“Pilates in the Hood” is a community-based Pilates program founded By Kim Carruthers in 2005 within the cities of Inglewood, Lynwood, Pacoima, South Central Los Angeles, East LA, Norwalk, Panorama City and surrounding areas of greater Los Angeles County.
This pioneer program provides on-site Pilates instruction to adults and children to whom Pilates has never been readily available due to expense, geography and exposure.
The success of “Pilates in the Hood” has attracted national attention. The program has been featured on ABC 7, The Today Show, Newsweek, and KABC, just to name a few. “Pilates in the Hood” has been recognized by Pilates Method Alliance, The State Senate and the Mayor Of Inglewood. “Pilates in the Hood” has programs within local schools and the Boys & Girls Club as well as family resource centers.
The following article was originally published on abc7.com on September 10. 2019
Free Pilates classes offered at Inglewood Family Resource Center
By Ashely Mackey
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (KABC) — Pilates classes are not always the most affordable, but celebrity Pilates instructor, Kim Carruthers, is trying to make her classes more available to different communities.
“My program is called Pilates in the Hood and what that is, is just bringing Pilates to neighborhoods that don’t have the options or don’t have Pilates programs,” Carruthers said.
Carruthers said she teamed up with L.A. Care almost 11 years ago to make Pilates more accessible.
“A lot of the exercises are really good for brain acuity. Studies have proven that it helps kids with test scores. It helps with stress and anxiety and so many different things,” Carruthers said. “It’s a lot about coordination, about focus, and about determination.”
The L.A. Care Family Resource Center in Inglewood offers her Pilates class, free, every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday — for everyone!
“I feel like I’m going to start squeaking pretty soon.” Alyce Green said. “I’ve got to keep the oil in there some kind of way,” Green said.
Alyce Green, who is 61 years young, stays active by going to the free Pilates class two, sometimes three times a week.
“I can’t stop now,” Green said. “It’s like, you know, you get addicted to it.”
“It’s absolutely free, so that in it of itself is something so awesome for this community. It’s something that is not offered everywhere,” Mori Edwards said about the free Pilates class.
Edwards, who used to be a dancer, said these Pilates classes are the next best thing to being back on the dance floor.
“I’ve lost weight and definitely reshaped my body, gotten back into some good condition,” Edwards said. “And it makes me feel really good every time I leave class.”
Not only is class free, but they also offer free child care, but one of the things that the class participants are saying is priceless, are the community bonds they’re able to form at the classes.
“Oh gosh! Community. Family. I love how we come together and while we’re waiting to be called in we get a chance to say ‘Hey, how are you, how’s it going,” Edwards said. “So, community, family, connection is a great thing we get to take away from being here.”
