Science Meets Soul
The Science of Pilates
Pilates is a rejuvenating practice that immeasurably improves posture and alignment by conditioning the body and bringing awareness to the core (the deep abdominal and back muscles). Pilates’ unique ability to activate the body’s supportive musculature, dynamically stabilizes the spinal column and pelvis structure, helping clients to alleviate physical discomfort and improve functional movement. Clients experience improved strength, posture, and quality of life.
No two bodies are alike.
We Celebrate Individuality
Our classes are client-driven and immersive. We use carefully chosen Pilates props and focused, full body movement to create entirely unique strengthening exercises for each client, every class. Skilled in recognizing imbalanced movement patterns, we teach you to reorganize how you sense your body, resulting in better alignment, increased flexibility, and a sculpted physique.
“The Mongoose Bodyworks method reorganizes the neuromuscular system to work with efficiency and grace. As a result, your body grows stronger and you become healthier, happier, and more clear-headed.”
Halle Clarke, Founder
This studio is a gem – the perfect space to experience Pilates. Personalized, specific instruction provided with great care and expertise. So glad to have discovered it.
Best pilates in NYC hands down. Halle runs an amazing, friendly, and comfortable shop with all the bells and whistles (even flower arrangements in the studio) and I have been seeing serious results. I go twice a week and my quality of life has significantly improved. I highly recommend Mongoose Bodyworks.
My confidence in their instructors’ expertise is why I continue to practice Pilates through Mongoose Bodyworks Studio on a weekly basis fifteen years after I discovered them!! Thank you, Halle and the Mongoose Bodyworks team; thank you.
Intelligent Care with pilates therapy
Our reputation is well established: physical therapists, orthopedists, and surgeons frequently refer patients to Mongoose Bodyworks for the treatment of complex conditions. Our wealth of knowledge, comprehensive training, and holistic approach makes us the studio of choice for those experiencing any of the following: scoliosis, pre- and post-natal, osteoporosis, post-rehabilitation, arthritis, hypermobility, spinal pathologies, stenosis, spodylothesis, spondylolisthesis, disc pathologies, degenerative disc disease, rotator cuff injuries, knee and hip replacements, neck and cervical spine issues.
(Pilates is not a substitute for medical care.)
The Mongoose Bodyworks Pilates Collective
Mongoose Bodyworks instructors are seasoned professionals with unrivaled training and a deep understanding of anatomy and biomechanics. We are highly experienced, and our education runs the gamut of somatic disciplines, including Pilates, yoga, dance, massage, reiki, and energy work. This advanced skill set informs our work with clients, so as best to elevate your fitness practice, address dysfunction, and alleviate any pain. By nourishing the mind / body connection, we guide you to achieve lasting improvements to your physical and mental wellbeing.
Halle Clarke, NCPT
A second generation Master Pilates teacher, Halle Clarke has committed her life to the practice of healing through movement education. She opened Mongoose Bodyworks in 1999, and the studio still occupies the same spacious Soho loft some two decades later.
Born in New York City, and raised in the hamlet of High Falls, New York, Halle recalls a carefree childhood in motion: “My body and movement were my connection to the world. My career as a dancer and as a movement educator is an extension of that immersive mind/body connection.”
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Halle majored in dance at the prestigious Tisch School of the Arts, NYU. Seeking relief from a series of overuse injuries, she began training closely with two of Joseph Pilates greatest protégées, Kathy Grant and Romana Krysanowska. These mentors set Halle on a lifelong path of learning, teaching, and healing.
Her extensive knowledge is manifold and interdisciplinary: Ballet, Modern Dance, Pilates, Biomechanics, Idiokinesis, Alexander Technique, Feldenkrais Method, Cranial Sacral Therapy and others. Halle sees a full roster of loyal clients and treats for a multitude of conditions.
A noted teacher’s teacher, Halle also regularly instructs physical therapists, yoga teachers, and Pilates teachers, helping them to deepen their respective understanding of biomechanics, and hone their teaching skills.
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Halle’s ability to work so it depth with your particular issue by way of clear, meticulous explanations and encouraging mental concentration teaches me something new about my body and what I am capable of every session. I take it with me through my day and feel aligned, balanced and in control.
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Grace Gummer, Actor
Melissa P.
Level: Senior
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Born and raised in Hawaii, Melissa’s passion for fitness and movement have been ever present. She grew up swimming and running throughout the islands and completed her first marathon during her senior year at The University of Southern California. After a few more marathons and some minor injuries, she was introduced to Rehab Pilates as a way to increase strength and achieve muscle balance.
Melissa was able to see how incorporating a Pilates practice into her active lifestyle not only kept injuries at bay, it improved her body’s ability to recover and increased the mind-body connection.
In 2021, Melissa was finally able to pursue her Pilates teaching certification through The Kane School of Core Integration in New York City. She is excited to show others how to utilize the core principles of Rehab Pilates to work through injury recovery, improve muscle strength and deepen the mind-body connection.
Heather D.
Level: Senior
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Heather first tried Pilates over a decade ago to alleviate her back pain — and she’s been a devotee ever since. She initially became an instructor with the intent to enhance her own practice. For the past 12 years, Heather has been teaching Pilates in New York City to help others achieve better alignment, tone, and muscle strength. Her certification is from the PhysicalMind Institute in NYC, Soho. She also practices at Samamkaya Yoga, a back care and scoliosis collective, and is in an Advanced Studies program.
Amy G.
Level: Senior
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Amy is a Kane School of Core Integration Certified Pilates Instructor. She enjoys helping others to heal from injury and pain and improve their overall fitness through a holistic approach. Her comprehensive training allows her to create customized Pilates wellness programs for those suffering from: hip and knee pain, pre and post joint replacement surgery, osteoarthritis, and back pain. She holds certifications in Functional Anatomy for Movement & Injuries ( FAMI), level one and two. She is also a Certified Holistic Health Counselor through the Institute of Integrative Nutrition.
Chelsa C.
Level: Expert
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Chelsa is a Kane School of Core Integration Certified Pilates Instructor and a creative entrepreneur focused on reimagining the beauty, fashion, and health & wellness spaces. She holds a BA from Indiana University and L1 & L2 certifications in Functional Anatomy for Movement & Injuries (FAMI).
Chelsa was introduced to Pilates by a friend years ago and has been hooked since, leading to her to pursue her own certification. She enjoys helping others heal from injury or chronic pain, and working to improve overall fitness, strength, and balance through a holistic approach. Her comprehensive training allows her to create customized Pilates wellness programs. She has seen her own body change and heal from her 3 pregnancies and particularly enjoys working with others on their postpartum journeys.
Ashley M.
Level: Expert
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With certifications from the Kane School NYC and the Gyrotonic Method, Ashley brings a wealth of knowledge and a deep understanding of movement mechanics to her Pilates instruction. Her professional background as a company dancer with the renowned Trisha Brown Dance Company informs her teaching, blending artistic expression with a keen awareness of alignment, fluidity, and strength.
Ashley’s approach is rooted in functional movement, focusing on helping every day clients cultivate a deeper connection to their bodies, improve posture, and develop strength and mobility in a way that supports their daily activities. She tailors each session to meet individual needs, whether guiding athletes toward peak performance, assisting individuals in rehabilitation and injury prevention, or supporting anyone seeking to enhance overall well-being.
Ashley fosters a welcoming and supportive environment where movement becomes not just an exercise but a pathway to vitality and confidence. Whether your goal is to strengthen, restore, or refine, she is dedicated to guiding you on your journey through private Pilates sessions in Soho at Mongoose Bodyworks.
Elizabeth C.
Level: Expert
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Elizabeth Cooke, of Mongoose Bodyworks in Soho, is a former professional dancer who has been practicing Pilates for over two decades. She is passionate about using Private Pilates to help clients create healthy movement patterns that support their daily lives and long-term goals. Certified through the Kane School at Kinected in NYC, Cooke brings a her knowledge and personal experience to her teaching. Having successfully used Pilates to manage herniated discs, a torn meniscus, and other injuries, she specializes in Pilates for injury prevention, recovery, and functional movement.
Cooke takes a thoughtful, client-centered approach, tailoring sessions to individual needs and helping clients build strength, resilience, and confidence in their bodies. When not teaching at Mongoose Bodyworks, she enjoys exploring with her husband, kids, and dog.
Shields W.
CURRENTLY NOT AVAILABLE
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Shields Way is thrilled to be on the dynamic team at Mongoose Bodyworks. Shields received her Pilates Education at the esteemed Kane School in NYC. “Pilates is more than just a fitness routine; it’s a therapeutic methodology that fosters wellness not only for the body but also for the mind.” Her journey to becoming a Pilates instructor took a fascinating turn from a decade-long career as a fashion historian. Seeking a more direct and meaningful impact on individuals, Shields embarked on a career pivot, finding fulfillment in helping others achieve their wellness goals through Pilates. Shields takes immense joy in working with a diverse range of people and bodies, passionately sharing her love and deep understanding of Pilates with her clients. She shares her life with her husband and their two goofy dogs, adding an extra touch of warmth to her holistic approach to well-being.
Emily B.
CURRENTLY NOT AVAILABLE
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