Bodylines Pilates finds a bright future in its new light-filled location
by Julie Gowel (Harvard Press) · Friday, January 31, 2025
Harvard’s Bodylines Pilates studio celebrated its move to a new location on Friday, Jan 24, with an open house that offered complimentary classes and light refreshments. Eager to welcome clients into the bright, spacious, second floor suite at 198 Ayer Road, owner Kim Casto treated current members and curious visitors to tours and free mini classes held throughout the day.
Bodylines was a staple in the Appleworks building on Ayer Road for more than 12 years. “We were bursting at the seams in our old location,” said Casto. “This new studio allows us to expand our offerings. We just didn’t have the space, nor did the [Appleworks] building lend itself to what we want to offer, such as massage therapy and private-pay physical therapy.”
Bodylines instructor Nancy Bonanno adds small handheld weights into her barre class. (Photos by Lisa Aciukewicz)
It took Casto a year to find a new location. She wanted to remain in Harvard as most clients are local residents who value the studio’s strong community focus. The move was completed in just three days, a feat Casto attributes to careful planning and teamwork. “We hired movers, organized assignments, and worked nonstop over the weekend,” she said. “We didn’t want our clients to miss a single workout.”
The new space, which Casto described as “spa-like,” was a hit among attendees at the open house. The natural light, serene ambiance, and modern equipment make for a welcoming retreat. “I love it,” said Judy Cote, two-year client of Bodylines and Groton resident. “I actually even love that it’s on the second floor, so you get that little extra [exercise] coming up the stairs.”
Denise Chiasson, from Harvard, started Pilates just a few months ago and brought her friend, Ann Pallies-Card, from Groton, to the open house. “It’s beautiful, there’s plenty of room, and the bathrooms are nice,” said Chiasson about the new location.
“I’m very interested in this, because there is a whole bunch of equipment that you do all kinds of crazy stuff on,” said Pallies-Card. “I really needed a new exercise routine and Denise is doing it. We don’t see each other enough, so I thought, ‘oh, this is a perfect way for us to hang out a little bit.’”
Rachel Fratantonio, of Leominster, is an instructor at Bodylines and helps with the studio’s social media presence. She teaches TRX, or total body resistance exercise, which is a class that uses long straps suspended from the ceiling, allowing participants to use their body weight as resistance. She told the Press she is most excited about the community room in the new location, which boasts cozy chairs and a coffee bar.
“People can hang out before and after class,” said Frantonio. “I think that’s one of the wonderful things about the studio is that you’re meeting other people and you’re getting to know everybody, and I think Kim [Casto] does a great job of introducing everyone.”
“Everyone is supportive here—clients and instructors alike,” said Cote. “It’s not just about fitness; it’s about community.” Casto intends to expand that community by adding forums and workshops to her growing list of services offered to clients. “It’s all about raising the overall wellness of the community,” she said.
Resilience and growth
In the 17 years Casto has been building her business, she has faced setbacks that threatened to shut her down, including a devastating fire in an adjacent space that damaged her studio in the Appleworks building. “It basically ruined everything. There was smoke damage to all of our equipment, every single piece of paper, our laptops … [everything] was drowned with water. Our flooring was ruined.” At that point, Casto asked herself, “Do I stay in business or do I walk away?”
Casto decided she wasn’t finished pursuing her passion and set to rebuilding her studio with a renewed focus on creating a calming, spa-like atmosphere. Even the pandemic couldn’t squash her ambition. Bodylines expanded its reach by offering online classes, which continue to serve clients across the country.
As the studio begins this chapter in its newest location, Casto remains grateful to the Harvard community. “This town has embraced us so warmly,” she said. “Bodylines is more than a business; it’s a family.”
Louise Helmer cues an introductory jump-board class on the reformers at the Bodylines grand reopening, Friday, Jan. 24.