Penelope Barrow Pilates

I have studied with Penelope for years, sometimes at her studios, sometimes via Skype and have nothing but the utmost respect for her teaching skills and ethics. She is a true teacher--motivating and encouraging and always pushing you to your potential. During my years of study with her, I have given birth to two children, had knee surgery and a double mastectomy. At no point, has she ever made me feel poorly about myself. On the contrary, she has lifted me up emotionally and physically during my lowest points. I highly recommend her teaching. She is one of a kind and a treasure in her field.

Penelope is a highly skilled and motivating Pilates instructor who will get your body strong and healthy. She will make you want to work hard to achieve your goals. I highly recommend her!

I used to attend classes at Urban Body in Atlanta, a basic fitness studio with a range of yoga, pilates, and fitness classes. I attended pilates classes to get back in shape after the birth of my third child and a debilitating back injury. After attending classes for a couple of months, an instructor suggested I give a more advanced class a try.nnThe first advanced class I tried happened to be the last class Penelope Barrow of Penelope Barrow Pilates was teaching at Urban Body before moving to Asheville, and she was making a video of the class. It was an open class and one of many taught at the Urban Body. When the class ended, Penelope called me over to her and asked me why I had attended her class, told me I was not ready for it and had ruined her video because I was not as advanced as the others in the class, and finally said I needed to lose weight if I ever wanted to be good at pilates; I was about 20 pounds overweight at the time. I was so stunned that I said nothing, but have thought about this encounter over the years. You know, thinking about what I should and could have said to her and wondering if she treats everyone who doesn't fit her mold the way she had treated me. Also, thinking about how I could put this incident behind me.nnSo, here it is, what I should have said. Penelope, if you didn't want me to be in your last class and video, you should have explained that kindly to me before class, rather than trying to humiliate me after class. You have never met me and know nothing about who I am or what my goals and struggles are. Being so unkind to me is completely uncalled for and unnecessary.nnMy advice to you, Penelope, is - Put your ego aside and consider what in life is important. Practice compassion. Find out what it means to be a true teacher.