The studio is now open for both online and in-person instruction! We are very excited to be open for in-person Reformer Classes, Privates, and Duets. Welcome back to the studio!
Sign up at the View Schedule button below, directly on your Mindbody app or email us to begin.
Customized Resistance Training for Every Body.
In our daily lives, we tend to be habitual in the way we use our bodies - sitting at the computer, driving the car, even sleeping. Many of us become off-balance which can eventually lead to discomfort.
At Novato Pilates, we strive to restore balance and strength as you move. Whether you use your body a lot, or would like to use it more, we are here to help.
We create a unique exercise and stretching program just for you based on an initial physical assessment and conversation. We offer private instruction and small group classes on the mat and reformer. We have a variety of certified trainers and classes to choose from. Our trainers are ready to help you post-surgically for shoulders, knees, and hips, and are also skilled with working with chronic pain.
We invite you to come be a part of our supportive community, some of whom have been coming here for over 15 years!
To our health!
Rose and Gretchen
What is Pilates?
Pilates is a blend of strength and flexibility exercises that engages the mind and conditions the entire body.
Pilates is a balanced approach to exercise in which no muscle group or joint is overworked, and your body develops the means to move as an efficient, holistic system in sport and in daily life.
Pilates serves as the foundation for other activities in life by training those elusive core muscles found deep in the pelvis and trunk.
Pilates is an effective way to improve the poor posture and improves your balance, coordination and alignment.
Pilates is for every body and is a gentle and safe way to reintroduce your body to movement after a long break from exercise, after an illness or surgery, or if you suffer from chronic pain or stiffness.
Scolio-Pilates®
Currently, the medical community manages scoliosis through observation, bracing, and surgery. When adding exercise to your regimen of scoliosis care, it is important to exercise in three dimensions because the scoliosis spine does not just curve to the right and left as it appears on an x-ray—it also twists and turns up, down, forward, and back. We offer exercises to lengthen your spine and remodel your muscles and connective tissues to hold your spine in a more neutral alignment. During your private sessions, we will work on elongation, breathing techniques, aligning the spine towards neutral, strengthening within neutral, and connective tissue stabilization. All exercises are tailored to your specific curves, so a recent x-ray of your spine and pelvis is helpful (but not required).
Please call or email us to set up a consultation to discuss your specific situation.
Private and semi-private duet sessions by appointment. Available for purchase in single, 5 or 10-packs.
Group Classes Available for purchase in single, 5, 10, 15 or 20-packs.
Our online system Mindbody is ready for you to use from anywhere you have access to a computer, phone, tablet/iPad or other device. You are able to view our schedule, sign up for classes, reschedule and make payment whenever it is convenient for you.
New to Novato Pilates? We offer special intro rates and packages to get you started, prepare your body and learn the apparatus. Give us a call.
Studio Policies
24-hour cancellation notice.
Instructor subject to change without prior notice.
Class length is 55 minutes.
Classes are pre-paid, sales are final. No refunds.
If you have serious injuries, please check with your physician before starting a new exercise program.
Instructor Bios
Gretchen Turzo is co-owner of Novato Pilates and is an ITT certified Master Pilates instructor who trained with some of the leading Pilates professionals in the Bay Area including Madeline Black, Jean Sullivan, Debra Schubert, Jorg Chabowski and Leah Putnam.
At a young age, Gretchen was a serious gymnast later moving on to dance, yoga, competitive sports and flying trapeze. She has found her calling as a Pilates and Movement instructor in the Bay Area.
Gretchen truly enjoys working with others as they learn mind-body awareness and integrated movement and use it to further their health and life endeavors. Since becoming a Mama, Gretchen has been working with Pregnant and Postpartum Mamas to strengthen and heal our mama bellies and bodies.
Rose Thomas is co-owner of Novato Pilates and has been a student of Pilates since 2002, earning certifications through San Francisco-based ITT Pilates in 2005 and 2008 (Madeline Black, Jean Sullivan, Debra Schubert, Jorge Chabowski, and Leah Putnam). She continued her studies and in 2013 earned her ITT Master Trainer certification with Jean Sullivan. Rose has advanced training in scoliosis, completing her Scolio-Pilates Practitioner certification in 2016 through a mentorship with Karina Thek. She recently attended a rehab series addressing asymmetries in the body with Jean-Claude West and is a certified MELT Method for hands and feet practitioner.
Rose believes in a team approach to healing, working collaboratively with clients of all ages and fitness levels, tailoring and custom-building each private session to address not only immediate/acute issues but long-term fitness and rehabilitation goals. With continuing education in myofascial release, Rose is able to incorporate releases into client sessions when stuck tissue prevents desired movement. She has experience working with clients post-surgically for shoulders, knees, hips, and feet (including total knee and hip replacement), and extensive experience working with clients with osteoporosis.
She is a keen observer and strives to provide clear cueing to help her clients connect with and strengthen their inner "sleeve" of spinal core, abdominal core, and breathing muscles. Rose's overall goal is to provide her clients with the tools and training to move confidently, freely, and pain-free in their day-to-day life.
Lydia Wirth comes to Novato Pilates with over 30 years of teaching experience. Her training, which began at San Francisco Ballet, later expanded to a full-time dance, choreography, and teaching career in New York City. After returning to the Bay Area she accepted a teaching position with Mercy High School San Francisco in the outside Performing Arts Program and continued to teach, choreograph, and perform. She had always known about Pilates, but didn't get involved until 2003, when she trained and finished a Polestar Pilates program under Elizabeth Larkam, an internationally recognized innovator of Pilates-evolved techniques. "I was like a fish to water," Lydia says, "and I just can't stop."
Janie Miklaunus completed her teacher training in Pilates with Madeline Black and Jean Sullivan through ITT, and is PMA-CPT certified. Janie continued her education by attending workshops with Jean Claude West, Eric Franklin and Elizabeth Larkam. She is also certified personal trainer through NASM.
As an instructor, Janie focuses on individuality in the study and practice of body awareness. Student growth is built upon each individual’s needs guiding them to reach their desired objectives, facilitating growth in strength, wellness and awareness. She is recognized as an innovative and creative teacher.
Janie attended the University of London, Laban Center for Movement and Dance and attained her BA in Dance and Drama. She has resided in the USA for the past 30 years showing great artistic versatility in her career ranging from choreography to movement awareness instruction.
Janie brought her background to Marin Theatre Company where she choreographed numerous classics for the Shakespeare Conservatory. Her artistic interests extend to American favorites and contemporary work including ethnic, jazz, modern dance and performance art. Her work in movement and body awareness progressed naturally to Pilates. Other interests include sailing, kayaking, hiking, and music. Janie remains active in the dance community.
Megan Titus was introduced to Pilates when she was a young dancer and has been an avid enthusiast ever since! She has a bachelor’s degree in dance and has been a certified ITT Pilates instructor for the past 15 years. Utilizing her background in choreography, she loves to find ways to hone her teaching style so movements flow seamlessly from one to the next. She appreciates that there is always more to learn about integrating Pilates principles, modifications, and the practical instruction of biomechanics into her teaching on the mat and apparatuses. Megan hopes her instruction will encourage others in their movement and health journey.
Rachel Steinberg is an ITT Pilates continuing education trainee. After doing her original Pilates training, she wanted a better knowledge of anatomy and it's relationship to movement. She’s been studying with the leading Pilates professionals in the Bay Area including Jean Sullivan, Margaret Tappan, Ashley Belden, Gretchen Turzo and Rose Thomas.
Rachel teaches Lagree Pilates in San Francisco. She is also TRX certified.
Growing up, Rachel was very active in musical theatre. She was more into acting than dance however she trained for many years in jazz, contemporary and tap. Though Rachel spent the last 16 years as a marketing professional working for some of the most well-known companies in the world, she decided to make a career pivot. Rachel looked to what brought her meaning and joy. She’s been focused on her Pilates practice and teachings and looks forward to growing as a professional. Mobility, strength, alignment and listening to your body are core to her teachings.
Sharman Maher
trained to a professional level of ballet, teaching for 15 years. She has a strong background in the medical field as an x-ray technician and medical administrator and has worked in sports medicine and orthopedic offices. With her love of dance and studying Pilates for years, Sharman decided to combine all by becoming certified through Pilates Academy International in New York.
Sharman’s goal is to bring a strong mastery of dance, functional anatomy, biomechanics and Pilates exercise repertoire to all levels of fitness. She wishes to inspire and motivate students to discover healthier movement patterns and more freedom for all body types and fitness levels. This can be achieved by using the Pilates principles to seek a balance in training with a creative, positive and fun atmosphere.
Sharman has advanced training in scoliosis through Scolio-Pilates® with Karena Thek. She has also delved more deeply into understanding hip and spine functionality through studies with Kuan Hui-Chew and Madeline Black.
Kathy Lou Kronenberger discovered Pilates in 2005 while recuperating from a back injury. It was no less than miraculous. After experiencing pain for over 5 years, she was able to regain the strength she’d lost and start doing the activities she’d always enjoyed doing.
Pilates changed her life so much she decided to become an instructor and eventually purchased the studio where she started as a client. Pilates has become her life path and she loves helping people. She recommends Pilates to literally everyone, no matter their age or physical capabilities. Anyone can do it and it can change your life as it did hers.
Kelly Foster is an Integrated Teacher Training (ITT) certified Pilates instructor, trained by Jean Sullivan, Fran Sholly and Margaret Tappan. As an instructor, Kelly meets her clients where they are and strives to motivate them to achieve and exceed their goals. Kelly continues to deepen her knowledge of Pilates working with colleagues Rose Thomas and Gretchen Turzo at Novato Pilates.
Kelly has always been involved in athletics, whether competitive sports, movement and dance, yoga, hiking, or biking. After experiencing a knee injury, Kelly was introduced to Pilates and immediately began to feel the positive benefits. She was so moved by the results Kelly pursued a Pilates teaching certification to compliment her background and experience as an Institute for Integrated Nutrition (IIN) certified health coach.
Kelly says of her work in Pilates, “I am interested in the mind-body connection. I appreciate how life experiences affect our bodies and how we utilize and create space to influence healing.”
Continually inspired by the Novato Pilates community, Kelly looks forward to working with you in a group class, or one-on-one in individual sessions!
Bonus Videos
Stretchen' with Gretchen Enjoy a post mat class stretching cool down or do some stretches anytime it feels good! Releases for the wrists, shoulders, legs and glutes with a little twist.
Stretching with Rose - Chest Openers Release tight muscles in the chest and neck stemming from daily forward facing activities such as working on computers, phones and other devices or maybe just too much sitting! Improve posture and breath and feel better. Start with wrists then onto the muscles of the chest, neck and arms and finish with a simple strengthening exercise.
