In the fall of 2022, I signed up for my first Pilates class at Reform Your Core studio in Mason. With a new job, a lot of stress, and an ongoing disagreement with my lower back that I was losing, I wasn’t looking for anything more than an hour that was completely mine; somewhere I could close my eyes, breathe deeply, and feel like my body and mind were at least on speaking terms again.
I found that. And then, without really planning to, I found a lot more.
A Studio with a Story
Reform Your Core was founded by Jessica Heizman, a former television reporter who discovered Pilates the hard way – through years of back pain that nothing else could touch. She got certified, started teaching, and eventually built a studio and a community around the simple idea that Pilates should be accessible, personal, and effective.
In 2024, Jessica made the decision to transition ownership of Reform Your Core to Christine Kent; one of the instructors she had personally mentored over the years. If there’s a more meaningful vote of confidence than trusting someone you taught with something you built, I’m not sure what it is. Jessica still teaches several classes each week, and the studio community has not missed a beat. Same warmth, same culture, new chapter.
Meet Christine
Christine grew up in Colorado in a family that ran marathons and hit the ski slopes. Movement was simply part of their fabric. She went on to become an occupational therapist, then a yoga instructor, and eventually found her way to Pilates and to Mason, where she’s been raising her family since 2014.
Her OT background is not incidental to how she teaches …it’s everything. When Christine looks at a room of six students, she’s thinking about each body individually: where it’s starting, what it needs, and how to get it somewhere better by the end of class. “My OT roots have programmed to me to constantly think about the steps each person needs to take to successfully navigate the class,” she says. That kind of thinking naturally turns a workout into a practice.
With a family history of scoliosis and osteoporosis, Christine sees Pilates not just as her work but as her long game; a commitment to keeping her spine strong and her body capable well into the years ahead. That kind of conviction has a way of showing up in how she teaches and why she also donates her time and Pilates expertise to a variety of schools and local organizations in her community.
What Pilates Actually Does (that you might not expect)
I’m happy to report that my mind and my body have settled their disagreement – and Christine will be the first to tell you that it’s not a coincidence.
For starters, she’s quick to correct a common misconception: Pilates is not stretching. It is a full-body strength practice that will work muscles you forgot you had. And according to Christine, the benefits have a way of showing up in everyday activities like caring for children, jobs requiring physical work, gardening and outdoor activities, and athletics. A regular Pilates practice fosters feeling steadier, stronger, and more at home in your own body.
What Christine finds most compelling (and what surprised me most) is how much Pilates connects body with mind. The practice demands real presence: focus on alignment, breath, precise muscle engagement. Research suggests this kind of mindful, intentional movement actually builds new neural pathways, strengthening the connection between mind and body in ways most other forms of exercise don’t reach (check out Functional Anatomy of the Pilates Core by Marylee Bussard to learn more). I knew I was feeling better, physically and emotionally, I just didn’t know there was science behind it.
A few other things Christine wants people to know: Pilates is not just for women. It is not reserved for a certain age, body type, or fitness level. Her clients range from teenagers to people in their late seventies, and she’ll tell you (with complete sincerity) that there is no one who couldn’t benefit from it.
Culture Matters
The studio itself is small and cozy. When you arrive, there’s a quaint waiting area where you sit while the previous class wraps up. That waiting room, it turns out, is where a surprising amount of community happens. I’ve chatted there with executives and beekeepers, teachers and retirees, caregivers and competitors. It has that quality of a good neighborhood spot where you come for one thing and leave with a hint more.
Class itself is calm and unhurried. The instructors know your name and your body; what you’ve been working on, what’s been bothering you, when to challenge you, and when to let you find your footing. The atmosphere is one where you can laugh when it’s awkward and hi-five when you nail it. You leave feeling better than when you arrived. Every time. That’s just what happens.
Curious about Reform Your Core Pilates? Come find out.
Whether you’re on a reformer for the first time or you’re an experienced practitioner looking for something more challenging and personal, Christine has a path for you – from foundation classes for beginners all the way through advanced work and private sessions. The best way to figure out where you fit is simply to reach out. Christine will take it from there.
Reform Your Core is located at 668 Reading Road in Mason, OH. Visit reformyourcore.com to explore what’s available or reach Christine directly at reformyourcore@gmail.com.
Photos courtesy of Reform Your Core Pilates website.
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