Last month, Shadowbox Pilates made their Hamptons debut on Montauk Highway in Water Mill. We interviewed their founder, Amanda Duckstein, ahead of opening day to talk about all of the good things to come for Shadowbox Pilates, you can find a link to that article here. This week I took my first class, so let’s talk about it!
Shadowbox Pilates is nestled right between Kissaki Sushi and The Clay Art Guild of The Hamptons. When you walk down their cottage-core brick walkway and through their front doors, you’re greeted by Amanda who stands under a giant blue LED lion (SBP’s logo and mascot). SBP has 10 reformers that can transform into pilates towers with just a few maneuvers. Amanda and SBP also offer an infrared sauna which is tucked away in a peaceful room separate from the workout gallery.
I took their signature 50-minute Shadowbox Pilates class, which consisted of 40 minutes of classic reformer pilates and 10 minutes of shadowboxing. Let’s just start off by saying after this workout, I had such a good night’s sleep, and my body woke up sore but happy. I’ve never done shadowboxing before, and while I was apprehensive going into it, knowing that trying new things can be uncomfortable, I walked out feeling so powerful. Shadowboxing is a form of cardio where you spar and practice a series of punches with an imaginary partner. Amanda wasn’t kidding when she prefaced the shadowboxing portion with, “Okay, let’s get your heart pumping!”
I’ve taken previous Pilates classes with Amanda before she opened Shadowbox Pilates, and I have to say that Amanda is the best of the best. Her ability to push you to get those last few reps or hold for the last ten seconds is unparalleled, and it’s truly what you want from a fitness instructor. What I love about Amanda’s classes at Shadowbox Pilates is that she is always attentive to your form. If you walk into one of her classes with any discomfort or pain, she has extensive knowledge of anatomy and significant fitness experience to tailor the class around any injuries. If you’re looking for a low-impact, high-intensity class, I highly suggest you check out Shadowbox Pilates in Water Mill.
Meet you under the giant blue lion!
