Tell me a bit about yourself?

I see my job as teaching, not instructing. That means I am dedicated to working with you, the person in front of me, not some idea of a body that we’re taught is the ideal. Can’t touch your toes? Ok! Tore your ACL on a ski trip? Ugh, how painful and frustrating! Haven’t exercised in ten years? That’s fine! Now, let’s address your aches and pains and get you moving. 

As a teacher, I want you to be able to apply what we do in class to the rest of your life and feel better in and about your body. I like to think of it as teaching skills vs. teaching to the test.

Alex L. Phillips has been featured in Courier Magazine, 20 Minuten, and BuzzFeed News

What should I expect from sessions with you?

I’m not going to tell you to keep doing something that is truly painful, but I will make you work hard. What’s important to me is what you actually get out of our sessions, not the illusion that sweat, blood, and tears mean positive change is happening. I’ll ask you about things like your left big toe or your hips being a few centimeters out of line. Will that make class tough? Yeah, it will. But we’ll laugh a ton during our sessions, and there is no need to apologize if you're having a low-energy day. It happens to all of us and is a normal part of life. This is how we get you building strength you’ll one day be surprised to discover you have.

Besides teaching, what do you do?

Pilates is my full-time career.

What kind of training do you have?

I’m a certified Comprehensive Studio Pilates teacher and I have an honors post-graduate degree in experiential learning, focusing on adults, from the University of Cumbria (UK). My undergraduate degree is in art history, which taught me how to look closely at details and ask questions, something I use every day in my work. I began coaching in 2004 and I've been teaching fitness and movement full-time since 2016. I was also trained by the National Outdoor Leadership School and worked in their expedition operations and administration.

I am always taking continuing education courses with researchers, Pilates specialists, and physical therapists, including Dr. Bre Dumke Helfrich and Dr. Marshall Hagins.