Have you visited all of our studios? If you buy a package at any Pendleton studio, you can use your classes at our four Cincinnati area studios. Kate Graham at her Loveland studio. Sonya McDonnell at her West Chester studio

It is officially the holiday season and this year I am particularly aware of Christmas past. It was exactly ten years ago when I finally admitted to a handful of friends and family members that I was “struggling” with my relationship to alcohol. More truthful words were unavailable to me at the time; words like sinking, dying, miserable, soul-sick, paralyzed and unaccountable, not to mention alcoholic. I told my friend Tina on Thanksgiving Day. We stood together in her cold garage, smoking cigarettes. I had a glass of wine in hand. I always had a glass of wine in hand. I told her I was going to quit drinking. And she burst into tears. She had been about to launch into the speech she had prepared for me, the one in which she was going to tell me her grave concern for me, the one she knew might end our friendship, the one where she told me she couldn’t bear to go on watching me dissemble into alcoholism. I drank my way through the holiday season, miserable. It is the worst thing: to be compelled to drink when it brings you no comfort, no joy. But on December 28th, ten years ago, I took my last drink. I started in a 12-Step Program and, within weeks, got on a Reformer for my first-ever Pilates session. I am 100% serious when I tell you that every good thing I have today is the direct result of these two programs of action. This year I have watched someone I deeply care for fall down hard from the disease. And I have watched him pick himself back up, one day at a time. And we are all watching an even better version of his best self re-emerge. Last week I witnessed some of First Step Home’s graduates explain how a year of sobriety had profoundly changed their lives. These are the best kind of miracles. Every day there are people who wish to change and cannot. They are not ready. But every day, there is someone out there who is ready to take the brave and terrifying step to change their lives forever. And they do it. They make a phone call or tell a friend or find help in some meaningful, active way. I understand that there are many ways to enter the fire. I understand the need to cozy up to change, whether that means stalking it on the internet or lying in bed thinking about what you know you need to do. I understand the irrational dread of a life without so much pain and misery. And I am here to promise you that if you are ready, we are ready to help you. If your way back to your best self is through movement alone, we will do everything we can to make your Pilates practice profound for you. And if you need help with a greater struggle, particularly with addiction, I will personally do whatever I can to help you get into a program of action that can help you. My cell phone is 513-470-5548. It would be my honor to hear from you or from someone you love. Thank you, all of you, for your beautiful commitment to your best selves and for making our community a powerful place for change. Stacy Sims From left to right: Sue Sherman, Katie Shaver, Cheryl Johnson, Laura Benson, Linda Hamilton, Amy Desjardins, Mel Gaskins and Jennifer Starner. Julian working with Stacy on the Ladder Barrel. Stacy works with teacher Derek Mize on an advanced move. Graduates Congratulations to our newest class of teachers who finished their training in August! You have probably met some of these wonderful teachers and if you haven’t, you will certainly see them in one of our studios soon. Ongoing Education and Studio Accolades We’ve been busy working to keep ourselves educated about best practices in the Pilates industry. We sent Sarah Eastlake, Allison Roebker and Melissa Kaiser to the PMA conference in Florida last month and brought in internationally known Julian Littleford to conduct a weekend workshop for us in September. We were also featured as a Studio Success Story in Balanced Body’s recent catalogue/magazine. Balanced Body is the world’s leader in Pilates equipment and information. Look for a copy of the article at the studio. Teacher Training January Have you been thinking about joining our Teacher Training class? Why not do it this winter? Turn those cold days and dark nights into something positive and by spring, have the best Pilates body ever and be ready to turn your passion into something that helps others. Most of our trainees teach for Pendleton Pilates and earn their tuition back within a year in wages and free Pilates. We start up on January 5th and would love to hear from you if you are interested. Snow vs. Pilates It is definitely that time of year again. And you can bet that there is going to be a time when you aren't sure if your class is going to be held due to inclement weather. We will update the Webscheduler schedule at www.pendletonpilates.com with class cancellations. It is web-based so we can update it in real time so we don't have to make a weather call the night before a storm may or may not hit us. In the event we are holding class and you cannot get there due to weather, please do let us know by email or phone. You will not be charged for the class so long as we hear from you. Price Change for 2008 The good news is that the majority of our pricing will remain the same as of January 2008. All Group Reformer package pricing remains the same AND we will be offering our clients the chance to purchase a $40 private session every time you buy a Group Reformer package with us. We hope you will take advantage of this great price and wonderful opportunity to spend time with an instructor to find out how to take your practice to the next level. To that end, we are adding in the benefit of Private Sessions to our Unlimited Packages as of January 1, 2008. A six month contract will entitle you to unlimited classes and one free private within the contract period and a year contract will entitle you to unlimited classes plus two free privates within the contract period. Current contracts will remain unchanged but new contract pricing is as follows: $180 per month for a 12-month contract; $200 per month for a 6-month contract, and $225 per month for a 1-month contract. Finally, we are raising our Mat Class Prices as follows: $12 single session and $100 for 10 sessions. If you want to pre-purchase a package or two at the current rates, please do so before the end of the year! Find gift certificates and inspiring clothing and gift items at Pendleton’s studios and online at www.pendletonpilates.com. Could there be a better gift than the gift of Pilates? You can buy gift certificates online for all Pendleton classes and services and print out your own certificate at www.pendletonpilates.com. Or stop by one of our studios and we’ll put together a holiday wellness package for you with workout gear and/or inspiring gift items. If you shop at our Downtown or Madison Road studio, you will find a ton of fantastic merchandise on sale. We are making way to be the area’s only Lululemon vendor. True Body retreat participants between sessions at Hope Springs. In October, the True Body Project led a multigenerational retreat for girls and women at Hope Springs Institute in Peebles, Ohio and welcomed True Body alums and their mothers, grandmothers, stepmothers and friends to join in on yoga, writing and art making activities, not to mention fantastic meals and a glorious setting. In other True Body news, we are about to launch our curriculum guide which will allow women and girls to take part in True Body Projects all across the country. We are also getting ready to accept applications for two summer camp programs in 2008. Check out www.truebodyproject.org in early January for applications or email stacy@truebodyproject.org to put your name on the early bird list.