★ 5

Source: Google

★ 5

I have been taking private sessions for over a year. I feel stronger, more flexible, have lost weight, and dramatically reduced daily pain. Lisa is an amazing instructor who is both challenging and encouraging. She instills confidence that makes even the most difficult movement seem simple. I feel fortunate to have found them!

Source: Google

★ 5

I first contacted Lightspace because I’m suffering from postpartum lower back pain. I’ve had MRI taken so I know it’s not a spine problem. I’ve seen chiropractor, physical therapist, and had a personal trainer. The combination of these three helped a lot with my recovery, but didn’t completely solved my problem. I still have occasional pain if I’m not careful enough. My “weak core” never got properly strengthen without causing some kind of pain elsewhere. This is where Lightspace came in.

I gave lightspace a try as a last resort. I met with Lisa, who is super easygoing and funny, but at the same time professional and able to identify my problem. With my personalized plan, the small and isolated muscle exercises I’ve done with her really helped me work on my weak spots one at a time. I can really say I am pain free now and feel stronger overall!

Source: Google

★ 5

I first came to LightSpace when I was training for my second marathon. My entire body felt beat up after only several weeks into my training schedule. Before coming to LightSpace, I tried yoga and massages which never fundamentally made me feel better. Then I tried a private session at LightSpace with Allison and came out feeling like a new person. I was instantly hooked. The first session was almost magical - I lied on the cadillac, tried to activate muscles (think pelvic and 'core') that I never noticed, barely sweated and almost all the tension I felt in my body was gone after 55 mins.

Now I have been a client at LightSpace for almost three years. I primarily did weekly private sessions, first with Allison, then Annie, who are both excellent instructors with a wealth of knowledge on body mechanics. In these sessions, we talk about where I felt discomfort/pain/tension in my body and do some movements to work through those kinks first, then we move on to move general movements that enhances my body alignment and strengths. I also participated occasional small-group workshop called Re-Charge that combined Qi Gong, Pilates and HIIT. In this workshop led by Allison and Annie, the main emphasis is not how high your heart rate went but which muscles one should activate to initiate movements like push-ups and planks. These are valuable lessons that are rarely discussed in regular gym classes.

My biggest takeaway from Pilates is body awareness - knowing which postures are terrible for my neck while working at a desk, knowing which simple movements on a mat can help me recover quickly from a lower back pain and knowing where tension in my body tends to build up. Since I first started, I completed three more marathons, several half-marathons and many more 5k-10k races with several new PRs. My time with LightSpace helped me to work out better and live better.

I highly recommend LightSpace to anyone who's experiencing injury and pain, or anyone who wants to better deal with tensions brought by daily routines in work and life.

The entire team at LightSpace is absolutely lovely. The studio is also a beautiful and peaceful space that makes me feel relaxed the second I walk in. I am always looking forward to my weekly private session with Annie, especially on those long runs!

Source: Google

★ 5

Thank you Kelli Kaul for introducing me to the reformer and helping me to rehab my knees! Thank you Annie Laugen Murray for my first full group reformer class! I love how qigong is utilized with pilates to help me connect mind, body, spirit and optimize energy flow! The instruction is encouraging and helps me to activate without overly tensing the proper muscles for alignment. My class coincided with the perfect quote for my day filled with self-care. Qi-lates is awesome! I feel amazing!

Source: Google

★ 5

Allison is the only one who was able to help me with my chronic neck pain. Pilates and integrating Qigong practices helped tremendously and now I have full range of motion, more than I’ve had in 15 years. She’s also been critical in helping me recover from my more recent foot and hip injuries. As an added benefit, my core has never been stronger!

Source: Google

★ 5

I have been going to LightSpace since it opened, and have worked with Allison for years. When I started pilates with Allison, I had chronic back pain. Over the course of our work, my back has become relatively pain free. I’ve become much stronger and more in tune with my body. Adding in Qigong to my practice and the treatment has helped me move more mindfully and connected.

Source: Google

★ 5

LOVE LightSpace! Have been working with this team for many years, both in private instruction and group settings. Their continued learning about Pilates and energy, which is then brought back to students, sets this studio apart from others. Very connected with students and their varied needs.

Source: Google

★ 5

I've been taking classes from the instructors at LightSpace Pilates & Wellness for about 4 years. I followed them here from another studio. I take their mat and cardio classes regularly and love the small class sizes and personalized attention. All of the instructors make the experience fun and enjoyable. I always look forward to their classes! I recently started taking private sessions with Annie, and even though it's only been 6 weeks, I already notice a positive change in the way my body works and feels. Going into the private sessions, I never realized just how much unnecessary tension I carry all over my body. That tension has made it harder for me to do some of the things I love, like running. I've had a chronic IT Band injury for the last 15+ years from running, and my doctors always told me that I would likely have to live with it. Annie thinks differently and seems determined to alleviate my IT band tightness for good. I'm certainly on the right track to wellness. Not only am I get stronger and learning how to work out more efficiently, Pilates has helped me in the most unexpected ways. It's even improved my playing and technique as a musician --who would have thought? The instructors here truly care about the progress of each and everyone of their clients. I am constantly recommending LightSpace Pilates & Wellness to my friends!

Source: Google

★ 5

I attended the Introduction to Qi Gong Workshop at LightSpace Pilates & Wellness in March. The workshop was great, and it was just what I needed after a long week at work.

The class was easy to follow and we were encouraged to ask questions. Allison and Annie are gifted teachers, they were attentive, warm and energizing.

I left the class feeling energized and lighter. I would recommend this workshop (or the weekly Qi Gong classes) to anyone who is looking for balance and more positive energy their lives.

Source: Google

★ 5

Annie rocks! I can’t believe how great I felt after a few sessions.

Source: Google

★ 5

I love scheduling classes and sessions at Lightspace whenever I travel to Chicago for a few reasons. One, to maintain my exercise routine while I'm away from home. The therapeutic exercises of Pilates help me keep an old hip injury from flaring up when I'm away from home (and my own bed). Two, it de-stresses my trip because I'm not really a city person. I like the calm atmosphere. It's quite different from other studios I've been to where they are too chatty and loud and in your face, which is quite distracting. LightSpace gives me the peace I need to connect to myself and my body. And three, I like the style taught at this studio. I've taken private sessions and mat classes here with a few different instructors, and they are all very knowledgeable about anatomy and movement. Plus they use great cues that really I connect with, which makes each exercise more meaningful and fun. Basically, If I lived in Chicago I would be a regular at LightSpace.

Source: Google

★ 5

There hasn't been another form of exercise that has come CLOSE to making me feel as good as Pilates does. You know that term, "runner's high"? I totally get "Pilates high".

Needless to say, I'm in love with Pilates. Usher in newly open LightSpace!

The Studio:
Talk about a comforting and welcoming atmosphere! LightSpace is truly the perfect name. From the moment you step foot in the studio, it seriously feels like all your stress from the day just lifts right off of you. You can't help but feel a sense of calm and happiness walking in.
Full disclosure: I remember feeling nervous and a bit intimidated when I went to my very first Pilates session 5 years ago at a different studio. Nope, not here. This is definite plus for those newer to Pilates or this location.

It's pretty good sized space. It's roomy. It feels kinda big, but the set up still makes it feel intimate. Different sessions and classes can be going on at the same time, but it never feels crowded nor does your session ever feel drowned out.

Instructors:
I mainly do Duet sessions with Allison, who has been my instructor for the past few years, and she is hands down, the best instructor out there. Her knowledge of body mechanics and movement amaze me, and if you go into the session sore, or with some kinks that need to be worked out, not only does she find exercises to fix the issues, she's more than happy to explain how the exercises are addressing the issue.

Allison is a riot and totally makes your Pilates session challenging and super fun at the same time. Plus, you get your learn on! What more can you ask for?

All of the instructors are very knowledgeable, down-to-earth, friendly people. Plus, they will work with you to accommodate your schedule for privates/duets.

I'm excited to see how this studio grows. It looks promising that they're making this into a holistic wellness center too.

TL;DR version: It's a great space, with fantastic instructors, in a convenient location! Street parking on Lincoln, but there's free parking on Diversey (west) and on Racine.

Source: Google