Welcome to The Circus Studio!
We Offer the following classes : Aerial Silks, Aerial Hoop/Lyra, Aerial Yoga, Aerial Cube, Static Trapeze, Pole Dance, Pilates Mat, Pilates Machines, Circus Stretch, Circus Boot Camp, Kids Aerial, and Private lessons! We service the communities of Claremont, Montclair, Upland, La Verne, San Dimas, Pomona, Ontario, Chino Hills, and Rancho Cucamunga. MARIA BERNHARD Principal-Founder-Teacher
Since 2002, Maria Bernhard has been a highly-respected and well known Pilates teacher in Claremont and its surrounding communities. For three years, she owned Pilates Bodies, a popular studio she managed out of her house in Claremont. She has taught at two very popular local studios, as well at Scripps College, and does regular workshops at the nearby University of La Verne. Maria’s clients range from ages 12 to 85, and have included professional boxers, competitive ice skaters, ballerinas, expectant and new mothers, as well as severe scoliosis patients, people with MS, fibromyalgia, cerebral palsy, osteoporosis, and different strains of arthritis. Maria utilizes her creative background in dance, circus arts, and theatre to keep her Pilates work fresh, exciting, and challenging.
Maria holds certificates of teacher training completion from Long Beach Dance Conditioning (with Marie Jose Blom-Lawrence), as well as a B.A. from Pitzer College of the
Claremont Colleges (Theatre). She recently received her Fly Gym Teaching Certificate as well. Maria also has two young boys and highly recommends doing Pilates during pregnancy!Maria has always loved movement, she danced with The Eugene Ballet Company and also studied Flamenco and modern dance. Her fascination with the circus inspired her to leave grad school in London to become a street performer. Dancing on stilts, juggling fire, and doing flying trapeze work, she traveled throughout Europe ending with a brief stint in the punk French circus Archaos. In 2012, she created SpinCircus which performs full aerial shows for kids and adults at the studio. In 2014, she created the aerial troupe Flying Foxxes, which performs locally, mainly showcasing the teachers from her studio.
WHY DO PILATES? -Define your waist, lose inches -Relieve body aches and pains -Strengthen and lengthen muscles -Enhance physical performance -Flatten and tighten your core -Rehab new or old injuries -Workouts are never boring! -Virtually Everyone can do Pilates -Feel taller & energized after your workout
