Review: Pilates Flow @2nd (Bukit Timah)

As a chiropractor who helps people move better and get stronger as a living, I’m always curious about what are the exercise options available in Singapore. When I had the opportunity to experience a session at Pilates Flow @2nd, I knew this was worth sharing with y’all .

Pilates studio near Sixth Avenue

Walking into their Bukit Timah studio, what immediately struck me was how different this felt from your typical studios. There’s no flashy marketing or designated spots for your Instagram selfies. What you get is a place where serious work happens.

Pilates Flow @2nd (Avenue) practises True Pilates. They are about the classical method as taught by Romana Kryzanowska. Think pilates like how it was done back in the day. Think practitioners who are not out to chase trend but to preserve as much of the original pilates as possible.From what I can see on the Romana’s Pilates, Pilates Flow @2nd is one of the only two studios in Singapore to be certified in this method.

All the Pilates Flow @2nd instructors undergo a minimum of 800 hours of apprenticeship, which frankly puts most fitness certifications to shame.

Working with Valerie Gennatas

My pilates session was with Valerie Gennatas, a Level V instructor. I later found out Valerie’s background would resonate with many of my clients and even myself. Like us, she had low back pain. She came to pilates after severe low back issues, which did not resolve with conventional exercise approaches.

What I appreciated most about Valerie’s instruction was the systematic approach she brought to the session. Valerie went through the anatomy regions of interest for the session. We also briefly covered the pilates stances that I should be familiar with before we got down to work.

Making pilates theories come to life

It honestly felt like a mini theory class, which I appreciated. Valerie was sufficient and managed to condense all the important parts to actionable cues that we continued to use through the sessions. Not only was the theory bits not boring, they actually helped me a lot in the session.

Valerie thought of everything. She even gave step-by-step instructions and demonstrated how to get on the reformer. It may sound very duh. But I later realised that being able to get on and off the reformer efficiently (as much as I can be anyways) saved us a lot of time. Less fidgeting around, less adjustments to be made. It’s these little details that are often so easily overlooked that could make a world of difference.

How to create a true shared space during a pilates session

True collaborative instructor-client or instructor-student relationships are rare in the fitness scene today. Most of the time we attend classes because we want to get better. To save time, corrections are made with the teacher telling the students what to do. There is little to no room for the student’s feedback.

Pilates Flow @2nd seemed to have taken a different approach. There was a strong focus on what I feel and leading based on my physical sensations. There was also the acknowledgement of that I may not be feeling much, and that awareness in itself does take practice. This was very affirming.

Feeling how to position myself on a reformer

One example of letting the student’s experience lead was when I got on the reformer for the first time. I did feel lopsided but couldn’t tell exactly to where. I sort of guessed a direction and she exclaimed that I was right, and that I should have confidence in what I feel.

After making what I felt was adequate adjustment, she felt I could have moved a little more still. But she first checked with me on how I felt. When I said it felt comfortable and somewhat the same, she let what I was experiencing take charge and we went for the position instead.

I did appreciate that. It was a created shared space between us and I think Valerie checking in on how I feel, even in the simplest moments, rather than dictate what was right was probably the epitome of a shared working relationship.

Let’s be honest. How many trainers or instructors have we met in the past that would correct us to their ideal of perfection with no regard from how we actually feel?

Best pilates instructor? Precise cues, no fluff

I hate it when instructors fluff around. In my opinion, it’s a waste of precious time. It makes the instructor feel like they are instructing without the student actually improving on anything. Like I said, waste of time.

Valerie was nothing like this. Every movement had a purpose, every cue was precise. There was no rushing through exercises or pushing harder to just to increase intensity or exertion. She had so much confidence in her expertise that she could listen attentively to my feedback, and provide suggestions and recommendations without brushing them away.

You know how sometimes you provide feedback as a beginner? And the response from the instructor was … you’d get it over time? You’ve to come back more? I get that it’s true. But what I want to know specifically, in that moment, was what I can do better given my current constraints as a newbie.

That’s why we attend classes right?

I felt that Valerie can truly put herself in a beginner’s shoes. At no instance did she attempt to brush me off. Not only that, she always provided easily relatable suggestions and recommendations. They are almost always immediately actionable! It speaks volume of her coaching competency, and is definitely characteristic of being the best pilates instructor in Singapore.

Maintaining high standards without being judgmental

I was very impressed by how non-judgmental the session went. Because they really emphasised technique and keep true to what was done since the beginning of pilates, I was expecting hear  a lot about how I fall short.

If you are familiar with my work, you know I take a very liberal stance on posture and alignment. To a very large extent, I subscribe that you don’t need good posture or alignment to have full, functional, healthy lives. Staying true to my beliefs, these are really not the areas that I work on in my exercise routine.

In other words, I am terrible at everything that pilates expect.

Even though Valerie was firm and precise at pointing out side-to-side asymmetries as well as flexibility issues, there was no judgment at all. She did paint a picture of all the beautiful things that could happen with better alignment, posture, and flexibility. Yet at no instance did she mention how miserable my life would be if I don’t fix these issues.

That was such a refreshing experience!

Pilates Flow @2nd was founded in 2009

After the session, I had the chance to chat with Song Young, who founded the studio in 2009. They have been around for 16 years! He shared that he was previously in finance and decided to take a break to pursue pilates instructor training. This led him to teaching pilates for a little while before opening Flow Pilates @ 2nd.

Song’s take on the evolution of pilates was particularly insightful. He noted that while many studios have moved toward contemporary applications, there’s now a trend of practitioners returning back to classical foundations.

“Most people tend to prefer classical because they feel more of a difference,” Song explained. This aligns with my own experience with Valerie. Subtle changes, sometimes not even physically observable to me, are enough to change the sensations I was feeling. At some point, random muscles that I didn’t even know I was using were trembling!

What is the difference between contemporary and classical pilates?

Having been to both classical and contemporary pilates studios, I am very much convinced that there is a difference between the two. Classical pilates is about keeping the method as closed to what Joseph Pilates was doing back in the day while contemporary pilates include variations and additions based on other exercises.

At Flow Pilates @ 2nd, their commitment to the method goes down to using similar equipment. The reformer they use have handles made from wood and metal! None of those soft cushiony neoprene handles. Even the straps, from where I could tell, were made from leather.

Like I mentioned previously, classical pilates did hit different. It’s really hard to articulate the experience so you would have to check them out for yourself.

I had an old spinal injury that would usually get a little irritated or inflamed after pilates. Nothing major, but still isn’t the best. I didn’t get the same spinal irritation after my session at Flow Pilates @ 2nd. A lot of this, I feel, is really based on the precision of the movements and focusing on learning how to move rather than on exercising in the traditional sense.

Personal experience of contemporary pilates

Prior to meeting Song, I didn’t know that there were different types of pilates. I assumed pilates was one at the same.

In my past experiences with contemporary pilates, pilates feels like a good workout. Maybe a good stretch. The intensity, in my opinion, is on the lower side. It sometimes feels like gym training minus one.

Like if I were to do leg work at a contemporary pilates studio, I would feel the quads and the hamstrings burning for sure. But I feel like I could get there quicker if I were to just hit the gym? Specific to this context, my impression was that pilates is a lower exertional activity for people who are not ready for weights or have a preference for lower exertional exercise.

I guess classical pilates has changed my perspective towards pilates.

Challenges of running a classical pilates business

I appreciated Song’s candidness about the challenges of running a classical pilates studio. For example, classical pilates is inherently individualised. This means they offer only individual and duet sessions though group classes are far more lucrative.

They had group mat classes pre-COVID but chose not to bring them back. It was a principled decision for them because individual attention produced better outcomes.

“Everyone is different – body, experience, pain, condition,” he noted. This means their revenue model is less attractive than other fitness studios, but the results are more meaningful.

Of course results speak for themselves. Flow Pilates @ 2nd has been around since 2009 afterall. They now have a team of eight instructions instructors, and their clients even include other pilates instructors!

Final Thoughts

My experience at Pilates Flow @2nd reinforced what I’ve long believed as a healthcare provider: the quality of movement matters more than the quantity. Classical Pilates, with its century of refinement, offers something increasingly rare in today’s fitness landscape – systematic, individualised movement education that prioritises precision over performance.

After experiencing both contemporary and classical Pilates, I can confidently say they serve different purposes. If you’re looking for a moderate workout with some stretching benefits, contemporary Pilates studios will serve you well. But if you’re looking at learning a new method to movement, classical Pilates offers a more systematic solution.

Pilates Flow @2nd is ideal for people who:
– Have tried other approaches to pain or movement issues without lasting success
– Want to feel their own body movements and them on a deeper level, not just perform them
– Are healthcare providers or fitness professionals seeking to deepen their movement knowledge
– Prefer quality instruction over the latest IG fitness trends
– Are willing to invest in individual or duet sessions for better outcomes

Location and getting to Pilates Flow @2nd

Pilates Flow @2nd is at 733 Bukit Timah Road #02-06, 2nd Avenue Junction, Singapore 269748.

Free street parking is available either along the driveway in front of the building, or along 3rd Avenue.

The studio is near several bus routes along Bukit Timah Road. The nearest MRT station is Sixth Avenue on the Downtown Line.

Sessions are available daily, depending on trainer availability and class schedules, from 8am till 8pm.

Pricing

Trial Session: $60 for an individual trial session – an excellent way to experience their classical approach before committing to regular sessions.

For regular session pricing, it’s best to contact the studio directly as rates may vary depending on whether you choose individual sessions, duet sessions, or package deals. As mentioned in client reviews, while the investment may seem significant, the individualised attention and quality of instruction justify the cost for those serious about their movement education.