About Us
Hi, my name is Laura Schoene (she/her) and I’m the owner of and lead instructor for Keystone Pilates.
In 2008, I had a lower back injury that was relentless, and after many missteps I came across pilates. By working one on one with a trusted teacher and mentor, I learned to heal and manage that injury so that I could get back to exercise and playing in the outdoors. I was so inspired by the process that in 2017 I pursued a 12 month Comprehensive Pilates Instructor Training Program through Streamline Pilates in Salt Lake City. I am trained in all pilates apparatuses, and while my training is more Classically based, I have found it imperative to integrate principles of physical therapy and functional movement in my teaching. This has helped me stay active while I chase my kids and husband in the mountains, as well as give me the tools to help my clients reach their own movement goals, no matter how simple or grand.
What is Pilates?
Pilates is a low-impact, hands-on exercise form that uses mats and equipment to strengthen, align, and heal the body. By using springs and apparatuses, one can target specific, and often ignored, muscle groups as a means to restore balance in the body. Through balance comes strength and mobility.
It was first developed by Joseph Pilates, and refined while he was in a WWI British internment camp. He used available equipment (beds and springs) to heal his fellow prisoners’ injuries through stretching and core strengthening. He honed his philosophy in NYC, famously working with the best ballerinas in the world to help them recover from their injuries. It is now practiced worldwide, with numerous subgenres, utilizing apparatuses including the “Cadillac,” the “Reformer,” the "Chair,” and many others.
What is Keystone Pilates?
Keystone Pilates is inspired by Joseph Pilates’ famous quote “Change happens through movement, and movement heals.” The body is built to move, but the rigors and habits of modern life can impede our ability to reach our bodies’ potential. Pilates is a movement tool that can be used to strengthen, stretch, and align as a means to help you achieve your movement goals. At Keystone, we heal and we grow. We do this through connecting the power of the mind with the strength of the body. It can be rigorous, as well as relaxing; grounding, as well as uplifting. As Joseph Pilates said, “The mind, when housed within a healthful body, possesses a glorious sense of power.” We aim to unlock this.
Who is Pilates for?
Everyone! Pilates is a highly adaptable tool. It is used by: world-class athletes preventing injury, post-partum moms regaining core strength, retirees working on hip mobility, workers getting in a sweat during their lunch break, people coming off physical therapy or recovering from an injury, those whose movements are limited by chronic pain, and anyone else you can think of. If you have a body, Keystone Pilates is for you!
What’s in a Name?
At Keystone, we are inspired daily by the natural world. A keystone species is a particular species upon which other organisms within its ecosystem greatly depend, and if its health were compromised the whole ecosystem would suffer drastically. Our bodies function similarly in that injuries or weakness to certain structures can upset the whole body’s ability to function smoothly. We will work with you to identify your “keystone movements” to help restore and maintain balance in your body. No one’s body works perfectly, and pilates is the perfect tool to integrate targeted movement exercises to restore balance in your body, just as nature intended.