Posture Pilates in Byeollae for scoliosis and shoulders: I am Balance

Why I chose Pilates in Byeollae-dong over home workouts

I am Balance Pilates Byeollae (아이엠밸런스필라테스 별내점) is a Pilates center in Byeollae-dong, Namyangju that I picked because it does a 3D body assessment before exercise, so you can see what the problem is and correct weak spots quickly. I'd built a very, very high wall between myself and exercise for about a year.. and lately I've finally thought, okay, time to look after my body a little!

I did home workouts for a few weeks, diligently(?), but I'm a hate-exercise, weak-willed person haha. Doing it on my own, I just didn't do it, and above all!! I was alone with no mirror, so I had no idea if I was doing it right, and I worried that bad form might make things even worse. So I wanted expert help, searched around, and found this Byeollae-dong Pilates studio, I am Balance Pilates Byeollae!

You can book a body analysis and consultation at I am Balance Pilates Byeollae through Naver.

Where is I am Balance Pilates Byeollae, and what about parking?

I am Balance Pilates Byeollae is on the 2nd floor of the Noblesse Spa 24 building in Byeollae-dong, and parking support is available. The building is huuuge and the parking lot has tons of spaces, so parking was super easy. Parking support is of course available too!!

After you get off the elevator, walk a little way past Hanmaeum Butcher Restaurant (한마음정육식당), and you'll see the promotional signs, with the center right at the far end on the right.

The first things that caught my eye were the instructors' photos and bios. There was also a body analysis notice, so I was already a little excited right at the door..!!

Center atmosphere and facilities

The interior of I am Balance Pilates Byeollae blends wood, white and green plants, so it felt warm and comfortable! Coming to work out for the first time always makes me nervous for no reason, but the atmosphere made me relax.

There was a water purifier, a coffee machine and a microwave, and Earl Grey tea was ready too! It was so refreshing, and a cup after my workout was just great ☺ There was also a small rest area further inside.

What are the changing rooms and showers like?

I am Balance Pilates Byeollae has one changing room each for men and women. Again, a clean white interior, with roomy lockers, hair ties, combs, cotton swabs, hair dryers, towels and everything else you need, so you can come for a workout with nothing in hand. There's a shower room too, and it was kept clean and dry!!

Opening hours and happy time

I am Balance Pilates Byeollae is open weekdays 10:00–22:00 and Saturdays 10:00–14:00, so I could arrange lessons at a time that suited me. If you visit during happy-time hours, it's apparently cheaper!

How does the body analysis work?

The body analysis at I am Balance Pilates Byeollae goes in this order: writing down your complaints, 3D body scan, movement test, InBody, and then you get a personalized exercise program based on the results. Before my appointment I looked around the center, changed clothes, and then came out to start the consultation.

At I am Balance Pilates in Byeollae-dong, it's not just one instructor who's a physical therapist: every instructor teaching the classes is one!! Three licenses hung side by side on the wall, which boosted my trust~!

If there's anything that bothers you or that you want to improve, you can write it down and hand it to the instructor. Then you stand on the scanning spot and get three shots: front, side and back. I thought, wow, they have machines like this now..!! haha

Static analysis and movement test results: shoulder angle and lower-back scoliosis

• Static body analysis with the body analyzer
• Analysis of dynamic movement imbalances through the movement test

I cross my legs a lot.. and often stand crookedly to one side.. and my sore spots are mostly the shoulder–trapezius area? I'd gone in thinking that simply, but the results showed more shoulder-angle issues and lower-back scoliosis than I expected.. I knew it already, but still felt a bit down(?) haha. It wasn't at the serious stage though, just borderline, so that comforted me a little.. hehe

My first InBody in a year

• Body composition and body fat analysis with InBody

I don't think I'd had an InBody scan in over a year, so I did it at the same time! Compared with last time: muscle mass -2, body fat +3, and weight went up too, of course. Sorry, body.. I'll take care of you now 😂

From these three tests you get a personalized exercise program, and the instructor explains each result in detail during the consultation!! So kind

Sling, DNS and Ballance: I am Balance Pilates' specialty programs

Besides large-apparatus Pilates (reformer, Cadillac, chair, barrel), I am Balance Pilates Byeollae specializes in the following three.

• Pilates with the sling apparatus (red cords): the sling (Redcord) was developed in Norway for posture-correcting rehabilitation
• DNS Pilates: applying babies' developmental postures to adults to restore body balance
• Ballance

They explained it in detail during the consultation, and although it was technical, they made it easy to follow so I found it interesting 👩🏻‍🎓 The center also reportedly invites overseas and international instructors for seminars every month, and instructors from other Pilates centers currently take their training too. (A center that keeps studying and improving)

The 1:1 lesson space and equipment

This is where the lessons happen! I could see the sling and Ballance equipment they'd explained in the consultation. The red cords are the Redcord, the sling apparatus; they support your body in it, adjust you and set your posture. The peanut-ball-shaped thing is the Ballance, but unlike a peanut ball, the middle is made of springs.

My 1:1 lesson at I am Balance Pilates Byeollae

The program: feeling my left-right imbalance in my body

In the lesson at I am Balance Pilates Byeollae, exercises focused on my weak spots, and I confirmed firsthand that my left-right balance had collapsed. It was the first time I'd paid this much attention to my body and thought about what was wrong. Once I'd identified the weak areas and worked on them, I could tell both sides were out of balance, and it made me reflect on my usual posture and habits. A good experience 👍🏻

What amazed me was that even in the same movement, left and right felt very different, so I could clearly feel where I'm weak. It's also not that only one side bothers me across the board: my upper body is worse on the left and my lower body on the right, so the sore spots differ. And that's all because of my everyday habits..🤣

The instructor: careful adjustments and clear leadership

The instructor was really kind and professional, and I truly trusted them. They carefully checked during the workout that I wasn't overdoing it and adjusted the difficulty and reps to my condition, so it was comfortable, yet I could feel them leading firmly when needed, so I got a really satisfying workout effect too. Afterward they even explained thoroughly how I could correct things in daily life 😇

Who I am Balance Pilates Byeollae is recommended for

• Posture correction
• Chronic pain
• Prenatal and postnatal
• Exercise beginners
• People who found exercise hard because of pain

Especially for people like me who worry about their condition because of everyday posture, or women whose rib cage opened up a lot after giving birth.. hehe