Pilates for Every Body

St. Louis, MO native Jen Devine found Pilates at a young age. When her mother was diagnosed with arthritis, her physician recommended Pilates as a form of gentle movement that wouldn’t add stress to her joints. Her mother purchased Pilates DVDs, and Jen and her sister joined her. Jen immediately fell in love with the form of movement.

In 2008, Jen moved to Memphis with her husband. Jen decided to step back from her full-time job as a teacher and when considering part-time job opportunities, Pilates came to mind. Jen enrolled in instructor training and loved it. She has taught group classes and private sessions since 2010.

Joining Club Pilates

In July 2021, Club Pilates owner Tara Barnes reached out to Jen with the opportunity to become an instructor at Club Pilates. Tara, a trained physical therapist, opened her first location in East Memphis in 2016. Quickly finding eager clientele, Tara opened a Collierville location in 2018 and a Lakeland location in April 2021.

Jen now teaches at all three locations and is the lead instructor at the Lakeland studio. As the lead instructor, her main priority is to ensure the studio environment is healthy and safe. She completes equipment checks, provides continued learning opportunities for teachers, and much more.

Club Pilates offers a variety of classes for all levels. New clients are encouraged to take a free, 30-minute introduction class where instructors review the different equipment such as the mat and the reformer, and how to use them.

After completing the introduction class, clients may take a variety of classes with focuses on elements such as cardio, strength, and balance. Club Pilates offers free, monthly workshops to members, where they dive deeper into specialized classes such as prenatal modifications, Pilates for runners, and more.

Pilates Misconceptions

Jen explains, “There is a misconception around who Pilates is for, women with an established fitness regimen, but Pilates is for everyone. It’s for people who have lost mobility, athletes looking to decrease bodily imbalances, elderly people focused on longevity, and fitness lovers looking to increase their strength.”

“No matter your age or body type, it’s never too late to increase mobility and strength.” Jen continues. “Club Pilates wants all bodies to come to the studio. We are not cookie-cutter – we want everyone to feel great.”

Instructors work with clients to provide modifications for any ailments they experience. Jen says, “We aim to serve the community by offering healthful movement. The studio environment is so positive. Our clients become friends and support each other. They cheer on new students.”

Increasing Strength and Mobility

Club Pilates classes aim to increase mobility and strength. Classes are structured to benefit the full body, strengthen the core and large muscle groups, and increase movement in the limbs. “We teach students exercises that are transferrable to complete everyday movements like squats, getting up and standing, safely,” Jen says. “As a society, we tend to hunch at desks, over computers, or on our phones, which leads to imbalance. Imbalance can lead to injury, and we want to prevent that.”

Classes teach patterns to restore balance in the front and backside of the body, to create a healthy spine, and intentional breath techniques. Full inhales and exhales expand the lungs and help to decrease stress in the body.

Do Pilates Do Life

If you’re someone who’s intimidated to come to a class, Jen says, “Please come. You don’t need to worry about having the ‘right’ clothes, if you can or can’t touch your toes, or your fitness level. If you are interested in being here, we want you here.”

Painted on the wall of the studios is the quote, “Do Pilates do life.” Club Pilates aims to provide a path to a fuller, more satisfying physical existence. And most importantly, they want you to know you can start at any time.

For more information or to find a club near you visit

Clubpilates.com.

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Thank you.”

DJ – Grateful patient

When you’re admitted to the ICU with congestive heart failure and the beginnings of an autoimmune disease, you need more than comprehensive cardiac care. You need emergency solutions from expert cardiologists that speak directly to you and involve you in the conversation. Our innovative and individually focused treatment saved DJ’s life, but it was our Associates’ positive attitudes and compassion that kept his heart in the fight.

At Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, we don’t just provide exceptional healthcare, we give every patient the comfort, support and care they deserve.

Read DJ’s story of thanks at methodisthealth.org/thankyou.