Kyria Sabin's wearing of exercise clothes at work may not fit the traditional image of a successful businesswoman, but she is exactly that.
In 2004, Sabin created the COREtet program, designed to help people achieve their Pilates goals in an efficient and affordable way.
On Aug. 2, Sabin opened the first studio made precisely for her trademarked program. Body Works Pilates, on the southwest corner of North First Avenue and West Tangerine Road in Oro Valley, features a three-room, horseshoe-shaped exercise suite.
Her studio can accommodate three COREtet groups of three to four people at once. "What I found is people get more benefit in small groups," Sabin said. "It's efficient - within an hour you get a full-body, complete workout."
Sabin's passion for Pilates grew into two companies: Fletcher Pilates Inc. and Body Works Pilates. She opened the first Pilates studio in Tucson in 1993.
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"I studied directly with Ron Fletcher, one of the original people who studied under Joseph Pilates," Sabin said. Through Fletcher Pilates Inc., Sabin runs a school that trains people to be Fletcher Pilates teachers.
The international school is headquartered at Body Works Pilates, 1980 E. River Road. The school has five campuses in the U.S. and campuses in six other countries. Sabin hopes to encourage her students-turned-teachers to use her business model through a licensing program.
"It provides a business opportunity for our program graduates so that they don't have to re- invent the wheel," said Sabin, 45. "I'm hoping that Pilates teachers will learn how to run their studios more like businesses. This benefits everyone - the clients, the teachers and the owners."
On a recent Thursday morning, a COREtet group was in session. Sharon Mertens, group member and Oro Valley resident, took up Pilates in 2001.
"When you have a place that's convenient, you do it more often," said Mertens, 53. "I do like that you can work with four people at once. You get to be with your friends."
An instructor of four years, Shannon Manuel, trained at the River Road location.
"It has great flow. We're able to utilize everything in one hour," said Manuel, 37. "It's incredibly efficient, the way it's set up."
Sabin summed up her hopes for the new studio: "If we are successful at helping people transform physically, the business will be a success."
This story also was published Thursday in the Star's Northwest section. Contact news assistant Joyce Bertschy at bertschy@azstarnet.com or 573-4332.