Pilates Classes and French Lessons, Too

Pilates Classes and French Lessons, Too

By Leonard Shapiro

Kate Knepper has plenty on her plate these days—two different part-time jobs in Middleburg and gearing up for on-line classes through Indiana University to finish her college degree. And oh yes, she’s also starting up her own business in the village that incorporates two of her passions—instruction in pilates and French.

This energetic 21-year-old dynamo plans to open a cozy 300-square foot pilates studio early this fall on the second floor above Atelier Maison at 15 East Washington Street. One of her part-time jobs is helping out at that design shop and owner Terri Pakravan has rented her the space upstairs.

The new business will be called Feminine Pilates & French Instruction, though she expects people of all ages and genders to take part. She’s also hoping to use her new space to offer tutoring in the French language, her college major.

A type of mind-body exercise, pilates was developed in the early 20th century by German physical trainer Joseph Pilates. It involves a system of repetitive exercises performed on a yoga mat or other equipment to promote strength, stability, and flexibility.

Pilates advocates tout the core-strengthening benefits of the method to improve posture and balance. The system targets so-called “powerhouse” muscles, which include the glutes, hips, pelvic floor, and lower back. It also encourages deep, conscious breathing.

“It’s a mind-body balance,” Kate said. “It teaches you coordination and balance and it’s great for people in desk jobs who sit hunched over all day. It really helps posture, and a lot more.”

An avid tennis player, Kate said she always enjoyed working out. She became enamored with pilates when she was a student at Catholic University during the Covid outbreak.

“I started doing it with on-line videos I’d watch in my room, and I did a lot of walking, too,” she said. “I was pretty much staying around the dorm all day and doing all this stuff. People thought I was crazy, but I didn’t like going to gyms all that much.”

Kate took a year off from her studies and over the last year has been taking a 450-hour pilates certification program in Winchester, where she now lives. She’s already got a client list and said a number of people have already told they’re planning to take her classes.

She’ll do group work with a maximum of four participants at $35 per class. She also plans to do private one-on-one work at $90 for the hour-long sessions. The first class, she added, will be free, “Just to see if they want to keep going.

“My long-term goal is to do some pilates classes in French,” she said with a smile. “That’s when I’ll know that I’ve made it.”

Feminine Pilates is located at 13 East Washington Street in Middleburg. For more information, go to www.femininepilates.com or call 703-402-4750.