Client Appreciation: Barbara Kingstone

Barbara Kingstone is a luxury travel, fashion, and lifestyle journalist, editor, and publisher of Indulged Traveler. With a career spanning four continents, she has cultivated a respected voice in high-end travel, spas, food, and design — known for her refined eye, thoughtful perspective, and honest, detailed storytelling.

Her Pilates journey began decades ago, when her London-based daughter first introduced her to a then little-known practice called Pilates. Curious and open, Barbara began attending early morning sessions in Greektown while balancing a demanding, internationally focused career.

Over time, she followed her trainer to Upper Spadina — a decision that marked the beginning of a lasting chapter. Long before Pilates became mainstream, Barbara aligned herself with strong teachers and a committed studio environment. When Anita took over the studio in 2007, she had the opportunity to continue training Barbara, and from that point forward, Barbara became one of her most consistent and dedicated clients. When not working directly with Anita, she continued her practice with the trusted instructors of Imprint Pilates.

For over 21 years, Barbara has trained with Anita and Imprint Pilates — consistently two to three times per week. Her program has evolved alongside her life and body, thoughtfully supporting strength, mobility, posture, and longevity.

While she prefers to keep her age private, Barbara recently celebrated a milestone birthday in December 2025. She continues to inspire — moving with intention, carrying herself with elegance, and embodying what long-term commitment to wellness truly looks like.

Her dedication has supported not only her physical strength, but also the stamina and clarity required for a life of constant travel and creative leadership. Her consistency is a reflection of discipline, presence, and a deep respect for her body.

Barbara is beautiful, witty, sharp, and effortlessly funny — and she continues to show up. Decades later, she is still going strong with Pilates, and it has been an honour to be part of her journey.

Client Appreciation: Jill Taylor

Jill Taylor is a founding partner of Taylor Hazell Architects, with over 40 years of experience in architecture, heritage conservation, and institutional design. A respected leader in her field, her work spans courthouse design, policy development, and adaptive reuse — known for its depth, precision, and thoughtful integration of history and function.

Beyond her professional life, Jill is also an avid musician, bringing the same discipline and artistry to her instrument practice as she does to her work.

Jill’s Pilates journey began over two decades ago — long before the practice became widely recognized.

As Jill shares:

“I have a busy architectural practice working long hours with little personal time, and not an athletic bone in my body.

Fatigued at 45, in the year 2000, I made a pledge to myself that I would be in better shape at 50 than at 45, at 55 in at least the same shape at 60. Now 70, I am a dedicated three-time-a-week Pilates student, aiming for good health and mobility at 80 and 90.”

When her office was just around the corner from the studio, Pilates became part of her weekly rhythm — a consistent mid-day reset and a non-negotiable in her life.

“Anita’s studio on Spadina evolved out of an earlier one started by Sunny Horvath, and was a home away from home. Close to my downtown office, it was a place of escape at mid-day — for Pilates, for acupuncture with Kris, for physiotherapy with Nam.”

Even through the demands of a full and accomplished career and raising two children, Jill remained deeply committed to her practice. And when life required flexibility, she adapted — continuing with virtual one-on-one sessions to maintain her consistency and connection to movement.

Over the years, the studio became more than just a place to train — it became a space for recovery, connection, and community.

Whether recovering from injury, learning to walk again — twice — managing the challenges of aging, or simply needing the support of community, Jill found both strength and meaningful relationships within this space.

“When the pandemic struck, Anita and her amazing team trained me remotely, keeping me fit and focused. Pilates inspired me, gave me strength and many times, much needed hope.”

For over 20 years, Jill has trained with Anita and the Imprint Pilates team, evolving her program alongside her body and life. Her practice has supported strength, alignment, and longevity — while also offering something equally important: grounding, clarity, and a sense of centre.

Jill carries a calm and steady presence in the studio. She is thoughtful, deeply engaged, and brings a quiet focus to her work. Her dedication is matched by warmth, ease, and a sense of humour — with conversations that are always considered and meaningful.

Her commitment to Pilates reflects a deeper understanding — that caring for the body is essential to sustaining everything else.

Jill embodies consistency, intelligence, and grace — showing up for herself, again and again.

It has been an honour to be part of her journey — and to witness the standard she continues to set.

Client Appreciation: Ava Kanner

Ava Kanner is the co-managing partner of the law firm where she practices and a highly respected lawyer.  Over a career spanning more than three decades, she has appeared before all levels of courts and tribunals and is widely recognized for her ability to successfully negotiate complex settlements — from minor matters to cases valued in the tens of millions.

Ava began her Pilates journey with Imprint Pilates in 2012, initially working with different Imprint instructors and eventually transitioning her focused, ongoing training with Anita. At the time, her firm was located next door at 99 Spadina, and what began as a convenient mid-day break between meetings quickly became something much more — a meaningful moment in her day to reconnect with her body and movement. A number of her colleagues attended and followed, becoming regulars and creating a shared culture of movement within the firm.

From the start, Ava approached her practice with the same precision, intelligence, and attention to detail that define her professional life.  Over the years, her commitment has been unwavering.

Even as her work evolved and we shifted online, we continued supporting her and the firm through virtual Pilates and yoga — maintaining that consistency through every season.

Pilates has remained a constant anchor. It supports not only her strength and body composition, but also her clarity, focus, and ability to sustain the demands of a high-level career. It is a non-negotiable part of her life - something she rarely misses, unless she is out of the country.

Her practice is intentional and deeply engaged — she is highly aware, in tune with her body, and always seeking to understand the work on a deeper level.

Ava brings a beautiful balance to the studio: warm, kind, and effortlessly elegant, with a love for the finer things in life. She is thoughtful, incredibly sharp, and has a natural sense of humour that makes every session enjoyable.

She is also, notably, an excellent negotiator — in both her professional world and occasionally in her exercises… though I’ve learned to hold my ground on a how many reps and at what tension — always keeping things light, yet purposeful.

Her connection to the studio has extended to her family over the years — her husband has joined her, along with both her children, both surgeons, each coming with her to the studio when they are in the country.

It is truly an honour to recognize Ava — not only for her longstanding commitment, but for the energy, presence, and standard she brings into the studio.

While it may be said we shouldn’t have favourites… Ava is truly a joy to train and to be around. Her consistency, curiosity, and commitment to doing things well — in all areas of her life — are deeply felt. And of course, no visit is complete without Myles and Olivia—her adorable corgis—who occasionally attend “paw-lates” at the studio. They are so cute, and despite their very short legs, they somehow manage to supervise every session with full authority (and zero actual effort).

Ava embodies strength, intelligence, and grace, and it has been an absolute pleasure to be part of her Pilates journey.

Client Appreciation: FAGGIE OLIVER

Fäggie Oliver is a Psychotherapist with over thirty years of experience working with children, adolescents, and families. Her work has focused on supporting those navigating psychological challenges, with a deep understanding of development, relationships, and the complexities of growing up in today’s world.

She has been part of the studio community for more than 22 years, a steady and thoughtful presence since the early days. Over time, she has witnessed the studio evolve, and Pilates has grown alongside her as a practice that supports not just the body, but clarity, focus, and connection. Fäggie brings an energy that fills the room.

In her own words:

“Having devoted my life to working with children who, for whatever reason, are different and experiencing psychological difficulty fitting into our complex world, Pilates has been my life saviour. It has been my refuge, and Imprint Studio a safe place to experience my own body.

When people say ‘fix your own body before you fix anyone else’s,’ I came to Pilates not truly understanding that. I do now. Pilates has helped me on that journey and taught me to connect with my whole body.

I say very openly that I could not sit in my chair without Imprint Pilates. Thank you, Anita, for making a safe place.”

For Fäggie, Pilates has been more than just movement—it has been a space for awareness, grounding, and resilience, complementing the work she gives so generously to others.

We are deeply grateful and honoured to have her as part of our community.