Austin's First Pilates Studio Started
in a Living Room
Wendy LeBlanc-Arbuckle and Michael Arbuckle opened The Pilates Center of Austin in 1993. Thirty three years later, we're still here.
You're Two Steps From Joe Pilates Himself
In 1993, Wendy earned her certification under Romana Kryzanowska, one of Joe Pilates' original protégés and the person most responsible for carrying his method forward after his death. She came home to Austin and started teaching out of the family room of their house on Zennia Street.
That was the first Pilates studio in Austin.
When Michael set out to build the equipment Wendy needed, Romana welcomed him in and gave him the specifications for Joe's original apparatus. So the machines were right too. His convertible Reformer and Half Cadillac design was never patented, and every major equipment company builds a version of it today.
Every teacher who has taught at the PCA traces their training back through Wendy to Romana, and through Romana to Joe. That lineage is still how we teach, and it's the reason a class here doesn't feel like a class anywhere else.
Our Mission
At the Pilates Center of Austin, our mission is to empower everyone to reach their full movement potential by transforming pain points into strength, ease, and resilience.
Thirty Three Years, One Studio at a Time
Wendy and Michael charted the highpoints themselves, from the sawdust on the front porch to the car that came through the studio office. Open any leg of the journey below.
- into the kitchen
- then the living room
- shortly after, the dining room
- then the guest room
- and finally the front porch
There are nowhere near enough words to express our gratitude for the journey we have taken with the PCA over the last three decades: the thousands of clients and students who have inspired and taught us so much, all the remarkable teachers who have joined our staff over the years, our partners and colleagues, and our awesome Austin community, that was our home for 25 years. We thank you all for the great and precious privilege it has been to share our lives, dreams and visions together.
Each one of you beats in the heart of the Pilates Center of Austin.
With deep love and respect,
Wendy & Michael
"The road goes on forever, and the party never ends."
The Next Thirty Years
In 2022, at the start of the PCA's thirtieth year, Wendy and Michael passed full ownership to Marcos Apodaca, who had been teaching here for eighteen years by then and had carried the studio through COVID as Co Director. Wendy still mentors teachers and offers continuing education through the Center.
Today, with Senior Teachers Erik and Laura and a staff that shows up for this work every day, the PCA serves the Austin community through Pilates, Gyrotonic, and MyoFascial Release. Meet the teachers who carry it forward.
Come See What Thirty Three Years of Practice Looks Like
New to Pilates, or coming back after time away, you'll be taught by people trained in a lineage that runs straight back to Joe Pilates.
