Breaking Boundaries with a Progressive Pilates Style

Step into the world of fitness innovation with Andrea Speir, an esteemed Pilates practitioner renowned for her innovative approach to workout routines. But what sets Andrea apart isn't just her mastery of Pilates; it's her clientele that truly turns heads. With a star-studded list boasting names like Olivia Rodrigo, Chrissy Teigen, John Legend, and Zooey Deschanel, Andrea's style isn't just making waves—it's creating a tidal wave of fitness fervour in the celebrity world.

While Andrea faces the same challenges as any other trainer, her unique fusion of Pilates with various movement methods has garnered significant attention. Exploring a diverse range of disciplines, from ballet barre to high-intensity interval training, dance cardio to spinning, Andrea seamlessly integrates these elements while maintaining the core principles of Pilates. This approach has not only captivated her celebrity clients but also garnered interest from fitness enthusiasts seeking innovative and effective workout routines.

With a background in Classical Pilates training, Andrea describes her style as anything but traditional. “After 10 years of teaching classical Pilates on Gratz equipment I wanted to challenge myself and my clients differently,” she explains. "After immersing myself in Pilates for years, I couldn't help but feel the pull towards exploring other movement methods. It was about maintaining the integrity of form-focused Pilates while infusing it with the incredible benefits of other formats."

“My style most certainly evolved over my first ten years teaching private sessions. I began by incorporating the reformer sitting box on the floor for step ups, burpees, mountain climbers, tabata, you name it. From there, I began integrating the use of props like dumbbells, glider discs, resistance bands and tubes, Bosu balls, and more. I found by having moments to spike the heart rate, my clients anaerobic zone of work and VO2 max improved immeasurably, and improved their connection to their form on the reformer. Their results increased at a quicker and more dramatic pace, and the variety kept them invested and motivated,” she explained.

“Let me give you an example, I might use the reformer sitting box placed on a mat to the side of the reformer, and incorporate rounds of tabata on the box to elevate the heart rate and build cardiovascular endurance, then bring it back to the reformer. I fuse these movements in, based on what the target in that part of the reformer flow is - if it’s upper body, I will bring it off the mat and add heavier dumbbells for endurance and bone density, then bring it back to the reformer to target the smaller muscles like the triceps, or open up the pecs and strengthen the postural muscles with some good old fashion Pulling straps. Everything comes in an educated approach, to elevate the client’s personal goals and needs while allowing them to get more of an all-in-one approach, thus cutting out the need to go to the gym after their Pilates session,” said Andrea.

“At the same time I still use the Classical repertoire as the base of my movements while adding a contemporary flair. My clients benefit from this approach because they are getting an athletic push, while not sacrificing their form, or the ‘why’ that Pilates brings. This allows them to work at all levels safely toward their goals. This format is used by me personally and is how me and my teachers at Speir Pilates work for both private, group class and virtual video workouts.

“When I teach our instructors at Speir Pilates, or lead a teacher certificate training in LA, I also emphasize the importance of HOW you teach. Community is everything, making sure clients (even in a large group class) know you see them, you are here for them. It’s also important to emphasize the need for observation at all times. For example, if something isn’t working, seamlessly move out of it. If they are looking connected and strong, challenge them with one more variation. Always watch their bodies and listen to them. Encourage everyone to feel powerful by using effective language – because the words you use hold weight. Give them either a reason to work hard and stay in it, or allow them to come out of it without feeling like they couldn’t do it. I play into personal connections and universal truths here. I will let a client know it’s ok to go with a modification and let them know I do that as well, while at the same time helping to guide them into where the focus on form should be. In the end, it’s the form we’re after, not the variation they chose for their bodies that day,” she said.

And it’s this style of Pilates that Andrea has created that’s attracted a fair amount of the Hollywood crowd because in her words “…we focus on what is needed in the time that they need it. Pilates is, in its essence, about consistency. That’s the most important part. Results don’t come overnight, we are regularly practicing for the longevity and trajectory of our body and overall wellness. The way in which I approach a workout depends on someone’s personal needs, goals and timeframe (which can sometimes be a tight turn around for a movie or awards show), as well as what I think they need. I use my background in adding in different modalities and props, and know when, why and how they work. This allows me to use that great base of Pilates, but work within a more specific timeframe and goal. We focus on ensuring their form is number one, which keeps them from getting injured and allows us to focus on what is needed with the inclusion of our fusion style. I love the challenge and getting to work with some of the most brilliant and kind clients, including Jonah Hill, Shay Mitchell, Ashley Olson, Elle Fanning to name a few. It’s my clients that inspire me daily,” she recalled.

“If I were to offer advice to fellow instructors, I'd suggest that the most crucial tip is to refrain from improvising. Go get certified in the style of aerobic fitness you’re interested in, and learn the ‘why’ behind the form and the formatting. This will help you understand when and where to incorporate those movements into your Pilates formatting. For teachers right now, the main thing I've learned is to always think like a student. Take workout classes around your town, including workouts outside of Pilates. You will always take something away, whether it’s an inspiring takeaway, or something you realize affected you in a not-so-great way. These are huge learnings and will keep you connected to what matters to you and your career,” she said.

“At the end of the day, I think my audience feels a similar pull to Pilates that I do. They love to be educated on their physical health, work toward longevity with their bodies and minds, and have fun while doing it. This is how I feel and what I hope lights a flame in my clients. People who've joined our community resonate with this approach, and it's incredibly rewarding to have this extended family of individuals, both near and far. I feel very lucky and fulfilled!”

Andrea Speir, a seasoned Pilates instructor with over 18 years of experience, is renowned for her innovative blend of modern cardio aerobics with traditional Pilates techniques. Andrea owns Speir Pilates in Los Angeles and spends her time teaching private sessions and managing the On Demand platform.