“What a difference Studio Elan (and Missy) have made in my life! I've been doing Pilates on and off for around 15 years. I've been to numerous studios and worked with lots of instructors (some better than others), but Missy is extraordinary in her knowledge of what's the right way to address every client's specific needs. I've had back surgery, deteriorating discs, scoliosis, and a broken arm and elbow. Not only are there Pilates exercises I can't do, but there are also exercises that I shouldn't do and Missy knows exactly how to work with my limitations. Her visualizations on how to isolate muscle groups/what to feel are the best. I never thought that the cue of standing on a pencil eraser would help correct how I stand on the arch of my foot, but it does. Missy's knowledgeable, compassionate, funny and she's not timid about calling me out when I'm not giving it my all. Love this studio; love this instructor!”

— Abby K.

I have worked with Anita since 2018, first starting with her after having suffered pain and mobility issues in my lower back and sacrum for several months. Through steady work with Pilates and Body Fix methods, Anita has helped me recover most of my previous abilities with diminished pain and I am forever grateful!  Anita has extensive knowledge in many body work methods and she applies whatever is best for the moment at hand. I truly appreciate that she is kind, conscientious and inspiring as well as a problem solver. We continue to work together with Pilates sessions in the lovely space of Elan Pilates. I leave feeling better and stronger after each session!

— Mari B.

“If you are looking for an instructor that will care about you and customize your workouts for what you need that day, Missy Hughes at Elan Pilates is the instructor for you. I swear she has X-ray vision and can see your muscles and joints moving with your every movement. You will get to know your abs and convince them to participate in your daily activities along with other lazy muscle groups that have been slacking for years while your poor neck and back have been doing all the work. Oh, you will also learn what hip flexors are and love how it feels to stretch them out!”

— Susan D.

I have the privilege of training with an exceptional Pilates instructor, Anita for the past five years. Her knowledge and expertise in Pilates is truly remarkable. Anita not only possesses a deep understanding of the principles and techniques of Pilates but also has an incredible ability to convey this knowledge to me. Under Anita’s guidance, I have experienced significant improvements in my flexibility, strength, and overall well-being. What sets Anita apart is her ability to adapt to my individual needs and limitations. She has not only transformed my physical fitness but also my understanding and appreciation of the practice. Thank you, Anita, for your expertise and commitment to helping me achieve my fitness goals.

— Paddi S.

“I came to Missy 6 years ago with chronic back pain that left me pretty much debilitated from doing anything outside a narrow comfort zone (and I was only 30 years old!). I had just moved from NYC where I invested so much time and money in pilates, physical therapy and manual therapy. When I came to Missy I was so caught up in the cycles of pain and in trying to find the best way to solve it, that I was super cautious about doing almost anything with a new instructor. Missy quickly showed me that she was deeply qualified to address my challenges, and she also pushed me to grow stronger and have more confidence in my body. Six years later, she has taken me through two pain-free pregnancies and my life has changed. I am so much stronger, and no longer afraid to move. I can carry my kids around and live my life normally. I really have Missy to thank-- both for her knowledge and ability to understand my body and what I needed to get stronger; and because she gave me the confidence to be able to move without fear.”

— Julie G.

Anita is a master at assessing each client’s individual strengths and needs. Over the past five years, she has not only helped me improve my strength and conditioning, she has also helped treat my neck and back pain through Bodyfix Method and Pilates. Anita is the perfect professional for anyone looking to improve their core strength and decrease chronic pain.

— Elaine W.

“I have been in fitness most of my life, but pilates has been an awakening and a lifelong investment in understanding the body and mind connection. Many days when I have been more sedentary—working on the computer, driving, studying—pilates has been the perfect remedy for the resulting aches and pains. Relief is provided through stretching my spine, releasing muscle tightness, supporting proper body mechanics, and increasing concentration through working the muscles with precision and control. Since working with Missy over the past two years, i have enjoyed: removal of prescribed orthotics in my shoes, healing of various knee and ankle injuries, elimination of bone spurs, removal of lower back pain, substantially improved posture, increased muscle awareness and toning and weight loss in the core section of my body. I highly recommend this practice in your fitness regimen. Once you experience pilates and become committed to this practice, you will be enriched with many lifelong benefits to the improvement of your physical and emotional well-being.”

— Rosemary M.

Anita , with whom I’ve done Pilates for 5 years, is in a class of her own; talented, knowledgeable, very smart and sympathetic She has developed a custom program, for me, to address my back pain, walking challenges, and nerve damage.   Go with Anita and your search for the best Pilates instructor is over.

— Bob C.

“I started pilates because I heard that it was an excellent approach to building a strong and balanced body which would keep me healthy, flexible, and injury free. My goal was to learn a new form of exercise and to see if I could change my pattern of nagging injuries from training. I noticed a much stronger core and balanced body with no one muscle group overtaking another which contributes to injury. I also built more coordination than I ever had before. I could see results from the training within the first four weeks in terms of coordination and fluidity of movement. I also noticed that I could perform strength type movements through body control that I couldn't imagine doing when I began. I also reduced the number of trips to the chiropractor to try to alleviate pain in my neck. through proper alignment during pilates movements I found that I wasn't straining my neck and causing neck stress. I complimented my pilates with weight training and aerobic training but I used what I learned in pilates to alter my weight training technique and avoided the injuries of the past. I could use less weight in my work out but achieve as good or better results. Pilates is a great way to improve body awareness and balance. I think it promotes a very healthy body which starts with core strength and moves outward from there. it is something that gives you immediate feedback in terms of your ongoing improvement and proficiency; however, you are contributing to your health and well being every step of the way no matter what level you are. I have experienced other pilates instructors and understand the value of a well trained instructor who continues to learn and grow through ongoing classes. Missy is interested in studying other areas of health and rehabilitation and uses that knowledge with her clients. Her first priority is to train safely for health and a strong body. She understands which movements suit her individual clients the best. I have total trust in her knowledge, experience, and ongoing learning approach which she uses to continuously grow. She pragmatically applies her own personal ongoing growth with her clients. I believe others are out there who put as much into their craft as Missy does but I think they are hard to find.”

— Gary C.

Anita is a learned practitioner of the body. Every session is a combination of her experience and education. Most important, every class is different, dictated by what my body needs that day. I’m always stronger and feel better after each private meeting.

— Edie T.

“I have been working with Missy for five years. She continues to impress me with her knowledge of Pilates, and specifically, how she focuses on the exercise needs I have in my fifties. Every workout is personally tailored to push me to be stronger, to be more flexible, and to have better awareness of my body as it moves. I have increased my muscle mass, and have experienced a reduction in hip and lower back pain. Recently, pilates was an integral part of my post ankle surgery physical therapy. Missy is warm, supportive, tough when she needs to be, fun, and most of all, patient.”

— Katherine M.

“Missy has an amazing talent for seeing and improving body alignment, through the Pilates Method. In her private one on one sessions Missy observes the bodies’ movement and knows how to verbally cue to make the exercise more effective. She has the ability to direct my mental focus to the area of the body that should be working, this has allowed my body to open in the hips, release in the hamstrings and align in the neck and spine. She takes her time with each exercise, through clear and specific verbal coaching. She ensures I am working the proper muscle groups to gain the most benefit out of each session. Her understanding of anatomy and movement allows her to individualize each session based on my needs, no two sessions are the same. Missy is able to draw upon exercises from various pilates schooling methods with multiple pieces of equipment, which allow the sessions to always stay new. She uses simple analogies, which help me to visualize the needed body movement. As a result of pilates, my posture has improved when sitting at the computer or standing. it's more comfortable to sit straight or stand tall vs. slumping. by naturally standing taller, my abdominal area appears leaner and smaller, I no longer have low back pain or tightness. I'm amazed at the muscle tone that has developed over my entire body and I don't feel sore or tight after my workouts. By exercising with Missy and the discipline of Pilates I feel I have the knowledge to exercise correctly and will prevent injuries, allowing me to stay in better shape as I get older. Missy continually works on her practice, actively seeking ways to broaden her understanding with workshops and continuing education to stay current and provide the most to her clients. She also has a network of peers she confers with to help her gain more insight when coaching and advising her own clients. Through the principles of Pilates Missy has taught me that "true strength" is experienced when our core or center is engaged. She has shown me how pilates can be integrated into my daily activities. I am aware of how I lift things, by not only bending my legs, but also stabilizing my shoulders. I am aware of how I sit while driving and when walking how my knee aligns with my foot to keep my hips aligned. I had severe neck and back tightness with chronic pain, and Missy worked with me for months to aid in the recovery. She selected exercises that strengthen other areas to prevent the injury from happening again and is continually customizing exercises to prevent a future flare up of my neck or shoulder. I feel an overall balance in my body and a feeling of muscle tone throughout. Others have also noticed a body transformation of becoming leaner and more toned due to my consistency with Pilates with Missy at Elan pilates studio.”

— Camille B.

“In the 10 years I've worked with Missy, I've experienced increased strength and stamina. I love her attention to detail. I can't get away with doing a simple movement less than perfectly – and I love her for that!”

— Cathy K.

“I have been a client of Elan Pilates for years. Pilates is the perfect addition to my walking routine. Walking is great but doesn’t work my upper body or address my tight hips and back issues. Missy my trainer always asks how I feel at the beginning of a session. This allows her to personalize my workout. I’m an Elan Pilates believer!”

— Liza B.