About us

“Every moment of our life can be the beginning of great things.” 

~ Joseph Pilates

Progressive Pilates respectfully operates on the unceded territory of the Coast Salish people of BC. Nestled in the community of Delbrook in North Vancouver, Progressive Pilates has been a mixed apparatus-based studio since it was opened by Margaret Bowden in 2011. Margaret’s extensive background in movement training inspired her to create a variety of platforms for Pilates development. Her vision to include neuro specific programs directed towards Parkinson’s, MS, Stroke, Concussion, and pre/post-surgery recovery have been central programming at Progressive Pilates from inception.

Paula Hoover bought the studio from Margaret in 2021. Inspired by Margaret’s vision, Paula completed training in neuro-specific exercise with Neurofit BC, and is also an Urban Poling and PD Warrior Certified Instructor. Paula maintains Progressive Pilates as a studio dedicated to excellence for general and specialized populations.

Progressive Pilates continues to offer clinical movement specific programs as well as Pilates for general populations. In 2024 PPNS will add Comprehensive Teacher Training into its program mix.  

Progressive Pilates focuses on building programs that are catered towards individual as well as small group environments. One of the cornerstones of instruction at PPNS is the integration of body mechanics as it relates to movement. The synergy created between understanding anatomy and the Pilates apparatus opens movement potential for everybody. Pilates is not just a good work out, it’s an education in movement potential. Joseph’s design of spring-based apparatus remains a unique, accessible platform where our bodies experience support and challenge simultaneously.

What people are saying:

  • I have been taking Pilates classes for over 25 years. I have worked with many instructors during that time, including Paula, with whom I have taken classes for more than 20 years. And, Paula has been my favourite instructor. She is knowledgeable, patient, and attentive to my unique physical quirks and needs. And, I have many physical challenges as I have arthritis and am nearly 74 years old. I am still healthy and active and I am grateful to Pilates, and Paula, for helping to keep me mobile and active.

    Susan

  • I have been going to osteo classes with Paula for a year. She is amazing! I love the variety of exercise sequences and her detailed anatomical explanations for them.

    Susan

  • I've been practicing pilates for close to 30 years, most recently with Paula and Joanne at Progressive Pilates. I love the studio and the community at Delbrook Plaza is wonderful. Pilates has been key to helping me maintain my core strength and mobility. I sustained compression fractures in my spine 20+ years ago. Reformer pilates has been a consistent part of my rehab journey and now ongoing maintenance. Plus, thanks to the way the weekly classes are structured, I've made some wonderful friends through the Progressive Pilates community. We try to resist the weekly temptation of going to Le Petit Cafe after for a treat!

    Karin

  • I absolutely love my Pilates reformer class at PPNS with Paula. I have been doing Pilates for 20 years. I joined PPNS about a year ago and could not be more pleased to have done so. Paula and the other instructors are very knowledgeable, very professional and treat each client as an individual. I cannot even imagine living without my Pilates classes. I highly recommend this Pilates studio.

    Marilyn