โ€˜American Fabricโ€™ Film Being Produced In K-Bar Ranch!

A Local Gastroenterologist & Award-Winning Filmmaker Shoots A Short Film At Her New Tampa Home
(L.-r.) โ€œAmerican Fabricโ€ stars Hana Soomro (who plays Lina), Carina Conti (who plays Nila), and screenwriter, producer & director (and K-Bar Ranch resident ) Dr. Nyla Hazratjee at one of the location shoots for the short film that Hazratjee plans to submit to film festivals by May of this year.ย (Photo by Charmaine George)ย 

One young American woman of Muslim descent decides that she wants to start wearing a hijab (the Muslim head scarf), while another decides she doesnโ€™t want to wear one anymore.

A discussion at the local mosque on Morris Bridge Rd.? Perhaps, but itโ€™s also the basis of the story for โ€œAmerican Fabric,โ€ a short film being shot in part in the K-Bar Ranch community that is being directed by K-Bar resident and local gastroenterologist Dr. Nyla Hazratjee.

The promotional poster for โ€œThe Persian Version,โ€ the award-winning 2023 feature film for which Nyla was the executive producer.

Nyla, who also wrote the script for โ€œAmerican Fabric,โ€ is already an award-winning filmmaker. She was the executive producer of the full-length feature film โ€œThe Persian Version,โ€ a heartwarming โ€œdramedyโ€ that made its debut at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival and ended up winning two prestigious awards there โ€” the Audience Award for the U.S. Dramatic Competition and the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award for writer/director Maryan Keshavarz.

But, Nyla says that โ€œAmerican Fabricโ€ is her first foray into writing and directing a film herself and she called our office just a couple of days before we went to press with this issue to invite us to her home in K-Bar Ranch to take pictures and interview her. She told me that her short film, which she hopes to have completed in time for the domestic film festival season this spring and summer, is โ€œreally about empowering women.โ€    

โ€œIโ€™m a producer by trade and also by personality,โ€ Dr. Nyla Hazratjee told me following the first of three days of shooting for โ€œAmerican Fabric,โ€ the film she wrote and which represents her directorial debut. โ€œI think lots of women are producers in their lives as well, so I think that led me to that part of the film industry.โ€

As for why she decided to direct this time around, she said, โ€œI wrote the film and I knew what I wanted it to look like, so who else?โ€

As for the filmโ€™s subject matter โ€” the decision by young Muslim women as to whether or not they want to wear the hijab, Nyla said, โ€œI do wear the head scarf, but I didnโ€™t always. And, I think every day I have to make the choice as to whether or not I want to keep wearing it. I know so many women who either didnโ€™t wear it but started wearing it and so many more who did wear it and decided to not wear it anymore.โ€

But, she adds, that choice isnโ€™t really what the film is about, โ€œItโ€™s really about my body, my choice, and I believe that most women can relate to this kind of a story. Itโ€™s a personal story, but I believe it should have a wide relatability.โ€

This photo and the photos below are scenes from โ€œAmerican Fabric.โ€ย (Photos by Charmaine George & Gary Nager)

She added, โ€œMy body, my choice is about feminism but it isnโ€™t just about taking it off, itโ€™s also about putting it on โ€” and that itโ€™s really up to you what you do with your body. But, in womenโ€™s world, so many other people feel that they have agency over a womanโ€™s agency.โ€

The two main characters in โ€œAmerican Fabricโ€ are Lina (played by Hana Soomro), a young model who decides during a photo shoot that she wants to start wearing a hijab, and Nila (played by Carina Conti), who is a hijabi who decides she wants to stop wearing hers. 

โ€œThereโ€™s a quiet acceptance that comes into these girlsโ€™ lives, as they come to their [separate] decisions,โ€ Nyla says, โ€œdespite all of the opposition that theyโ€™re receiving from their friends, their families, men…to say, โ€˜This is what I want to do and Iโ€™m going to do it regardless.โ€™โ€

Nyla, who is actually from Pakistan herself, said that part of her motivation to make โ€œAmerican Fabricโ€ was because, โ€œWhat we call โ€˜Brown Hollywood,โ€™ or Muslim Hollywood, is made up of a diaspora (a group of people who share a cultural, religious or regional origin but who live outside of their traditional homelands) โ€” so Muslim, Middle Eastern, North African and all of those other voices combined. So, when we meet each other, we meet as if weโ€™re old friends. Some of the actors in this film are of Persian (from Iran) descent, some are Pakistani, some are Indian and some are not of that region at all.โ€

(l.-r.) Producer Nadia Cox, costume director Noor Hamid, hair & makeup artist Jess Marie, cinematographer Tian Liu, 1st assistant director Rebecca Saionz, Dr. Nyla Hazratjee, 2nd assistant director Chelsea Butz and production designer Tanya Kayani of โ€œAmerican Fabric.โ€ย (Photo by Charmaine George)

She also is proud of the mix of ethnicities in her mostly female cast and crew. โ€œOur cinematgrapher is Chinese American, our first assistant director (AD) is Caucasian…I think we have all of our bases covered as far as races are concerned. And, weโ€™re also mostly a local Florida cast and crew.โ€

Nyla also gives a shout-out to the Tampa Bay Film Commission. โ€œTheyโ€™ve been wonderful, super-helpful and they try very hard to accommodate the things that a filmmaker needs to make a film happen here. So, weโ€™re super lucky.โ€

As for the film itself, Nyla said the names of the two female leads were chosen intentionally.

โ€œOne is Nila and the other is Lina, so theyโ€™re like two sides of the same coin, even though theyโ€™re not at all the same personality-wise,โ€ Nyla said. โ€œBut, all of their experiences throughout the day, as we end up as this party, are similar, even though they come to very opposite decisions. But, isnโ€™t that the female condition? Thatโ€™s really what we want to show.โ€

She added that she definitely relates to both characters, โ€œAnd I think that most women will relate to pieces of each one of those characters. And thatโ€™s what Iโ€™m really hoping for.โ€

  Nyla also said that now that production of the film has wrapped, she has a wonderful, experienced, super-talented film editor, originally from Egypt, and she expects that it will take โ€œabout a month, if weโ€™re really good about it,โ€ to edit the film. โ€œWe really want to catch the film festival season, which starts about April/May, so that we can take it to all women-centric festivals, all Muslim-centric festivals, all Florida festivals, hopefully some international festivals and some of the major festivals that we will do our best to get into. Weโ€™re excited about pushing the story and getting as many people as possible to experience this film.โ€

Nyla also has a nonprofit film production company called NY/LA Productions, which is, โ€œa female-driven, female-centric production company which produces and promotes films with female and Muslimeen (female Muslim) voices. โ€œWe look for funding from federal and local grants, as well as local donors,โ€ she said. โ€œWe just received an $8,000 grant from a nonprofit charity called โ€˜200 Muslim Women Who Care,โ€™ which is based here in Tampa Bay.โ€

She also noted that NY/LA Productions also promotes, produces and develops โ€œprojects in the making, finished projects that need to be promoted, and invite audiences to view them.โ€

Nyla also mentioned working with a University of Florida professor named Iman Zawahry, who directed โ€œAmericanish,โ€ a 2021 feature film that NY/LA Productions helped bring to the Tampa Theatre for a screening with about 400 people who attended, โ€œand โ€˜Americanishโ€™ has been acquired for release by several screening services, which is really great for them,โ€ Nyla says. โ€œImanโ€™s been a great mentor for me and other young and aspiring filmmakers.โ€ 

She added, โ€œWe do often get scripts sent to us and we see if they fit what weโ€™re trying to do. And, if theyโ€™re in line with our ideas and goals, we are happy to help.โ€ 

As for how โ€œAmerican Fabricโ€ will be distributed, Nyla said, โ€œShort films are tough for distribution, but there are now some streaming services that will acquire short films, including WeShort and Hollywood Just4Shorts, to get short films to a greater audience. HBO does acquire some shorts and we will try our best to find a place to distribute it. Otherwise, Iโ€™m sure we can find somebody to acquire us for a streamer. And, thereโ€™s always YouTube and Vimeo. The film also will be available to anyone who goes to our website,ย NY-LA-Production.org.โ€

As for how this married, busy mom-of-two gastroenterologist finds the time for the film business, she says, โ€œI donโ€™t know, midnight-4 a,m.? When you have a passion for something, you find the time. Where thereโ€™s a will, thereโ€™s a way, right?โ€

Rep. Driskell Discusses The State Legislative Session

District 67 State Representative and State House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell is already up in Tallahassee, awaiting tomorrow’s start of the Regular 2025 Session of the Florida Legislature.

But, on Feb. 26, Rep. Driskell was at the New Tampa Performing Arts Center, in front of 50-60 New Tampa residents (there may have been a few people from outside of our area, too), discussing that upcoming session.

Rep. Driskell said that serving in the State House, “has been the greatest honor of my life, but as you know, we are living in some heavy political times and there is a lot going on.”

She noted that Florida’s state government is somewhat mimicking the federal government, in that all four legislative houses have a Republican majority (a super majority here in Florida), and both chief executives โ€” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and U.S. President Donald Trump โ€” also are Republicans.

“It’s going to be challenging,” Rep. Driskell said of the upcoming legislative session, “especially when it’s already obvious that the State Legislature is in a posture to support the agenda of President Trump.”

Rep. Driskell said the state legislature already has held three special sessions on immigration. “We learned a lot from that,” she said. “There were two immigration bills that passed and I believe both are unconstitutional on their face, which I why I voted against both of them. But, I do urge the U.S. Congress to pass some meaningful legislation on immigration in its upcoming session.” She also noted that the bipartisan immigration bill that was on the table last year, “was effectively killed by then-candidate Donald Trump and I believe we need to get back to that (bill).”

As for the bills she plans to sponsor in this year’s regular session, Rep. Driskell said, “I’ll be carrying two bills with respect to the challenges we’re facing with governmental interference in health care, particularly with abortion. The first bill would kill the 6-week abortion ban and take us back to a time when patients and their doctors and families made those decisions. That would take politicians out of the exam rooms.”

She added that the second bill she’s bringing to session says that, “If we’re continuing to have this (six-week) ban, we need doctors to understand what the limitations are. We have heard stories about women getting to the point where they have sepsis because doctors are afraid to treat them because they don’t want to face criminal liability. This bill will provide clarity so health care professional can treat women. We don’t want women dying because doctors are afraid to treat them.”

Rep. Driskell also is carrying a bill about water quality, both with regards to drinking water and with red tide. “It’s shocking how much lead is in our drinking water,” she says. “We know there is lead in the water fountains at our schools.” She also mentioned that there was a red tide task force that worked on that issue two years ago, “but the recommendations have just sat there and have not been implemented. We are pushing to adopt those recommendations to protect our water.”

The State House Minority Leader also plans to work on tweaking the cemetery legislation she previously passed to help honor those buried in abandoned cemeteries, another to have a court reporter present during child custody hearings, “which can often get contentious,” to preserve the record of what is said during those proceedings, and more.

Rep. Driskell says she knows that nothing will come easy for her minority party this year, “But I have never been afraid to call out my fellow legislators or the governor when I feel they are moving in the wrong direction, focusing on the wrong things and not prioritizing you.”

We plan to receive additional updates from Leader Driskell after this year’s session ends, which is scheduled to be on May 2. 

37 Couples Wed On Valentineโ€™s Day By Crist!

Newly elected Hillsborough Clerk of the Court & Comptroller (and Tampa Palms resident) Victor Crist was the officiant at the “Tie The Knot” wedding ceremony of 37 couples on a gorgeous Valentineโ€™s Day at the Joe Chillura Courthouse Square in downtown Tampa.

This is the 17th year the Hillsborough Clerk of the Court has presided over the mass ceremony, which has had a total of 325 previous couples get married.

Call Heat Wave Pressure Washing For Residential & Commercial Exterior Cleaning!ย 

Owner Brennan Vargas of Heat Wave Pressure Washing can make the exterior of your home or business look like new.ย (Photo By Charmaine George)

Whether youโ€™re looking to bring the freshness back to the exterior of your home or business, Heat Wave Pressure Washing has got you covered! Based in Wesley Chapel, Heat Wave provides residential and commercial pressure washing services to customers located in Pasco, Polk, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties. 

Owner Brennan Vargas, a Wesley Chapel High graduate, is dedicated to both his work and the companyโ€™s legacy. Brennan started in the pressure washing business as a summer job when he was 20 years old. Although it initially wasnโ€™t something that he was particularly passionate about, Brennan says the inspirational influence and mentorship of the businessโ€™ previous owner, Christopher Brenner, showed him that he and the business could grow. 

Unsure of what he wanted to do at the time, Brennan asked his father Chris if he knew of anyone looking for help. When his father mentioned Brenner, who was in Chrisโ€™ networking group as a potential resource. At that time, Brennan says he couldnโ€™t predict that the connection, and the summer job that came from it, would fuel his entrepreneurial growth and future. 

โ€œOriginally, when I first started working there, I was just looking for something to do over the summer,โ€ Brennan recalls, โ€œsince I wasnโ€™t planning on going to college.โ€ 

Halfway into that first summer position, Brennan could see that Brenner really wanted to grow Heat Wave Pressure Washing. So, Brennan decided to stick around and help his boss with that endeavor. The positive work environment, and his appreciation for Brenner, led Brennan to continue with the company. He credits that relationship for teaching him to be the conscientious businessman that he is today. 

โ€œ[Brenner] taught me to be extremely meticulous, find a solution, do the research, donโ€™t speak out of pocket, and come to the client with what you can do for them,โ€ Brennan says. โ€œAnd then, when you canโ€™t do [something] for them, you help them figure that out.โ€ 

That service-oriented, mindful approach shaped Brennanโ€™s attention to detail and his desire to always provide stellar work during his seven years with the company. 

But then, when Brennan purchased Heat Wave in April of 2024, he kept the name to honor the legacy of Brenner, who passed away in 2023. The insights and lessons Brennan gained over the years, under Brennerโ€™s tutelage, still guide his work ethic today. Those lessons also are obvious in the way Heat Wave Pressure Washing approaches every job. 

โ€œWhether itโ€™s paver sealing or pressure washing your house, itโ€™s about preserving your investment,โ€ Brennan explains, โ€œand making sure that whoever is working on your property knows what they are doing, is using the right stuff, isnโ€™t going to kill a bunch of plants, or alter the color of your paint. When weโ€™re cleaning a roof, for example, weโ€™re covering everything [below it] that is delicate. We put bags on the bottom gutters for collection. We always go the extra mile.โ€ 

Those are just some of the precautions that Brennan and his team of technicians take at Heat Wave Pressure Washing. They also do everything they can to protect any wildlife at the site, by choosing cleaning products carefully, as well as checking for nests and animal burrows. Looking out for the propertyโ€™s landscaping and fauna is part of that preparation, too. 

(Before & After photos, provided by Brennan)

While Heat Wave incorporates these and other mindful practices, Brennan shares that heโ€™s heard too many horror stories from too many of his customers who have had bad experiences with other companies. โ€œIโ€™ve met guys whoโ€™ve killed every single plant on a property,โ€ he says, โ€œand that can end up being like $8,000 to $10,000 to replace, over the cost of an $800 pressure washing job!โ€ 

Protecting your investment from these mishaps is exactly why Heat Wave Pressure Washing exercises due diligence and takes precautionary measures ahead of time. Brennan says that using mainly soft washing, at low pressure, and using the proper solutions also are key. Since many of the solutions that take care of algae and mildew are chlorine bleach-based, they unfortunately alsoย can kill plants. To avoid this potential outcome, the Heat Wave techs apply a neutralizer on nearby plants to protect them from chemical exposure. They also use a very diluted bleach-based solution that has a surfactant (surface-active agent) that helps it stick to surfaces. This keeps the solution from dripping all over and enables the team to use less solution in order to get surfaces clean. Covering less hearty plants with tarps is another especially important step the techs take when washing roofs.ย 

Brennan knows that attention to detail, and incorporating ongoing advances in the industry, will continue to add to the stellar services Heat Wave Pressure Washing already provides. 

โ€œIโ€™m a bit of a nerd sometimes,โ€ he admits. โ€œI really like the idea of innovation. Since Iโ€™ve taken over, Iโ€™ve purchased systems that allow me to control things more delicately, so that way I donโ€™t need to use as much solution.โ€ 

With an eye to the future, Brennan also says that he sees himself continuing to learn everything he can about how to make the work safer and more efficient. โ€œExpanding the business, and improving how things are done, are my two big goals for the future,โ€ he says. He adds that he is hoping to add more like-minded people to his team and would like to eventually franchise the business. 

Brennan stresses that pressure washing isnโ€™t just something to consider for curb appeal before selling your home, or for when the homeowners association comes knocking at your door. He recommends that people consider his companyโ€™s services as part of their regular property maintenance routine. โ€œAddressing issues immediately is one of the best things owners can do, especially when it comes to emergency clean-ups,โ€ he says. 

Left unattended, potential issues can easily compound. Brennan describes an instance where a call from an elderly widow turned into a much bigger project than initially anticipated. 

โ€œShe hadnโ€™t had anything taken care of in quite a few years,โ€ he explains. โ€œIt was supposed to be just a simple pool cage and deck cleaning, but when we got back there, she had weeds as tall as her pool cage. It was genuinely like a jungle.โ€ 

Brennan was undeterred by the challenge and went above and beyond. He rallied a couple of buddies โ€” a landscaper and a pool cleaner โ€” and together they tackled it all. They cleared the overgrowth, cleaned the pool and pool cage, and repainted the deck. True to the lessons he learned from Brenner, he gathered the necessary resources to address the clientโ€™s needs, which shows in the companyโ€™s online reviews. 

โ€œIโ€™m incredibly impressed with the fantastic job done by Heat Wave Pressure Washing! They transformed the exterior of my property, removing grime and dirt with their thorough and effective cleaning. The teamโ€™s attention to detail and dedication to delivering top-notch results truly stood out. Iโ€™m beyond satisfied with their service and would highly recommend Heat Wave to anyone in need of professional pressure washing.โ€ – JaRhonda M. (on Yelp) 

That commitment and follow-through is what makes Heat Wave stand out. Whether for a residential property or a commercial business, Brennan Vargas and his team are ready to help. 

For more info about Heat Wave Pressure Washing, or to request an estimate, call (813) 693-5522, visit TampaWash.com or see the ad below. While most estimates can be done over the phone, Brennan says more complex jobs may require scheduling a visit to the site.ย 

Start 2025 Strong(er) With The Unique Training Options At Euro Pilates!ย 

Instructor Allison Martin leads a Reformer class at Euro Pilates, which is located just south of County Line Rd. off Bruce B. Downs Blvd. in New Tampa. (All photos by Charmaine George)ย 

The new year is here, and if your resolution is to prioritize your health and start 2025 on a strong note, Euro Pilates has the expertise and community support you need to improve your flexibility, strength and overall well-being. 

Euro Pilates, established in a different location in 2007 and now located behind Walgreens at the southeast corner of Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. and County Line Rd. in New Tampa, is a studio specializing in Pilates and flexibility training. Owner Maria Ivanova brings a wealth of experience to her role, having a background as a professional gymnast, as well as a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Sports Education & Movement from Moscow University in Moscow, Russia. Maria also has served as a USA Gymnastics National Team coach and national judge, working with elite athletes both in the U.S. and internationally. 

Maria is an advanced Stott Pilates (see below for more information about Stott Pilates)certified Master Instructor, a TRX trainer and was the first Total Barre-certified instructor in Florida. Stott Pilates, which was created in 1988 by actor/entrepreneur Lindsay and former dancer Moira Merrithew (Stott was Moiraโ€™s maiden name), is designed to restore the spineโ€™s natural curves, rebalance muscles, and improve core stabilization. TRX (which stands for โ€œTotal Resistance Exerciseโ€) training, developed in 2001 by former U.S. Navy SEAL Randy Hetrick, utilizes suspension equipment to build strength and flexibility. And, Total Barre combines ballet barre exercises with Pilates principles, strength training and yoga for a full-body workout.ย 

Maria takes pride in the unique combination of training disciplines she offers at Euro Pilates. 

โ€œMy clients get more personalized training than at some of the other Pilates studios out there,โ€ she says. โ€œI believe that helped us survive Covid.โ€ 

During the pandemic, Maria and her daughter Ania, who also worked at the studio at the time, pivoted to offering Zoom classes. Although Ania now lives in Denver, she remains actively involved in the business by teaching online classes. 

Mariaโ€™s journey to Pilates is deeply personal. โ€œI was born in Russia with severe scoliosis (curvature of the spine),โ€ she says, โ€œI became involved in gymnastics at an early age, which helped with that condition. I moved to Australia with my family at age 15.โ€ 

Euro Pilates owner Maria Ivanova also provides private Pilates lessons at her studio.

Maria began her Pilates studies in 2001, after moving from Australia to Tampa. She says she was looking to improve the performance of the athletes she was working with through specific strength and conditioning exercises when she found Pilates. 

โ€œI wasnโ€™t as involved in doing gymnastics myself at that point,โ€ she says, โ€œso when I decided to try Pilates, I immediately felt its benefits. Two sessions later, I was hooked. I wanted to do more, so I became certified.โ€ 

Euro Pilates offers both individual and group Pilates classes utilizing a variety of equipment. Unlike many Pilates studios, Mariaโ€™s group classes are capped at five participants, allowing her and her fellow instructors to provide nearly individualized attention. She doesnโ€™t categorize her classes by levels but instead works with each client based on their abilities, even in her small group settings. 

For beginners, the studio offers a special package of three one-on-one sessions for $135. To ensure a solid foundation, new clients are required to complete at least two private sessions before joining the studioโ€™s semi-private or group classes. Please visit Euro-Pilates.com to see availability and to secure your spot.ย 

โ€œEuro Pilates doesnโ€™t sell memberships,โ€ Maria says, โ€œwhich is one of the things that makes us unique.โ€ Instead, clients can purchase individual sessions or packages of multiple sessions, which come with a discount. Mariaโ€™s goal is to make Pilates safe, fun and accessible for all. 

She explains that she has three types of clients. โ€œMost of our clients are either athletes who have had an injury and need rehabilitation, or someone who has had surgery and needs rehabilitation, although we also have clients who participate in Pilates to strengthen their bodies, so they can prevent injuries in the future. Regardless of how they get here, I give them 100%. I try to help them, and in most cases, if they do the work and stick with it, the results are amazing.โ€ 

Speaking of amazing, here is what two of Mariaโ€™s clients are saying: 

โ€œI have been going to Euro Pilates for seven years and have gone from constant back pain to almost no pain. I credit Maria with this transformation. Everyone who trains there is welcoming and the classes are genuinely fun.โ€ โ€” Kathleen C 

โ€œThe Reformer, chair, barre, yoga and combination mat classes offered at Maria Ivanovaโ€™s Euro Pilates studio in New Tampa are my favorite antidote to aging. Since I began Pilates exercises, my posture is improved, my core is strengthened and my muscle tone is coming back. Combined with the mental focus required to maintain balance and correct form, Pilates has become my most reliable weapon to combat fatigue and stress. Maria is Stott Pilates trained and youโ€™ll be in good hands with her and her professional, dedicated and expert staff. My husband was so motivated by my positive experience that he has also started Pilates in search of relief from years of back pain. We tell everyone we know that they will love their time and effort at Euro Pilates.โ€ โ€” Lisa D 

Lindsay and Moira Merrithew and their team of sports medicine, fitness experts and physical therapists, created Stott Pilates to be a more modern version of traditional Pilates, which was first developed and brought to the U.S. by German-born Joseph Pilates in the late 1920s; he patented 26 different apparatuses to use during Pilates training. 

While it follows the principles of regular Pilates such as breathing, concentration, and movement, Stott Pilates focuses more on the alignment of the posture. Regular Pilates training will have you work with a flat back, but Stott Pilates uses the natural curvature of your back and several specialized pieces of equipment are integral to the Stott Pilates practice. 

The โ€œReformer,โ€ for example, features springs, ropes and pulleys to provide a versatile full-body workout. Adding a โ€œJumpboardโ€ to the Reformer offers an enhanced aerobic experience. The โ€œBarrel,โ€ another common tool, is a curved, padded structure designed to strengthen the core and improve spinal alignment. Among the variations, the โ€œLadder Barrelโ€ and โ€œStability Barrelโ€ cater to different levels of challenge. 

(l.-r.) Allison, Maria & fellow Euro Pilates trainer Cecilia Little are all certified to teach on all of the Pilates equipment at the studio.

Another noteworthy apparatus at Euro Pilates is the โ€œCadillac,โ€ a piece of equipment designed by Joseph Pilates himself. Named after the luxury car brand, the Cadillac comes in two forms โ€” a full version and a more compact wall unit. Both support a wide range of movements and exercises. In addition, the โ€œChairโ€ is perfect for those who prefer or require seated positions but also is adaptable for advanced, high-intensity workouts. And finally, โ€œMatโ€ Pilates can be done while using only a mat and various other gym equipment such as fitness balls, weights, resistance bands, etc. This is typically used when someone doesnโ€™t have Stott equipment at home and is taking an online class. 

The staff at Euro Pilates also is highly trained and certified. For example, Cecilia Little, who was diagnosed with Cervical Spondylosis in 2013 and was advised to try Pilates as part of her treatment, says she quickly fell in love with the method and pursued Mat and Reformer courses. After moving to the U.S. in 2016, Cecilia furthered her education by completing additional courses on Pilates equipment such as the Cadillac, Chair, and Barrels. She is now a fully certified instructor with eight years of teaching experience. 

Fellow Euro Pilates instructor Allison Martin first joined the studio as a client. She became an instructor through Mariaโ€™s encouragement. 

โ€œAllison has a background in dance, track and cross country, as well as powerlifting,โ€ Maria explains. โ€œI saw her love for Pilates and approached her to become one of our trainers.โ€ 

Allison holds an American Council of Exercise (ACE) personal training certification and became a certified Stott Pilates instructor in 2021. She says Pilates has taken her body and her fitness to a new level. 

Among the different individualized classes provided at Euro Pilates are โ€œSilver Group Classesโ€ which include Stretch and Reformer Express, focusing on control and precision. The โ€œGold Group Classes,โ€ such as Reformer and Combo, are ideal for clients familiar with Pilates principles and equipment. All classes are 50 minutes, except for Reformer Express, which is 25 minutes. More information about each of these options, along with scheduling and pricing, can be found on the studioโ€™s website. 

Euro Pilates is located at 20743 Center Oak Dr. in New Tampa. For more information, visit Euro-Pilates.com, call (813) 756-4000 or see the ad below.