Business Notebook

Clearly Pilates Studio Opens in Sewickley; Ribbon Cutting Planned Today

Sewickley's newest Pilates studio offers a full range of sessions for the advanced or the beginner. A ribbon cutting ceremony is planned today.

Winter skies can be drab and gray, but the bright skylight ceiling and cool blue walls inside the Clearly Pilates studio resemble a tropical retreat, exactly the feel Clare Westwood was going for. “I wanted to bring that feeling of warmth and peace to people who come in after a stressful day, to people who are recovering from a hip replacement surgery,” said Westwood, owner of the Sewickley studio. “This place needs to be a retreat.” The Sewickley resident was thinking along those same lines when she named the studio Clearly Pilates, a title derived from her first name Clare, which means “bright and clear.” On Monday, Clearly Pilates officially opened with a full schedule and a bright future ahead. Located at 352 Beaver St. in the heart of…

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Great Escape

Drop by a Sewickley-Area Yoga Studio and Drop That Holiday Stress

Hit up yoga, Pilates or exercise studios and get a jump on your New Year's resolutions.

  The holidays can certainly be stressful.  Having guests to entertain, meals to prepare, and a calendar to organize can take a toll on one's mind and body.  While all of that holiday shopping may have helped you steer clear of a few extra pounds, adding a relaxing form of activity can help you achieve calm and stay focused  around the hectic holiday season.   Fortunately, several yoga, Pilates and exercise studios are keeping their doors open in the Pittsburgh area this time of year. Here are a few. Be sure to tell us about your favorite exercise spot!   Yoga in Sewickley Yoga in Sewickley at 431 Beaver St., in the Nickelodeon Mall, will be open on New Year's Eve. The $15 drop-in class rate is enough motivation to attend. Classes are 75 …

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Locals Turn Out to Support 'Pilates for Pink'

Treetop Studio saw a great turnout for the free Pilates class.

The Treetop Studio had a great turnout with many women participating in Friday morning's Pilates for Pink class. Many online donations were made to support both The American Cancer Society and The Susan G. Komen Foundation. Each class participant was personally thanked for her donation by being given a challenging, but fun Pink workout. Each participant was also given a gift card for a free future Pilates or Yoga class, and a yummy Ultimate Pastry Shop cookie wrapped up with pink ribbon. Pilates instructor Jenna Componova designed the class as a way to share her Pilates knowledge and help raise funds for breast cancer research. 

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Sewickley Approves New Pilates Studio, Discusses Trees

Council held a hearing to consider a request from Jill Winters to open a Pilates and yoga studio. Officials later discussed tree concerns.

Sewickley is going to have one more place in 2011 to get fit and healthy. Sewickley Council approved a conditional-use request Monday night to allow a Pilates studio to open on the second floor at 441 Division Street, near the former UPS store. Council President Bob Hague and Councilwoman Carole Ford were absent. But before approving the plans, council led a public hearing to consider the request from applicant Jill Winters and to allow open comments from those who attended. Cynthia Dyer spoke on behalf of Winters, who couldn’t be there, and explained that the Pilates and yoga studio would include two Pilates machines and would offer individual or semi-private sessions. In reference to a question raised from Solicitor Richard Tucker, Dyer …

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Sewickley Fitness Folks Get You Moving in 2011

Too much holiday fudge turned you into a pudge? Village exercise experts will help you make your flab budge.

 It is that time of year again. Resolutions are created, then likely broken. No matter who makes the list, Lose Weight/Get Fit always ranks in the top five.  First, one quick word of advice: Jan. 1 is not the end all. Give yourself a break, take a few weeks to enjoy life and reflect on the happy times you spent gaining those extra pounds. Once you finally get moving, you can hit the ground running There are seemingly endless options to getting fit. Many are available here in Sewickley's Village district. While these are by no means the only alternatives available to Sewickley Valley residents, they are tested paths that at least offer a starting point. Here are three local specialists who make fitness their life's work. Perhaps they will …

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