Retrofit Pilates

Retrofit Pilates Retrofit your body, change your life. Superb instructors and personalized instruction. Welcoming, no Pilates for every body.

Authorized Balanced Body Teacher Training Centre.
20 Years of Changing Lives! At Retrofit Pilates we believe in movement education that is effective, dynamic, empowering and fun. We believe that when we connect mind to body, we are capable of creative, adventurous living. We give you the tools you need to build strength from the inside out so you can feel better and do more. We give you the confid

ence you need to live actively and joyfully in the body you have. Established in 1999 by professional dancer Barbara Grant, Retrofit has grown into one of Toronto’s foremost Pilates studios and Balanced Body authorized International Teacher Training Centre. With a talented team of highly experienced instructors, we are equipped to serve the broadest possible range of clients with diverse needs, goals and fitness tastes including fitness enthusiasts, professional athletes, expectant moms, and individuals in active recovery post-injury or post-surgery. No matter what your fitness level, absolutely everyone keen to lead an active life free of pain and restriction can reach their goals with our programs. You can work one-on-one with a Pilates trainer or try one of over 70 weekly group classes.

You may have noticed a couple of new faces around Retrofit in the last few weeks. Introducing Maika and Emily!IIn early ...
04/11/2025

You may have noticed a couple of new faces around Retrofit in the last few weeks. Introducing Maika and Emily!

IIn early March, we welcomed Co-op student Maika Preston Doyle! Maika attends Etobicoke School of the Arts where she is currently enrolled in a Cooperative Education course. This means she gets to spend her afternoon in a workplace she is interested in and she chose to join us! Maika is here from Monday to Friday in the afternoons until early June, keeping things organized, getting to know our clients, and helping out where needed. If you see her don’t forget to say hi!

And please welcome Emily, the newest member of our Client Services Team! Emily is a recent graduate of the University of Toronto Arts and Science program with a Psychology major. She loves to work with people and looks forward to making your experience a great one. You can expect to see her around the studio on Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturdays. Outside of work she enjoys teaching skating, board games, crochet and reading. Feel free to ask about what she’s been reading lately!

04/09/2025

We’re revisiting all the ways Pilates can improve your balance! You may have noticed Pam’s absence at the studio lately—you can read her latest blog post at the 🔗 in our bio.

Spring has arrived. How lovely! With longer days and rising temperatures though, comes the nagging realization that pret...
04/09/2025

Spring has arrived. How lovely! With longer days and rising temperatures though, comes the nagging realization that pretty soon we will be shedding our warm-weather clothes, and before long, getting into a bathing suit.

Spring is a great time for the diet and fitness industry to shame us into short-term crazes that promise 8-weeks to blast your belly fat and get your bikini-body by summer! I was speaking to a friend recently about a fabulous Canadian swimwear company I had just discovered (leftonfriday.com). She told me she really liked the suits but didn’t want to order anything until she was further along on her weight-loss journey.

I don’t think I have ever met a woman who is not on a weight-loss journey.

One of the best things about leading Pilates teacher training programs is that I am constantly immersed in the most recent, science based evidence about Pilates specifically, and fitness and health generally. We spend a lot of time in the teacher training courses discussing and debunking outdated ideas about Pilates, fitness and health including the greatest myths of the diet and fitness industry. Restrictive eating and hardcore cardio do not result in weight management or better health. You do not need to earn your food.

Consistent, daily movement that increases your muscular strength, cardiovascular endurance, mobility and mental health is the only successful path to long-term health and weight management.

And you’re doing it! You are showing up to class as often as you can and bringing the most that you can. You’re walking more, sleeping better, deepening your mind-body connection, trying new things and being kind to yourself and to each other.

Increased strength and fitness is your friend.
Movement heals.
Community matters.

Here’s the thing. If you have a body and you put a bikini on it, you have bikini body.

Keep up the good work. ~Barbara

🌸

Back from her latest stint at a writer’s retreat in the sun drenched hills of Costa Rica, Joanna Webb is one of Retrofit...
03/12/2025

Back from her latest stint at a writer’s retreat in the sun drenched hills of Costa Rica, Joanna Webb is one of Retrofit’s Senior Instructors, and a graduate of our Balanced Body® Instructor Training program. After a storied career in television production, and years spent traveling the world, Joanna took up a Pilates practice at Retrofit, and the rest is history. Joanna’s classes are abundant with creative progressions, and she finds all manner of unique approaches to functional movement problems when working with her private clients.

“It’s way more creative than I ever expected teaching Pilates would be. Now that I know what I am doing I love experimenting with movement patterns and putting together sequences.” A writer and explorer at heart, Joanna’s travels have given her the opportunity to take her Pilates on the road–she managed to find a studio in the Azores on her last trip to Portugal, and she leads her writing comrades in Pilates sessions on the deck!

You can take group classes with Joanna on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays, or check out any of her Video-on-Demand classes in our extensive library.

“So I’m that person who joined a gym every year, got the outfit, and went religiously for two whole weeks. Then quit,” a...
03/10/2025

“So I’m that person who joined a gym every year, got the outfit, and went religiously for two whole weeks. Then quit,” admits Retrofit client and resident comedienne, Toni Abramson.

“Some three years ago I took advantage of the one month promotion and thought about what outfit would be appropriate. Turns out, I had leggings and tees and didn’t need anything. But I tried every class offered and fell in love with Pilates!

“I’m a serious Retrofit j***y now and take a class five days a week. Me! The woman who never did exercise for more than two weeks. In fact, I feel crappy when I miss a day. And don’t get me started on the wonderful instructors and amazing ladies that are my morning community. Best thing that ever happened to me.”

Toni consistently keeps the morning regulars in stitches–for more laughs, you can find her comic alter ego, Tatyana, at on Instagram.

Thank you for letting Retrofit be part of your Pilates journey, Toni!

Are you ready to try your first Pilates class? Take advantage of our New Client Special—just $129 for one month of unlimited classes! Sign up today at the 🔗 in our bio, through MINDBODY, or the Retrofit app.

Celebrating with the incredible team at 💕
03/08/2025

Celebrating with the incredible team at 💕

Welcome to March, that time of year when we start feeling the shift—winter’s cold grip loosening and the days growing lo...
03/05/2025

Welcome to March, that time of year when we start feeling the shift—winter’s cold grip loosening and the days growing longer. March is like a bridge between seasons, a reminder that change is always on the horizon. Whether it’s the first signs of spring or the way our daily routines slowly adapt, March brings a sense of transition that we can feel in the air and in our bodies.

We have seen many changes this winter at Retrofit, new faces welcoming us at the door, changes on the class schedule, and beloved and trusted long-time teachers and staff bidding us farewell. I am so grateful for your patience, suggestions and openness as we adjust to these changes.

Change is hard. When we are in a routine that works for us and is familiar and comfortable, disruptions can be scary. We fear our progress may be compromised or our joy diminished. But change can also be energizing in the way it encourages growth. Like March, the weather might still be unpredictable, but the potential for new opportunities feels limitless.

My approach to managing change that is hard is to focus on what we can add, rather than what we must take away. A door may have closed, but a window just opened.

I invite all of us to embrace the fluidity of March and take time to ease into the new rhythms that are on their way. Whatever changes this month brings, we can look at them as opportunities to evolve and grow. We are resilient, adaptable, and stronger than we know. Keep up the good work!

Happy belated birthday to Retrofit instructor, Sinem! Sinem came onboard in 2024, after moving to Toronto from Turkey, a...
02/24/2025

Happy belated birthday to Retrofit instructor, Sinem! Sinem came onboard in 2024, after moving to Toronto from Turkey, and quickly found herself in the thick of things at the studio. With a ready smile and enthusiasm for all things Pilates, Sinem has a reputation for tough Power Reformer classes and her Mat classes have garnered a cult following. While she may get a bit homesick at times—perhaps especially during this very cold and snowy February—we hope life in Toronto is feeling more and more like home. Happy birthday Sinem! Wishing you a wonderful year ahead!

Sinem is regularly on the schedule Tuesdays through Saturdays—you can register for one of her classes through MINDBODY or the Retrofit app.

Hey friends! We’re seeing a lot of late arrivals due to the heavy snowfall and cold weather conditions over the last wee...
02/21/2025

Hey friends! We’re seeing a lot of late arrivals due to the heavy snowfall and cold weather conditions over the last week, as parking along Bloor West is extremely limited. If you are driving to class, please give yourself a LOT of extra time to find a spot, or consider walking or taking transit if that’s an option. And take care on those slippery streets and sidewalks!

Song Lee has been a Retrofit client for twelve years, and during that time she has encouraged many of her friends and in...
02/10/2025

Song Lee has been a Retrofit client for twelve years, and during that time she has encouraged many of her friends and inner circle to take up Pilates.

In December, Song underwent major knee surgery, and her grit, determination, and positive attitude got her back in the studio on her birthday–just one month after her operation!

“I dabbled in Pilates for a number of years, but it wasn’t until 2019 that I really committed to a Pilates practice while recovering from a rotator cuff injury, and it has since become an essential part of my life. Retrofit Pilates, with its team of incredible instructors, has not only helped me regain strength and mobility but has also deepened my passion for the practice of Pilates. I love that it is a holistic discipline, and I make it a priority to attend classes at least three times a week. Each session leaves me feeling stronger physically, more focused mentally, and uplifted emotionally.

“I’ve had bilateral arthritis of the knees for more than 15 years, and 6 weeks ago, I underwent a right total knee replacement. The recovery has been no walk in the park, but thanks to my consistent Pilates practice leading up to the surgery, the healing process was much smoother. My physiotherapist was particularly impressed with the strength of my core, arms, and left leg, which has played a crucial role in my rehabilitation.

“4 weeks after surgery, I was back at Retrofit, taking private lessons. Pam and Ana have been absolutely fantastic, guiding me through my recovery with care and expertise.

“A huge shoutout to my amazing friends in class–thank you for all your support and encouragement! I can’t wait to be back doing Pilates with you all again soon!“

Thank you for letting Retrofit be part of your Pilates journey, Song!

Are you ready to try your first Pilates class? Take advantage of our New Client Special—just $129 for one month of unlimited classes! Sign up today at the 🔗 in our bio, through MINDBODY, or the Retrofit app.

Master Instructor and beloved teacher Minaqua McDade is leaving the Retrofit community and traveling to the US to spend ...
02/06/2025

Master Instructor and beloved teacher Minaqua McDade is leaving the Retrofit community and traveling to the US to spend more time with her family. Her last day on the teaching schedule is February 7.

Minaqua began teaching at Retrofit in 2002. Originally trained as an herbalist and Reiki specialist, she eventually pursued her Pilates instructor certification at STOTT PILATES®. “After almost a decade of chronic low back pain, I discovered doing Pilates actually controlled the pain like nothing else had. The consistent practice of the Pilates method helps me maintain a healthy back and allows me to do the activities I was missing out on. My positive experience made me want to share the joy of Pilates with others seeking a strong core and more ease in daily life. I believe that the movements and thoughtfulness of the exercises benefit people from all walks of life.”

Over the years, Minaqua has experienced the full gamut of working with clients, from a visiting pro-level hockey player and his girlfriend keeping fit together, to a ninety-year-old woman building strength and endurance to improve her golf game. These clients–and all of you, who’ve enjoyed her classes, private sessions and workshops at Retrofit for more than two decades–have motivated Minaqua to continue learning and to pursue specialized training and finesse her craft throughout her tenure.

We know that when she’s not at the studio, Minaqua can often be found at a farmers’ market, cooking up a storm, enjoying time in nature, and reading mystery novels, but we’re especially glad that she’s now going to be able to spend a lot more time with her family.

This is a bittersweet farewell for our community, but we love you Minaqua, and we wish you all the best!

02/05/2025

Joseph Pilates said: “A man is as young as his spinal column.” Let’s roll with it! Follow Retrofit Pilates for insight, exercises and helpful tips on spinal mobility!

Address

206-2323 Bloor Street W
Toronto, ON
M6S4W1

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 4pm
Saturday 9:30am - 12pm
Sunday 9am - 12pm

Telephone

+14167636368

Website

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