Events and Announcements

Willow has grown: Reformer duets now available!

Our new Pilates space is now open with more room for private lessons as well as a new reformer to accomodate Pilates equipment duets. Come in to check it out and bring a friend!

Also, remember that Valentine's Day is coming -- consider a Pilates date with your sweetie that will leave you feeling great and ready to celebrate!

Free parking and more!

Don't forget, Willow Wellness Studio offers parking validation! Validation is available for all private lessons and duets taking place on weekdays between 9am and 6pm -- just let us know if you need it. You can find free parking on the street or in the court parking lot during evenings and on weekends.

But that's not all! We are offering parking validation to help keep your lesson experience as worry-free as possible but, as both environmentally-minded folks and fitness advocates, we would really rather you avoid your car altogether! So if you walk, bike, or ride the bus to your lesson then we will enter your name in a drawing for a gift certificate to your choice of Think Local First businesses. You can enter every time you get to the studio without using your car and we will choose a winner every time the pot has 30 entries. Check out getDowntown for car-less commuting tips.

About the studio

The willow is known for its strong but pliant wood. Its roots are remarkable for their toughness, size, and tenacity of life. They can readily grow from aerial parts of the tree. Almost all willows take root readily from cuttings and an entire tree may grow from a single broken branch. These qualities of the willow align well with many of our movement goals at Willow Wellness Studio.

Willow Wellness Studio

Willow Wellness Studio is a fully equipped studio offering Gyrotonic, Gyrokinesis, and Pilates instruction. A visit to Willow is a vacation from the constant demands of daily life. We offer private, semi-private, and small group training with an emphasis on personalized attention to help you get the most out of your workout. We believe that education is a key component in a healthy lifestyle. We strive not only to teach exercises but also to teach our clients about their bodies through the exercises so that they will be empowered in all of their health and wellness endeavors. Special emphasis is placed on how to use the principles of the movement in daily living. Our clients find that they take this awareness out of the studio with them, allowing them to make more informed decisions about their bodies and lives. We work with people of all ages and fitness levels.

Each person has a unique set of needs and desires and we will work with you to design a workout plan that fits your goals and lifestyle. Our instructors have received the highest level of training and constantly pursue continuing education in order to address as many different needs as possible.

We are located on the third floor at 202 East Washington. Elevators offer easy access to the space. Natural light pours in through the windows creating a serene space for re-energizing your body and relaxing your mind. Come early and enjoy a complementary cup of tea or a light snack. We offer parking validation to make your trip downtown more convenient. Our clients are also welcome to borrow books and DVDs from our wellness library. Willow was created with the goal of providing a superior client experience -- come let us take care of you!

Willow Wellness Studio is a proud member of Think Local First.

Heather Glidden

BA in Dance Studies, Grinnell College, IA
Fully certified in STOTT PILATES
Certified in the Gyrotonic and Gyrokinesis methodologies
Therapeutic applications of Gyrotonic exercises for shoulder, pelvic girdle and scoliosis
Pilates for injuries and special populations
Prenatal and postpartum applications of Pilates and Gyrotonic exercises
Current massage student

Heather believes a few characteristics that contribute to a good life are compassion, daring, and a good sense of humor. Heather has drawn on all three of these traits to create Willow Wellness Studio. As an example of someone who is living a dream, she hopes to inspire others to pursue their dreams as well.

Heather first studied Pilates in Colorado when her ballet teacher promised that it would make her a better dancer. She went on to receive a B.A. in Dance Studies from Grinnell College. She has studied various Pilates methods since 1992 and completed her certification in STOTT Pilates in 2006 at Equilibrium in Bloomfield Hills, MI. She discovered the Gyrotonic and Gyrokinesis methodologies in 2004 and has been continuing to fall in love with them ever since. After completing her certification in both methods, she has gone on to study prenatal and postpartum applications of Gyrotonic and Pilates as well as therapeutic applications of the movements. She specializes in injury rehabilitation including shoulder, neck, low back, hip, scolioses and SI pain. She continually strives to deepen her knowledge of the human body, traveling around the country to advance her studies. Her own experiences with past pain and injuries gives her a deeper understanding and compassion for others who are currently struggling with pain or injuries. Through her teaching she seeks to help people of all ability levels lead happier, healthier lives.

Beginning in September of 2009 Heather has embarked on the massage therapy program at the Ann Arbor Institute of Massage Therapy. She hopes to use her massage training to enhance her work with therapeutic movement in addition to providing her clients with a wider range of services. She is scheduled to complete the program in September of 2010.

When she isn’t teaching, going to massage class, or responding to email and phone messages, Heather loves to spend time with her three dogs and her husband. She participates in dog rescue through Colonel Potter Cairn Rescue Network and serves on the board of directors for Happendance, a Lansing-based dance company and school. She also periodically participates in various dance projects in the Ann Arbor area.

Alexi Love

BA Psychology, University of Michigan
STOTT Pilates Certified
Prenatal and postpartum applications of Pilates
Pilates for injuries and special populations
Pilates for golf specialist

Alexi grew up in London, UK, dancing at the Royal Academy of Dancing and enjoys sport and movement of all kinds. Alexi has a BA in Psychology from the University of Michigan and is particularly interested in the health and wellness of women during pregnancy and postpartum. Four years ago Alexi hurt her back while rowing and used Pilates to help herself recover. She was amazed by how challenging and fun Pilates could be and what it could do for her body. She began her instructor training to learn more about how to help others. She is now just finishing her Level 2 Full Certification with Stott Pilates. Her interest in sport has also led her to specialize in the use of Pilates for golf and she enjoys helping golfers to bring a new competetive edge to their game.

Alexi is a lecturer at Eastern Michigan University teaching Pilates and continues to teach at a variety of studios including Liberty Athletic Club, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor YMCA and Ann Arbor Rec & Ed. At Willow she enjoys the opportunity to work closely and effectively with individuals using a wide array of equipment to keep workouts fun and varied.