your hard work is the best feeling in the world! I wouldn’t trade any of it. I truly believe that if you love what you do, keep doing that, have fun along the way and trust that your time will come.

We’ve been impressed with CENTRE PILATES, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I’m a full-time Pilates instructor and the founder of CENTRE PILATES. CENTRE is a boutique studio in the heart of Hillcrest preserving the classical style of Pilates that offers private and semi-private lessons. I specialize in finding my clients’ learning style and quickly identifying physical strengths and weaknesses to curate a personalized regimen for achieving physical balance and strength. During lessons, you can expect a finely tuned, bespoke workout that lengthens, strengthens, and aligns. Fully equipped exclusively using GRATZ, the original manufacturer of Pilates apparatus and renowned for being true to Joseph Pilates vision.

The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you, and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
The challenges brought on by Covid-19 were unlike anything us movement practitioners could have anticipated. It transformed how I showed up as a teacher in the movement community, and I am proud of that. The pandemic opened up a unique time period for me to really hone in on my Pilates practice and deepen my connection to the work. During lockdown, I embraced the virtual world, attending as many classes and workshops online as I could, tapping into the endless amounts of knowledge shared by teachers I admired around the world. I found myself building a more refined and disciplined practice that filtered into me teaching private lessons and went all in purchasing my full studio equipment set up. The consistent physical and mental grounding became my anchor. I immersed myself further into the exercises and the method and discovered a deeper understanding that translated into more thoughtful choices for my clients. Teaching is a continual learning process, with my teachers and clients pushing me to think critically. The pandemic, while disruptive, managed to build unique connections and bring us together in unexpected and meaningful ways.