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Independent teachers are not a part of the “first class free” promotion.

Pilates Mat Work- 55 minutes (Soma Team) CHECK THE END OF OUR ANNOUNCEMENT PAGE FOR LIVE FEED OF THIS CLASS.

This class is an hour of traditional East Coast Pilates Mat work. You will be taken through a series of full body Pilates exercises performed one after the other. The class focuses on the “power house” strength (abdominals), strengthening and stretching the spine, increasing flexibility, promoting elongated musculature and developing muscular balance and coordination. The class is dynamic, fast paced and demands discipline and focus. Use of weights, tension bands, weighted poles for added results. All levels.

SomaSculpt – 50 minutes (Soma Team) SCROLL TO END OF THIS PAGE FOR A Q AND A ABOUT SOMASCULPT

The first class of its kind! Somasculpt was developed by Thalia and the Soma teaching staff. The class begins with a vigorous cardio warm up on our Somasculpter (ball and pole). Routines are choreographed in a way to sculpt every part of your “soma”. This class burns fat and drops inches off your butt, waist, arms and legs. Muscles are strengthened and stretch at the same time, and it feels great! Come and try the class that everyone is raving about! CALORIE BURNING CARDIO, STRENGTH, DEFINITION, BALANCE AND FLEXIBILITY.

PLEASE NOTE: You must complete 20 Soma Pilates mat classes before taking this class as the entrance level is intermediate.

Cardio Boogie – 55 minutes (Thalia) FEATURED ON "E"! CHECK OUT OUR PRESS PAGE FOR LIVE FEED THIS CLASS!

How many times have you heard that you need cardiovascular activity in order to lose weight and stay healthy? If you need cardio but do not like the treadmill or hiking up a hill, this class is for you. Attention, ladies with an attitude! Finally a dance class for you. Set to music of all eras, this class is full of old and new dance moves to remind you that, “you can still shake what ya mama gave ya.” Let the men stay home and watch football and come to get in shape and have fun in a nurturing environment with no pressure.

NO DANCE EXPERIENCE REQUIRED.

Prenatal Pilates – 55 minutes (Thalia) CHECK OUT OUR PRENATAL PAGE FOR MORE INFO

Besides our private and semi private prenatal sessions, we have this amazing prenatal group class allowing expecting moms the chance to workout and keep their weight down during pregnancy. During this class, you will learn correct prenatal breathing techniques, safe stretching exercises and techniques to help with labor and pain management. The class consists of prenatal Pilates, weights, body bars, bosu balls and ballet barres. We are really working out here! Soma is dedicated to making sure moms-to-be do not hurt themselves during pregnancy but maintain a level of fitness that will help them with their 9 month journey. To register for this class, you must call Soma for an over the phone screening. NOTE: this class is NOT part of our "first class free " promotion.

Pole Dance – 90 minutes (Independent of Soma - Gabrielle)

Contrary to clichéd stereotypes, pole dancing is more like an athletic art form which is empowering to both the mind and body. This class will build your self esteem and confidence. Unleash your inhibitions and let your sensuality guide you. You will work the muscles of the legs, gluteals, upper body and abdominals. You never know, you may even learn a few party tricks for private use only! All levels. Private sessions and pole dance parties are available.

For more information call Gabrielle on (323) 272-3179 or visit her on line at www.aphroditestripnpole.com

The reason why I developed SS WAS because I wanted to some how offer a fast and effective way for people to lose weight and tone/sculpt their body without having to climb up a canyon or pretend to workout on a treadmill at the gym. Many of my clients would complain that they wanted to do Pilates on the equipment but could not afford it. Although I tried to add weights and body bars to their mat classes, I found that I was compromising the integrity of traditional Pilates.

Studio Soma is known for traditional Pilates and the classes were getting diluted in my attempt to add cardio elements and weight loss techniques to Pilates. So, I came up with a way to adapt all the Pilates exercises we do on the mat and the Pilates apparatus onto a stability ball and added weights and body bars for muscle sculpting and weight loss. I tested SS on a group of 30 people over a three month period at 3 times a week. They were all on a strict low calorie diet complimented by herbal supplements and plenty of water! The results were incredible with clients losing over 15 inches and 20 to 25 lbs. I myself did the three month program and lost 13 pounds and 11 inches.

I called it Soma Sculpt because Soma is the Greek word for Body and also the name of our studio and hence the hidden meaning “body sculpt”

Many gyms and trainers do a form of sculpting and use the word Pilates in their title like “cardio Pilates” or “Pilates at the Barre” but I feel very strongly about keeping Pilates, Pilates. My mentors and teachers would frown upon me if I misrepresented the word Pilates.

What they would be proud of however, is that I have developed a technique that uses Pilates exercises to ensure that the work is safe, healthy for the body and still gives you the same Pilates results.

The best part of SS is that it is interval cardio training which has been proven to be the most effective way to lose weight and burn fat. In the class, we begin with a leg warm up that escalates into a vigorous cardio set. The muscles get super warm and then we dig deep with heavy duty fat burning around the glutes, inner and outer thighs. We then lower the heart rate to give the body a chance to dump all the calories. We then focus on connecting with your core and target every single part of the abdominal wall to create the “six pack”. We then add arm work and weights and finish with more cardio. Every vigorous set of exercises is followed by a deep stretch to make sure the body remains long and lean.

SS burns about 400 to 600 calories in 55 minutes depending on the person. We use several different gym accessories to facilitate the movements in SS. The main base is a stability ball that you stand, sit and lie on and then we had body bars, hand weights and bands to increase difficulty and variety. Balancing on a ball works the muscles of the standing leg as well as the working leg so you are getting double for your money.

All the exercises are modifiable to accommodate different levels. Set to high energy music, SS a blend of dance, cardio, sculpting and stretching.

Another reason why people love SS is because they see results very fast. Your arms, buttocks and abs are the first place you will see a difference and the results stick! The class makes you cry both tears of joy and pain! The burn is amazing and you can feel the fat just dripping off you! My clients are also inspired because they see me doing it and have watched me go from a size 6 to a size 2!

The one big problem about SS is your clothes start to fall off your body so buying a whole new wardrobe is expensive!!!

At Studio Soma, I require all the clients to have completed a minimum of 20 Pilates mat classes so they can establish the foundation they need to execute SS in a safe and injury free way.

Currently, Thalia Thomas is in the middle of developing the “SomaSculpter” which is her own unique design that she will offer to her students and world wide. The “SomaSculpter” is specifically designed to perform her original SomaSculpt technique based on the stability ball and accessories. The “SomaSculpter” will be available for home use and will be accompanied by an instructional DVD. Look out for it in 2009!

People have commented on the increase in their energy and the release of toxins in their body. It also has increased people’s metabolism and hence improving their digestion which is key for weight loss. Your body feels worked from head to toe. The entire body gets a work out so you feel balanced and aligned. Because SS is based on the entire Pilates series, expect to see the same results as you would if you were on a Pilates machine! Long, lean muscles with an emphasis on correct posture, flexibility and phenomenal abdominal strength.

A SS class at Soma is $15 for a single class and $120 for 10 classes and $220 for 20 classes! We also have an unlimited membership at Soma so for $150 a month you can take as many SS classes and other Soma fitness classes as you want!

You must take the 20 Pilates mat classes first then you can drop in to any SS according to your schedule.

You must be at least 16 years of age and can never be too old!! Due to the intense cardio factor, people who suffer from heart conditions, vertigo and other serious health issues are not recommended to this class.

Yes, yes and yes! Another great thing about SS is they can take the class (modified) because there is limited amount of lying on your back. In Pilates, we lie on our back and stomach for the majority of the class so SS is the perfect solution as most of the work is sitting, standing or balancing on your hands, feet etc.

“I am a 26 year old male with a very competitive athletic background. I played Baseball, Football, and Golf at a very high level, and continued as a pitcher into college. I am now an actor in the Broadway musical Wicked, where I perform 8, three hour shows a week, that include dancing, singing, lifting, running, and jumping, all while wearing costumes, sometimes in excess of 20 pounds, on a hard, steel stage.

Because of my history of lower back pain, and the toll that Wicked began to put on my body, I began attending Thalia's Pilates mat classes weekly. At first, my goal was to simply stabilize and strengthen the core muscles that young athletes so often neglect in their early training and conditioning. Within two months, Thalia's challenging yet specific approach to her work with me, led to an absence of lower back pain, an increase in stability, and a confidence about my personal strength. After monitoring my progress closely, Thalia encouraged me to step up and challenge myself to her Soma Sculpt class, and I'm glad I did.

In just 6 months with Soma Sculpt, my entire body has changed. I weighed 189 pounds when I started working with Thalia, and after three months of Soma Sculpt, I was down to 169. Soma sculpt takes all of the core values of mat Pilates (control, stabilization, stretching, lengthening) and combines them with a vigorous cardiovascular, strength training hour, that leads to weight loss, and muscle tone...just what everyone wants! I usually attend Soma Sculpt twice a week, combined with at least one mat class. Everyone around me comments on the transformation of my body, and people who have watched me are now flocking to her studio to reap the same benefits I did. This will be my first summer in my new body, and I can't wait to show it off at the beach!

Classes like Soma Sculpt don't happen everywhere, because teachers like this don't exist everywhere. Thalia's dedication to her clients, her background in dance, combined with her drive and determination to keep sessions exciting, and keep people coming back, make Soma Sculpt the gem that it is.”

"When I first arrived in la I checked out various dance studios. Seven places later I came to the firm conclusion that unless you are wearing full make up and an uber chic outfit with the latest Nike sneakers you best not try to dance in la. I then found Soma. Thalia
answered the phone and suggested I came to one of her dance classes to try it out. I had never tried Pilates and hate exercise but decided to give that a go too. I have never looked back. Two years later I still look forward to my classes every week. I have yet to
find anywhere else in the world that is as cozy, fun and inspiring as Soma. My body has transformed. I now look forward to exercising. I have met the kindest and coolest people at the studio. Every teacher is different. Every teacher is brilliant. The training is geared to the individual no matter what you level of fitness or experience is. I would encourage everyone to go. But I try not to talk about Soma too much as i don't want to lose my spot."

"I loved this class because every single muscle in my body felt like it was working overtime to keep my balance and develop my strength and flexibility. I was
smiling through the whole session (even if it didn't look like it) because I knew I could sculpt my body into shape quickly with this class with the combination of the cardio and Pilates. I can't wait for the next session--I'm totally hooked!"

"I loved this class because every single muscle in my body felt like it was working overtime to keep my balance and develop my strength and flexibility. I was smiling through the whole session (even if it didn't look like it) because I knew I could sculpt my body into shape quickly with this class with the combination of the cardio and Pilates. I can't wait for the next session--I'm totally hooked!"

“I can't even begin to describe what an impact you and "Soma Sculpt"
has had on my life. I've always been the person that wanted so much to
be thin but as much working out and eating right that I did, I just
couldn't get anywhere or see any results. Until this opportunity came
up and I knew I had to try it! Every class, even on the days I didn't want to work out, just hearing your encouraging words and seeing that kick-ass attitude you had made me
want to just get up and do the same.

At my first weigh in I was 136.4 lbs 28 inch waist, 37.5 around my hips. When I finished I was 126.4lbs and had lost a total of 10.5 inches I recently went home to Connecticut and everyone wanted to know what Iwas doing because it looked like I lost 20lbs! That’s when I knew that I needed to do whatever I could to keep this I can't thank you enough for everything that you've done! I need soma sculpt in my life!!!!”
-Quynh