Grand Opening: Equilibrium Pittsburgh Offers Pilates, ‘Booty Barre’—And Fun

After years of teaching together, fitness instructors—and pals—Allie Greene and Laura Burke knew they wanted to open a studio together that combined their similar viewpoints on workout techniques.

“It’s been a dream,” Greene said.

One that’s now a reality.

Greene and Burke will celebrate the grand opening of Equilibrium Pittsburgh on Friday, May 10.

Located at the former Impressions in Art studio inside the Farmers Mutual building on Perry Highway in Pine Township, Equilibrium Pittsburgh will offer Pilates, athletic conditioning, yoga and Booty Barre.

If you’re not familiar with what Booty Barre is, Greene describes it as a blend of Pilates, yoga, dance and balance work in a cardio-based barre class.

Burke called it a blast—and a good workout.

“The bottom line is that it’s a lot of fun,” she said.   

If you’re worried about shaking your booty in a room filled with others, Greene said not to worry.

“You don’t have to be a dancer to do it,” she said.

Greene, a Carnegie resident, said she was asked by Booty Barre creator Tracey Mallet to be a master trainer for the program.

She and Burke, of Fox Chapel, also are certified Pilates instructors. In addition, both are certified to teach the Pink Ribbon program, which is specifically designed for women who have gone through surgery or radiation for breast cancer.

The workout helps women regain range of motion and proper body mechanics in the affected area, Greene said.

Franklin Park resident Gretchen Dudek will lead the yoga classes as well as teach on the barre. An experienced yogi, Dudek said she created her own version of Yoga Flow that is appropriate for those at the beginner level to veteran practitioners.

Class sizes will be kept small at the studio so the instructors are able to focus their energy on teaching people.

“We really want each person to feel like they got an individual experience,” Greene said.

Equilibrium also will offer private and semi-private sessions —but the studio isn’t for adults only.

Greene said they would hold Pilates classes for preschoolers and youths as well as children’s yoga sessions. Everyone is welcome at Equilibrium Pittsburgh, Greene said.

“We really want this to have a community feel,” she said.

That includes the guys, too.

Greene said the athletic conditioning classes are targeted at men, and women, who think Pilates is too “girly” for them. 

“We wanted to create a class that men would feel a little more comfortable coming into,” she said.

Greene’s husband, Dave Curry, a physical therapist, also will be on hand at the studio from time to time to do consultations and assessments.

To celebrate its grand opening Equilibrium is holding an open house from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 10. There also will be free classes throughout the weekend.

To learn more about Equilibrium Pittsburgh, or to register for classes, click here.

Are you excited for the studio to open? Tell us in the comment section below.

Join Patch for more community news or join us on Facebook and Twitter.