Studio History
    The Studio

    Kim Butters was invited to teach a beginner Pilates class for the Sewanee Community at the Fowler Center Gym at the University of the South in September, 2007. The class of 10 people met twice a week, and private sessions in personal training and Pilates were quickly added.

    Stacks Image 67

    By the fall of 2010, Kim was teaching a full schedule of classes—private and duet sessions—three days a week. Two sections of Beginning Pilates had been added to the University’s physical education classes. In January of 2014, Kim reserved the dance studio five days a week. The allotted time in the dance studio quickly filled, and a waiting list for private and duet sessions began to form. Kim felt led to open her own studio to accommodate the growing demand.

    After investigating existing available spaces around campus and finding nothing suitable, she decided to investigate building her own. Kim met with Frank Gladu, Special Assistant to the Vice Chancellor in charge of the Village Development Project, as well as Town Planner, Brian Wright, in February, 2016.

    The proposed location for the studio changed several times as the Village Development Project evolved. Finally, two leaseholders agreed to donate part of their land leases to make a lot large enough for the proposed 1,800 square foot studio in downtown Sewanee. Local architect, Clayton Rogers, was hired to design the building.

    We received the final approval from the University's Lease Committee and Town Planner in April, 2020, and we are looking forward to groundbreaking soon. Until then, private classes, as well as group classes continue at the American Legion Hall and via Zoom.

    TRAINER: Kim Butters
    Kim Butters

    “I believe that movement education is a talent that God has blessed me with. Nothing gives me greater joy than to help relieve someone’s pain and teach them how to stay pain free.”

    Stacks Image 82

    Kim Butters was a middle school teacher in Marion County for nine years. Stress contributed to her being overweight and inflexible. “I was miserable, had low self-esteem, and trouble keeping up with my husband on hikes. A neighbor convinced me to go to an aerobics class with her. I loved it and began to pursue a more enjoyable, healthy life.” She became an AFAA certified Personal Trainer and Group Instructor in 2001 and left the Marion County School system to start her own fitness business from her home.

    Kim would soon discover Pilates, her true passion, at Barking Legs Theater in Chattanooga. "Pilates instructors seemed to have a different—a more healing understanding—of the body. I wanted that!” She became a certified Pilates instructor in 2005 at Corebodyworks in Atlanta and a Pilates Method Alliance certified Instructor in 2010. She worked for nine years in larger studio in Chattanooga and worked part-time as a physical therapy technician.

    She has been teaching fitness classes onsite and online for Chattanooga State since 2001 and was invited in 2007 to teach Pilates to the Sewanee community at the University of the South, where she also teaches Beginning Pilates as a PE class.

    Stacks Image 199

    Kim trained in classical and contemporary approaches to Pilates and studied with Pilates Elders (students of Joseph Pilates), Mary Bowen and Jay Grimes, as well as second generation teachers (trained by an Elder), Michele Larsen, Rebecca Leone and Marie José Blom. She has also completed course work with world-renowned stretching expert, Kit Laughlin, and facial mapping expert, Phillip Beech, author of Muscles and Meridians. She most recently studied with Madeline Black, international leader in Pilates instruction and movement education and author of Centered.

    TRAINER: Liza Sweeting
    Liza Sweeting

    Liza is a psychology major and education minor at the University of the South in Sewanee, TN. She grew up in Nashville, where she danced throughout her childhood. She quickly fell in love with Pilates movements, principles, and people, and she knew she could never live without it.

    Through amazing mentors, Liza found her passion for helping others find health through movement. She was certified by Balanced Body before graduating from Ensworth High School in 2018 and sat for her Pilates Method Alliance exam the summer before starting her freshman year at Sewanee. When debating where to attend college, Liza found Kim Butters, and it seemed obvious that her path led to Sewanee.

    After graduating from the University, Liza plans to attend graduate school for psychology and to continue teaching Pilates. Creating genuine relationships with the community through healthy movement means everything to her. Liza’s goal is to continue to cultivate a safe, welcoming environment for her clients to thrive and grow while working together to reach their own goals.

    Stacks Image 50
    MASSAGE: Matthew Sias
    Matthew Sias

    Matthew Sias joined the US Navy in 1990, sparking his interest to achieve optimum physical health. That led him to want to help others do the same. He coached friends and soon learned that he could make a career out of it. Matthew then earned a BS in exercise science and a personal training certification, which he held for nearly 20 years. Then he attended Cumberland Institute to become a Massage Therapist.

    Matthew understands the importance of proper body mechanics, how the body works, and the importance of manipulating soft tissue, in order to obtain optimum physical performance. He learned that the more he worked with soft tissue, the less his clients were sore or injured and the better they felt.

    The combination of 18 years of personal training experience with his skills in massage therapy have proven to be powerful. In addition to relaxation massage, Matthew also assists clients with resolving a wide variety of physical ailments through a combination of massage and prescriptive ongoing body care.

    "If caught quickly, physical issues do not have to transition to chronic ailments." Matthew’s approach assists clients in minimizing the pain and movement limitations they may be experiencing from ongoing issues. Every person’s situation is unique, which means he has a new opportunity to assist someone and learn from each experience.

    THERAPIES
    Deep Tissue • Sports Massage • Swedish Massage
    Myofascial Release • Stretching • Range-of-Motion

    Media

STUDIO SCHEDULE

Currently at American Legion Hall
or on Zoom app.

(423) 322-1443

Monday-Friday

9-10 • 12-1

Private sessions available by appointment.