An Intentional Pilates Practice That Feels Good
Traditional Pilates with modern play —we prioritize healing, stability, strength, and education.
We use low-impact exercises to enhance muscle strength, postural alignment, and flexibility, supporting your body today and decades ahead. We honor the lineage of Pilates while allowing room for individuality and exploration. Expect a disciplined yet creative environment where each exercise informs the next, creating a powerful, full-body experience that deepens both understanding and stamina.
The beauty of the traditional system lies in its repetition—where knowledge deepens, movement refines, and understanding quietly unfolds.
Meet Your Instructors
Miriam Ruth
HEAD PRACTITIONER | CERTIFIED SOMAPHYX®
FOUNDER & OWNER (SHE/HER)
Miriam was first introduced to classical Pilates in high school through her dance program. As she pursued a fine arts degree at VCU and taught visual arts after graduating, Miriam continually returned to Pilates for its ability to make her feel whole, both physically and mentally.
During her time as an art educator, Miriam felt drawn towards teaching movement and helping others discover the benefits of Pilates. She is certified through contemporary STOTT PILATES® method and has completed the Classical Somaphyx® comprehensive training. Together, these trainings deepened her passion for the science of Pilates and the biomechanics of movement, equipping her to skillfully tailor Pilates to diverse needs and anatomical variations.
Beyond her technical expertise, Miriam's unique approach combines anatomy with education, ensuring that her students achieve functional strength, stability, and alignment. Got a question during a session? Ask away! Miriam loves to geek out on all things Pilates, form, and deep muscle connection.
As Eleos Pilates continues to grow, Miriam remains committed to her mission of offering an intentional movement practice centered on overall health, stress-reduction, movement education, and long-term physical wellness in an inclusive and welcoming environment.
COMPREHENSIVE INSTRUCTOR SOMAPHYX® / STOTT PILATES®
Emily Henderson
CERTIFIED SOMAPHYX® PRACTITIONER (SHE/HER)
Emily’s passion for connecting with diverse audiences through storytelling led her to pursue careers in both media and fitness. With over six years of group fitness teaching experience, she finds joy in empowering others to celebrate their movement potential through thoughtful, engaging instruction.
As a Comprehensive SOMAPHYX® Practioner, Emily brings a deep understanding of Pilates and the ability to guide clients confidently across the full range of equipment—from group classes to private lessons. She’s excited to share her expanded knowledge and passion for movement with the Richmond community.
COMPREHENSIVE INSTRUCTOR SOMAPHYX® [Group & Private Lessons]
Rachel Wells
LEAD GROUP CLASS CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR (SHE/HER)
Rachel holds a certification with Balanced Body [Mat & Reformer] and is advancing through the Comprehensive Somaphyx® Pro-Mentorship with Pilates804. She’s thrilled to be deepening her skills and expanding her understanding of the Pilates method.
Her journey into teaching began with the profound impact Pilates had on her own mind and body. Through her training, Rachel discovered a true passion for anatomy, teaching, and connecting with others through movement. In March 2025, she completed The Bodyline Method certification with Maria Leone, furthering her commitment to ongoing education and providing the highest quality experience for students at Eleos.
Outside the studio, Rachel enjoys spending time with her Scottish Folds, Theodore and Alvin, playing chess, online window shopping, and listening to house music.
You can find Rachel leading many of our small group classes as Lead Small Group Instructor, where she blends knowledge and care to create an experience where every student feels safe, supported, and seen.
BALANCED BODY / SOMAPHYX® Pro-Mentorship [Group + Private Lessons]
Emily Walters
CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR + WOMEN’S HEALTH LEAD (SHE/HER)
Emily is a registered nurse (RN) and a certified nurse-midwife (CNM). Prior to joining Eleos Pilates, she dedicated nine years to assisting with labor, birth, and postpartum care. With a passion for women's health, Emily offers safe and empowering Pilates sessions tailored for individuals at any stage of the parenting journey, from prenatal to postnatal and beyond. As the Education Coordinator for Team Eleos, Emily ensures consistency within our programming, instruction, and oversees the educational realm.
Residing in Forest Hill with her husband, daughter, and their sweet dog and cat, Emily is available for client sessions at the studio on Thursdays.
STOTT PILATES® [Group & Private Lessons]
Krystal Maroon
CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR (SHE/HER)
Krystal discovered a passion for Pilates after healing from a hysterectomy and looking to rebuild core strength. She loves the mind/body component of Pilates, and the precise and controlled way it builds strength, tones deep muscles, and develops good posture and coordination.
Krystal is passionate about helping people discover their resiliency through Pilates. She loves creating a welcoming, non-judgmental, and relaxing environment for clients to achieve balanced muscle development and optimal alignment for long term health. She designs every session with the goal that you will walk out feeling happier, stronger, more aligned, connected to your body, and less stressed.
When she is not doing Pilates or chasing and carpooling her three children, Krystal enjoys being outdoors (especially around any form of water), hiking, biking, writing, reading fiction, taking hot baths, and having deep soul conversations. Krystal loves introducing people to the Pilates reformer – there is simply no movement like it! What you learn from reformer Pilates will help you succeed in all other forms of exercise. Krystal is qualified to work with anyone from introductory beginner level to super advanced level Pilates on the reformer.
BALANCED BODY / SOMAPHYX® Pro-Mentorship [Private lessons]
Sarah Maser
CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR (SHE/HER)
Sarah has been teaching Pilates since 2015. She is classically trained through Peak Pilates, and completed their 500-hour fully comprehensive certification while living in Austin, TX. She loves Pilates for the way it engages the whole body for a fun and dynamic workout, that leaves you feeling uplifted, taller and stronger.
She has completed continuing education for a deeper understanding of ergonomics and anatomy, and teaches classes that are challenging while still being safe and accessible for everyone.
She brings a positive, welcoming energy to her class and is excited to share her love of Pilates with you!
COMPREHENSIVE PEAK PILATES [Group & Private Lessons]
Janie Simpson
APPRENTICE INSTRUCTOR - (SHE/HER)
Janie grew up just outside of Richmond, where she discovered her passion for movement at an early age as a dancer. Her love for movement naturally led her into teaching, where she finds joy in sharing her knowledge and helping others connect to themselves through movement.
Janie is a certified 200-hour Vinyasa Yoga Teacher, and has completed her STOTT Pilates Mat training. As an Apprentice at Eleos, she is currently working towards deepening her knowledge of Traditional Pilates by taking regular private lessons, observations, and small group classes. She is excited to complete the path of certification. Now, as a dance teacher, yoga instructor, and Pilates instructor, Janie combines her skills to provide a well-rounded approach. Her classes emphasize technique, strength, and mobility. Janie is passionate about creating an environment where her students feel supported and empowered!
STOTT PILATES® + Eleos Mentee [Group Lessons]
Sydney Stewart
APPRENTICE INSTRUCTOR (SHE/HER)
Sydney first discovered Pilates through her dance training. After experiencing a significant hip injury she saw how incredibly beneficial Pilates truly can be in injury rehabilitation and prevention. Over time Pilates became the only form of movement that she continuously feels energized to pursue.
Sydney has completed the STOTT PILATES® Intensive Mat training program and is in the process of finishing her full Mat Pilates certification with Balanced Body. She is passionate about making Pilates accessible and geeks out over how to help clients adapt an exercise for their own bodies. She aims to help clients discover and build muscle connections and foster a mind body awareness that can be taken into all your other passions. Sydney loves how Pilates is a practice that always offers more to learn and ways to grow no matter how beginner or advanced you are and you’ll always catch her offering up modifications to challenge or assist you in your practice.
Outside of taking or teaching classes you’ll find Sydney in her day job doing research for Etsy, dancing with RVA Tap Troupe, or taking long walks with her rescue pup Rosie!
STOTT PILATES® + BALANCED BODY [Group Lessons]
About Our Name
Eleos, the Greek goddess of mercy, pity, and compassion, inspires us to practice mindfulness in each moment and cultivate self-compassion throughout our journey. While the past is unchangeable and the future remains uncertain, we have the power to focus on the present. Life is characterized by a constant ebb and flow, and to navigate it, we embrace self-love, self-pride, and self-awareness in our daily movements and actions.
Frequently Asked Questions
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The magic of Pilates appears with commitment to the process and consistency. Our students describe their weekly sessions as medicine for the body and mind. Benefits include: longer, leaner muscles, core stability, relief from stress and lower back pain, aids in chronic pain management, better posture, heightened mind-body awareness, increased self-confidence, and reduced anxiety.
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Classical Pilates is a system of movement designed to build strength, control, and awareness in the body. It emphasizes working from the center, moving with intention, and developing a balanced, resilient body over time.
It is taught as a structured system, where exercises are practiced in a specific order and build on one another. The focus is on precision, control, and progression—rather than variation for the sake of variety.
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We recommend beginning with our “Welcome Pack” of 3 private lessons or a Level 1 Mat class. This allows you to learn the foundational exercises, pacing, and language of the work in a supportive setting.
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We are a small, traditional studio rooted in the classical Pilates method. Our classes are intentionally sized to allow for observation, correction, and meaningful guidance. We prioritize depth over volume.
Why do you emphasize form and alignment?
Form is the work. Attention to alignment builds strength that is sustainable, reduces the risk of injury, and allows the exercises to do what they are designed to do. -
What is the difference between your class levels?
Our levels reflect the progression of the Pilates system:Level 1 builds the foundation—learning the exercises, breath, and alignment.
Level 2 develops strength, control, and coordination.
Level 3 emphasizes flow, endurance, and confidence in the work.
Each level builds on the one before it.
Why don’t you offer advanced (Level 4/5) classes?
The most advanced work requires a high level of control and individual attention. We believe this is best supported in private sessions or within a community of experienced practitioners, where safety and precision can be maintained.What is an Open Practice class?
Open Practice is a self-guided class where you move through a set sequence of Level 1 exercises on the mat and reformer. The instructor is present to support and guide as needed. It’s ideal for students ready to take ownership of their practice.Do you offer private lessons?
Yes. Private lessons provide individualized guidance and are the best way to deepen your understanding of the work. They are especially helpful when starting out or working toward more advanced exercises. -
How do I book a class?
All classes can be booked through our online scheduling platform. We recommend booking in advance, as class sizes are limited.What is your cancellation policy?
We have a 24-hour cancellation policy. Late cancellations or missed classes may result in a forfeited session.Do classes expire?
Yes. Drop-ins and class packages have expiration windows. Details are listed at the time of purchase.What happens if I miss a class?
If you cancel within the policy window, your class will be returned to your account. Late cancellations and no-shows are not eligible for re-credit. -
All you need to bring is water and an open mind!
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Wear comfortable clothes that allow you to move easily, such as leggings, joggers, a tank top, or t-shirt. Avoid baggy clothes and loose-fitting shorts. Barefoot or grippy socks are required.
In small group settings, if you feel comfortable, it is best to wear more fitted clothing that allows the instructor to see your body's shape and alignment. This will enable them to provide visual cues that help you maintain proper stability as you move.
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We strive to create a welcoming, inclusive, and judgment-free environment where you can feel comfortable being yourself and moving in ways that work for your body.
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Yes, absolutely! We specialize in adaptive and restorative Pilates, customizing programs to work with and around injuries, pain, or conditions. Pilates is low-impact and can aid in recovery.
We highly recommend booking private lessons if you are in this category so we can fully support your needs.
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Our instructors have either completed or are in the process of completing over 200 + 500 hours of accredited training in methods that are internationally-recognized certification programs.
(Somaphyx, STOTT, Balanced Body, & Peak)
An Apprentice instructor is one who have completed training and are working towards a test out / continued education.
We emphasize alignment, safety, proper technique, and continuing education. -
Absolutely. We offer customized prenatal and postpartum Pilates programs to help strengthen your body, ease discomforts, and restore core strength. Pilates is a safe, low-impact way to exercise throughout pregnancy and motherhood. We also offer Mat Pilates: Pregnancy and Birth to support a healthy pregnancy and positive birth experience. Suitable for all levels and trimesters!
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We have a 24-hour cancellation policy. If you need to cancel or reschedule, please do so at least 24 hours before your scheduled session's start time. All missed sessions or classes will not be refunded in the event of a no-show or a cancellation with less than 24 hours' notice.
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At Eleos, we strive to create a peaceful, safe, and distraction-free environment where everyone can fully immerse themselves in their practice. To maintain this atmosphere, we kindly ask all members to adhere to the following cell phone guidelines:
1. Silence or Turn Off
All cell phones must be silenced or turned off before entering the studio. This includes turning off any audible notifications, alarms, or vibration modes that could disrupt the session.2. No Cell Phone Use During Class
Use of cell phones during class is not permitted. This ensures that everyone can focus on their practice without distractions. If you are expecting an urgent call, please notify the instructor before class and keep your phone on vibrate in your bag or locker.
3. Photography, Selfies, and Recording
To protect the privacy and comfort of our members, photography, video, or audio recording is not allowed during classes without prior permission from the instructor and the studio. If you'd like to take a selfie around the Pilates equipment, please ensure that no other members are in the background to respect their privacy.4. Emergency Calls
If you need to take an emergency call, please exit the studio quietly and take the call outside. We understand that emergencies happen, but ask that you respect the practice space by handling these calls discreetly.5. Pre/Post-Class Use
Before or after class, you are welcome to use your phone in designated areas like the lobby or lounge.By following these guidelines, we can all contribute to a peaceful, safe, and supportive environment for our practice.
If a staff member observes a violation of this policy, you may receive one warning. If the behavior continues, we will respectfully ask you to discontinue attending classes at our studio.
We appreciate your cooperation and understanding.
Let’s Move!
Check out our class descriptions and schedule and reach out if you have any questions! We’re here for you.
