Yoga has really helped my strength and breathing techniques. I have noticed that I can swim under water for a longer time than before. I enjoy the classes and it’s a fun break from my busy work life. Both teachers are great and I like that they cater for beginners and help you push yourself to try new things. I am now able to do more complicated inversions and hope to get more flexible and strong.

Sagar Shah – Most Improved 2015

Jeanique has been my teacher and mentor for 2 years and she has held my hand through a body and spiritual transformation I would have never imagined could happen to me.

Thanks to Jeanique, my body went from being a stiff stick with too much tension in each single muscle to a much more balanced system where flexibility and strength work together in an harmonic manner.. I almost look like a Yogi now! Thanks to Jeanique and her hands on approach to the yoga practice, I was able to get strong enough for my first headstand and tripod headstand! I am sure I would have done it to a nice solid handstand pretty soon if I hadn’t fallen pregnant in the meantime (with some needed changes to my sense of balance)!!

During my pregnancy I kept training with Jeanique. She recommended me to switch to Pilates and helped me sort some pregnancy ailments such as back pain in no time. The training program she thought for me in this delicate time of my life was exactly (and I mean EXACTLY) what my body needed. We worked on strengthening my back line to ensure my body had the right support for a growing belly. We focused a lot on my feet and how to build the right support for my changing body starting from the root.

All the work I did with Jeanique on my physical body has had a fantastic impact on other more spiritual bodies too! I became a yoga teacher and definitely a bit of that tension I originally had all over my body and mind was released making me a better person inside as well! Jeanique is an amazing teacher. She studies you until she knows exactly how your body moves and knows exactly what is better for you (even better than yourself!! It’s incredible!!). Additionally to this she respects your state of mind completely and yet provides the right exact amount of encouragement when needed. Jeanique is exceptional! With Love.

1. When you decided to take Pilates were you skeptical it can actually help you get into shape?

Yes, I was skeptical. I respected Jeanique as a yoga teacher. I felt that her yoga routines made me healthier and fitter. However, Pilates seemed like something that only advanced users can do – it looked like a combination of ballet and cross training from the pictures! Being a beginner in all things related to exercise, it was intimidating. But I was willing to learn from Jeanique because she is a teacher who pays close attention to participants who are serious and guides them according to their limitations – I felt I needed an approach like that in my new health & wellness journey.

2. What convinced you that it works?

Experiencing it. I joined a 20-class private class package with Jeanique. I struggled at first, but slowly I began to discover muscles and tissues I didn’t know I had. It was a whole new level of consciousness. I could now better understand what caused stiffness in my neck or the slouch that made me slump not just in my posture but also in my personality. It really did give me a spring in my step and after every class I felt like I could take on the world.

3. What was your biggest take away?

My biggest takeaway is that we need to understand our bodies. We need to channel what we learned in middle school science – how all organs, blood flow, muscles, bones, nerves are all connected with each other – and when you start taking care of one part, you understand the next part and so on. When you understand your body holistically, your mind opens up, ideas open up, feelings are managed – you can do anything!

4. Would you advise anyone who is trying to lose weight to start practicing Pilates and why?

Yes – but you need to be ready to take responsibility for your health. Pilates needs to be kept up as a practice. If you do, it automatically helps your entire body function better as an organic system, which ends up enhancing any other exercise you would have in your routine – be it a sport or running or just walking.

5. What would you say is the difference between the traditional way of losing weight and Pilates?

Losing weight often revolves around numbers and targets. Pilates is a more holistic and long-term view of your health – it’s not about numbers, it’s about being well, not just for now, but in general.

6. Can you share your journey so far?

My journey with Jeanique started out in her yoga studio, where I responded well to her firm but compassionate teaching methods. When I needed to address my health issues, I sought her out and started Pilates with her, and this quite literally changed my life. Pilates has opened up my body to me – it gives me control, pliability and energy. When I keep it up regularly, I see a significant difference in my posture, form and overall fitness. The Pilates studio is a safe space to push your body’s limits. I am still learning, and there is so much to learn – and I can’t think of a better teacher than Jeanique. She guides gently while keeping things real. She shares her knowledge sincerely. She helps you move forward if you meet her half-way. I hope to continue my journey with her.

Students of the year 2017

Mina Ulvanevich

Prior to Jeanique Yoga and Pilates, I had only done random mat classes in a group gym session before I joined Jeanique and started my practice.
There are a day and night difference between the two. The mat classes I attended before was all about toning. It was seen as just an exercise class. With Jeanique Pilates became a way to achieve self-awareness of the body and mind and to connect between the two. My initial goal going in was to tone, however after a month or two of steady practice my goals completely changed. They shifted to finding connection within my body, and then go deeper and understand that connection better.
I had no idea when I first joined it was a classical Pilates studio. However, I thank my stars that it was. If I stated with a modern Pilates class that is what it would have been for me… a class. With classical Pilates, it becomes a practice that is used every day. The methods, connections, and awareness that classical Pilates teachers don’t stop once the class is done. You don’t need a reformer to practice them. I use the connects I’ve made and the awareness I’ve learned throughout every day and when I do other forms of exercise. One of the greatest things about Pilates for me is that it’s not something you can perfect – there is always room for growth and progression. Thus I never reach my “goal” because I know I can always work on deepening a connection or bringing more awareness into the pose.
You always have to learn the basics first. To truly practice Pilates you need first need self-awareness of how your body moves. Classical Pilates teaches you this first crucial building block. Once you start to have awareness you can start making connections, then you start to deepen those connections and the progression is endless.

Cecile  Hermann

Before I started Pilates I was doing Body Balance where I had a small taste of Pilates. Little did I know though that there’s more to Pilates than I originally thought. When practicing traditional Pilates I have learned what integration meant. Which is to connect the mind, the body, the fascia, all the parts together. Knowing that to truly be in control all these parts need to be one and under my own conscious control. That’s also why I love this method so much because we are all one way or another trying to “ be in control “ of ourselves. Like I said before we can rarely control the world. But by working on ourselves which is the only control we really have, – we receive the internal strength. This makes us feel that we can handle life a little easier and any circumstances that come our way big or small. I truly believe that every woman should know that – this is our superpower. By taking care of ourselves we are nurturing that power and we go about life with that thought in mind. I love that the fact that with Pilates I can tone my body, correct my posture, and keep all my joints healthy. But the most important thing for me is to keep my mind strong and centered, which Pilates helps me with. continue reading 

Aline Vacheron

I have known Jeanique Lascar for 10 years and followed her in every step she took to develop her potential and talent at fitness training.

Jeanique has an incredible awareness and knowledge of the human body and this has proved highly useful to me as an athlete. Not only, I have improved my overall fitness but also my understanding of the sports (mainly triathlon and long distance running) I have been practicing for years. I was originally complementing my training with weight training which I completely gave up to the benefit of pilates to which Jeanique introduced me too about 4 years ago. As any athlete, I was then regularly subjected to injuries.

Pilates has allowed me to manage and cope with injuries, heal them and understand how to avoid for injuries to repeat. Pilates is an incredible complement to daily life and sports activities.

I am privileged to have worked with Jeanique with her high technical knowledge of the discipline and the human body. She also taught me how to master and channel my mental energy in competitions and performance. I cannot only recommend to run to her for coaching.

Aline Vacheron ~  Marathon Runner, Classical Pilates Teacher

( 1970 – 2018 )