Pilates Comes to Bay St. Louis

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The Depot District's revitalization now includes the second location of the popular re|form, a studio offering Pilates & Barre training. 

 - story by Lisa Monti

Registered nurse-turned-entrepreneur Christina Pike has brought a new way of working out to the Depot District (132 Blaize Avenue) in Bay St. Louis.

re|form Pilates & Barre opened just after Labor Day in a renovated space formerly occupied by Benigno’s Bar and  transformed for Pilates and barre moves. 
 
It’s Pike’s second studio, building on the success of the Gulfport location she opened in January 2020. The number of clients signing up for Pilates in Gulfport grew quickly from five to nearly 100 and the idea for the second re|form location became a reality.
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Christina Pike

​Christina says that her team’s attention to detail in renovating the studio space at 132 Blaize Avenue has created an atmosphere that is “equal parts industrial and opulent,” retaining some of the historical charm of the building such as brick walls and the exposed rafters in the fourteen-foot tall ceiling.

​They also added refined elements such as elegant chandeliers and pendant lighting, gold-trimmed mirrors and new flooring, to create what she likes to call a “sweat sanctuary” where clients can tune out the world and focus on their own wellness.
 
re|form is staffed by local instructors Elizabeth Foster and Holly Turfitt. The small classes they and Christina teach offer “an intensely personalized boutique Pilates and barre experience, using mindful movement to optimize training and toning.”

​The studio is equipped with five specialized machines that offer just the right resistance during low impact Pilates workouts. The machines are described as the gold standard for elite Pilates studios across the country and provide strength, cardio and stretching. All those small movements can produce major results.
 
Christina says once a client gets used to being on the machine, the benefits of the Pilates movement follows. It doesn’t take long to get used to the equipment and being comfortable on it. “The biggest thing is learning how the machine moves,” she said. 
 
The barre classes offer an aerobic high intensity cardio workout with smaller weights and smaller movement exercises. The classes are designed for up to eight people.

​“What’s great about it is that all different levels and ages can take a class together and we can modify or intensify sessions depending on who we’ll be teaching,” she said. “Even people who have had back or neck surgery can do it.” 
 
Variety is a big part of re|form’s workouts, to keep things fresh and to motivate clients. “We change routines almost daily,” she said.
 
The barre and Pilates sessions are 45 minutes each, and Christina recommends clients complete two or three sessions a week to get a variety of workouts and maximize the benefits.

re|form is open daily by appointment and no membership is required. For a class schedule and pricing information go to www.reformbychristinapike.com.
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