About the Studio
The goal of the studio is to create a community environment where students feel comfortable and welcome no matter what their fitness level. The spacious and natural light filled rooms create the perfect platform for students to quiet their minds and focus on movement. Numerous windows and a set of French doors invite a quintessential Nantucket landscape into view, and bird feeders help to keep the woodland birds busy and singing. Pilo, the resident cat often greets you at the front door when not busy sleeping.
The Studio is fully equipped for Mat classes, Private and Semi-private sessions. We have three Reformers, a Cadillac, four Wall Units, High and Low Chairs, all Barrels, Mats and various Small Props. The Studio prides itself on the amount of student/teacher attention that is offered in all classes. Even in group settings students receive one-on-one attention. The approach is “hands on” which means that our cueing is tactile as well as verbal. Physical adjustments are often made.
Philosophy
Our philosophy is to educate and enlighten and to retain the integrity and discipline of a beautiful method of exercise. The ability to move is a gift worth keeping, but to move well and efficiently requires knowledge, a conscious mind and a commitment to the task. We feel that, attention to detail and form is of the utmost importance. It is never about arriving at a shape, it is about the degree of skill used to get there. Each student comes into class with strengths and weaknesses which are unique to them. It is our wish to give each and every person tools and cues of support, whatever their level. Each student also has the ability to learn to move in a way that they have never been able to move before. We love to help facilitate the numerous wonderful things that happen on that journey: time moves backwards as older bodies become younger bodies, shy students become more confident, painful backs become a distant memory. It’s challenging work, of the most rewarding kind!
About Us
Lisa Silveira
Originally from Rhode Island, Lisa moved to NYC to both continue her dance training and study Dramatic Literature at New York University. After a neck injury ended her dance aspirations, her eyes were opened to the many alternative forms of healing available to all of us. One such treasure was The Pilates Method of Exercise. Having studied dance since the age of 7, Lisa was attracted to the Pilates method’s focus on inner strength, alignment and precision, as well as to its therapeutic applications.
She became a student of the Method in 1989 under the tutelage of Romana Krysanowska, a first generation protégé of Joseph Pilates. At that time, Romana ran an apprenticeship program in which students were allowed access to a training program only after they had an understanding of the work in their own bodies. After 3 years of formal study in that program, Lisa completed her certification for professional practice of The Pilates Method of Body Conditioning with Romana and the Pilates Guild in 1994.
Lisa introduced the Pilates method to Nantucket that same year and then moved to Cambridge, MA to co-run the Pilates Studio at the former Pine Street Dance Studios. During her 7 years in Cambridge, Lisa returned to Nantucket each summer to head her own Pilates program based within the Nantucket Health Club. She moved to the island full-time, in 2002, to open Nantucket’s first fully equipped year-round studio.
Though her original training was in the Romana Classical system, she has gained valuable insight over many years of continuing education with masterful teachers of many influences. Lisa has adapted her teaching style to best guide each individual student to work safely and effectively for their own body.
In 2013, Lisa was introduced to the MELT Method, inspiring her to go straight to the source. She began training with MELT’s creator, Sue Hitzmann and has been captivated by Sue’s brilliant mind. Lisa has continued her MELT training every year and is proud to be a Formal Member of the MELT Instructor Team. In order to share MELT with the Nantucket community, she now incorporates MELT techniques within her Pilates classes and offers MELT Method workshops throughout the year.
Brittany Beauchamp - Virtual Summer Teacher
In 2007, Brittany completed her Classical Pilates training under Brooke Siler at re:AB Pilates in NYC. She has taught extensively in New York City, the Hamptons, London, Paris and most recently Brazil. In 2019, she opened The Pilates Boutique in São José dos Campos, São Paulo. Her teaching style is compassionate, enthusiastic, and deeply rooted in the original exercises and philosophy of Joseph Pilates. This is Brittany's 6th summer teaching at Lisalates! She wishes that she could be at the studio in person (so does Lisa), but is happy to be offering her many years of experience teaching virtually.
In 2018, Brittany traveled to Thailand to study Traditional Thai Massage. She worked with various master trainers and completed programs affiliated with ITM, the Sunshine Network, and the Wat Pho Massage School. She brings this ancient tradition into a modern context with Thai Bodywork sessions, and assimilates its wisdom into her work within the Pilates Method
Pilo The Resident Cat
Pilo had the wisdom to walk through The Studio doors in August of 2008. He clearly wished to call the studio his home, and took on the roll of studio manager! This beautiful boy has become so much a part of our Pilates Home that students look forward to seeing him at the start of each class. Miraculously most people with cat allergies have not been bothered by him. We consider him a healer.
Thanks to our Collaborators
Many thanks to our photographers: Jordi Cabre Photography and Wendy Mills Photo.