Shearwater Movement & Paseo Pilates - Santa Barbara, California

Alison K.

I have been to Shearwater Movement and Paseo Pilates many times for private classes with Kiran. She is very professional, knowledgeable, passionate, and compassionate. She is very aware of what is acceptable for your physical condition and limits. The studio is very clean and bright and private. I recommend this studio and Kiran without any hesitation to anyone who has an interest in Gyrotonics and/or Pilates.

Karyn S.

I am someone who loves to play sports, but I have never liked any type of structured exercise. I have been shocked at how much I am enjoying Kiran's virtual pilates mat class! I am always surprised at how quickly the class seems to go by. Generally, I am so miserable with typical exercise classes that they seem like they will never end! I LOVE the convenience of not having to leave my home to get in quality exercise, and I feel like I am experiencing less back pain as a result of Kiran's class. Additionally, Kiran is very accommodating to limitations resulting from injuries, etc. Thank you, Kiran for providing such a fantastic class. I am so grateful! (P.S. This would make a great gift to give to someone!)

Ray S.

I’ve been working out with Kiran de Wilde at Paseo Pilates for two years couldn’t be happier. Workouts fly by and get results. I look forward to my weekly dates with Kiran — and, take it from me, the pleasantness factor is a big help where maintaining a longterm exercise routine goes.

The Paseo Pilates studio is in midtown SB, near Paseo Nuevo and a half a block off Chapala. It has its own own small but convenient parking lot. There’s a waiting room, a bathroom, a changing room, and two light-filled exercise rooms, one of them well-equipped with Gyrotonics gear, the other one with Pilates machines. This is the opposite of a high-stress place for showing off your latest gym fashions. Instead it’s a modest, lowkey studio for highly personalized one-on-one workouts.

Pilates is familiar to most people but Gyrotonics deserves a word of explanation. It’s a system that combines elements of Pilates, yoga, dance and qigong. Probably the most striking thing about it are the flowing, mostly circular movements. In my experience, Gyro isn’t just great for fitness, it’s also very healing. It’s made my spine, my hips and my shoulders much happier than they used to be. I’ve had better luck with Kiran as a physical therapy person than I’ve had with actual PT people.

Kiran herself is as smart as can be, down-to-earth, funny and companionable. I’ve worked out with first-rate people in big cities and Kiran’s as good as any of them. Her technical knowledge is really impressive. She’s well-trained in Pilates and Gyro, she knows the body’s bones and muscles, and she has a background in gymnastics and dance. She’s organized and considerate, her prices are reasonable, she makes scheduling painless, and her spirit is generous and helpful.

She’s also remarkably intuitive and adaptable. Tell her where your aches are or let her know about your fitness goals, and she’ll create routines and sessions that’ll help enormously. She has a spookily great eye — she’s able to see when you're properly engaged and when your attention is slipping. She’ll keep you working hard and honestly, and her touch and corrections are extremely helpful. I always leave feeling both well-worked-out and refreshed.

Tl;dr: Supernice lowkey studio; ultra-pleasant, reasonable and organized dealings; and a fun and smart trainer who has a magic touch. (Kiran has a partner at the studio named Sarah who specializes in Pilates. I can testify that Sarah’s superfit and super-pleasant, but I’ve never worked out with her.) Thanks to my sessions with Kiran, my fitness level is ‘way up and my achiness level is ‘way down. I’ll be working out with her for a long time.

Zoe N.

I have been doing Pilates and Gyro at this studio for over five years now. Kiran and Sarah both have been dedicated teachers and inventive with creating workouts for someone who has some limitations. The studio is clean and inviting. Classes are private and always running on time. I know this studio is an oasis for all who have the chance to work out there.

Michelle P.

As a life-long dancer and yoga practicioner, I felt like I had a solid understanding of body mechanics and alignment. But an injury stemming from my high flexibility made me seek out deeper knowledge. I found that in Kiran Dewilde at Paseo Pilates. With her incredibly well-trained eye she immediately discovered the root of my instability that many yoga and fitness teachers had overlooked in my hyper-mobility and how well I compensated with other muscle groups. Kiran gave me exercises that at first seemed very subtle but quickly revealed the smaller muscle groups and areas where I need to build more strength and awareness. She has also worked really creatively with me to find a set of exercises I can do while traveling, when space and time are limited. This includes using small items I can easily bring or re-purpose that can assist me in doing exercises (even while on long sitting stints on airplanes) in the safest, most effective way possible. She is so kind and encouraging and inspirational, a perfect person to help you through the humility and adventure of having to acknowledge weakness and re-learn your body. In a short time, I already feel the positive results of this work, feeling more stable and stronger from within. I am so grateful for Karin's help & knowledge! And, the lovely, spacious studio is conveniently located downtown and is well-equipped.

G A.

I have had the pleasure of joining in on Kiran’s online Pilates mat sessions. She is a gifted instructor, and I have had a great workout each time!

Kelly K.

This summer I joined Kiran’s online mat class and it was a fabulous experience! Kiran was encouraging as I learned the exercises and gave helpful feedback to make sure I was doing them correctly. Highly recommend Kiran’s classes!