Best Yoga Instructor
ing mat classes. Strengththroughlength.com
Gioconda Parker 7% Parker has 15 years of experience and is registered with the Yoga Alliance. She leads retreats in the Caribbean and other exotic resorts; here, she teaches at Castle Hill Fitness as well as her own classes at Gioconda Yoga. Giocondayoga.com
Pilates Bodies & Barre 5% -tie The Power Pilates host training center is a newcomer to the “Best of” list. Pilatesbodiesaustin.com
Zoe Mantarakis 5% Mantarakis, a vinyasa yoga instructor, currently teaches at Yoga Vida. The ten-year practitioner is known to combine fun party events and live music with classes. Yogavidaaustin.com/ zoe-mantarakis
Vlada Sheber, Ballet Austin 9% Now the Pilates program director for Ballet Austin, Vlada Sheber has had a successful career as a company member in Ballet Austin and has received several honors, including one for designing the Butler Community School’s Pilates studio. Balletaustin.org
Dido Nydick 3% Nydick , certified in several areas of yoga practice teaches at several studios throughout Austin for all levels of yoga, including prenatal and yoga for the elderly. Didonydickyoga.com
Best Pilates Studio The first two listings are actually gyms with Pilates classes, while the rest are specialty Pilates studios.
Castle Hill Fitness 21% Coming in first in this category— up from third last year—Castle Hill, located in downtown Austin, offers a variety of top-notch fitness activities and is AFM readers’ first pick for Pilates. Castlehillfitness.com Ballet Austin 13% In addition to the world-class professional ballet productions, Ballet Austin provides Pilates classes at the Butler Community School in the Ballet Austin building downtown. Balletaustin.org Mauro Pilates 6% Last year’s leader in the category was the first in Austin to offer STOTT PILATES equipment. Mauropilates.com Redbird Pilates & Fitness 5% - tie This East Austin studio offers a variety of Pilates and condition-
Best Pilates Instructor
Stephanie Wright, Castle Hill 7% This Pilates instructor seeks to unite people together in her classes. Castlehill.com/pilates-instructors Liana Mauro, Mauro Pilates 7% Formerly a psychotherapist, Mauro now specializes in custom designed motion for her clients. Mauropilates.com
Best Barre Studio The top three studios from 2011 were once again the top three this year, with just a slightly different lineup.
Best Martial Arts Studio Austin Muay Thai & Jiu Jitsu 23% A clear favorite in this year’s race, Austin Muay Thai once again takes the top spot in the results. The studio offers Muay Thai/Thai boxing and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Austinmuaythai.com Fit and Fearless 15% Holding on to second place for another year, Fit and Fearless offers Krav Maga, Gracie Jiu Jitsu, as well as CrossFit Fearless and CrossFit Endurance training. Fitandfearless.com Premier Martial Arts 10% Premier Martial Arts, which combines a variety of techniques with four disciplines, makes its premier appearance on the list this year with a strong third place finish in the voting. Premiermartialarts.com
Best Massage Michelle Hittner, Austin Body Worker 7% The only massage therapist to spend two years singled out for her skills, Hittner is a triathlete, swimmer, and cyclist who understands athletes’ needs. You can also find her backstage at music events like Austin City Limits. Austinbodyworker.com milk + honey 6% This is the first year on the “Best of” list for this award-winning spa. Milkandhoneyspa.com Austin Deep/Massage Envy 5% - tie The all-women staff at Austin Deep doesn’t hold back at getting to the tougher issues with deep tissue massage. Massage Envy, a full service spa, is back a second year on the “Best of” list. Austindeep.com Massageenvy.com
Best Chiropractic Care
The Bar Method 24% Taking a jump from third place last year, The Bar Method takes a jump to first place. Austin.barmethod.com
NextLevel 11% The doctors here have extensive biomechanics knowledge and design care to address your physical needs. For athletes heavily involved in CrossFit, specialized treatments are available. Nextleveldr.com
Pure Barre 21% Once again in the “Best of” list, Pure Barre’s “lift, tone, burn” model is obviously working for its clients. Purebarre.com
Austin Sports Therapy 8% One of the company’s physicians, Dr. Arbuckle, recently competed in the Austin’s Fittest Doctor contest. Outside of the competitive arena, the group tailors a physical regimen to specific injuries. Austinsportstherapy.com
Dancers Shape 8% Owned by a former New York dancer, Dancers Shape is about maintaining the highest level of fitness. Dancersshape.com
Advanced Rehabilitation 6% Advanced Rehabilitation debuts on the list this year. They offer free injury evaluations for new patients every Wednesday from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at all of their four locations in the Austin area. Atexrehab.com
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