June 2021 by Alison Hardy
The Ilkley Fitness Centre is an amazing place and has a real community feel about it. There are lots of different classes to attend which fit in around you and your lifestyle.I attend the Pilates, Body pump and Fat Burner classes. Steve?s attention to detail to correct your technique where necessary ensure you get the best out of the classes without the chance of injury and at a level which is right for you.Steve passion really shines through and gives you the motivation to work hard. I cannot fault the Ilkley Fitness Centre it is a great fun place to go.
June 2021 by KJ's shop
I was so excited to go to Steve's Pilates class today, but it ended in me having to walk out and sit in my car in tears. He made fun of me, spoke negatively about me/others to his regular class members, and was unprofessional. Full story below.I spoke to Steve the day before and let him know that I struggle a lot with exercise, but that I've always enjoyed the class environment. In the class I was just focused on following the moves and getting it right, as you do. Of course I needed correction, which I'm totally fine with because I want to learn.But it started becoming really frequent and I got a patronising vibe from him (and I've done many exercise classes, where I am ALWAYS the weakest/slowest - but have been corrected whilst still treated with warmth, encouragement and respect - not like the vibe I got with Steve!). Then we started doing tip toe squats, and I was taking time to figure this out, having only ever done standard squats before. I was fluttering my fingers to help balance, without even realising I was doing it - and Steve came over mimicking me saying 'what's this?'. At that point I didn't have an issue, like any normal person just tried to think the best of him, and that he was just having a laugh with me.But then he went over to two of his regulars and said 'that's what you get for p!ss!ng about'!! Which is unprofessional - whether that was said about me or about another client. It gives the impression he talks about some clients behind their backs (probably the new ones who leave because of his attitude), and interprets anyone struggling as 'pissing about'... as if ANYONE comes to an exercise class on their own to 'p!ss about'! Regardless of how this line was intended, it creates a toxic atmosphere. And a professional instructor should be self aware enough to realise this, and avoid these kinds of 'jokes' around new clients.Then the final straw - he returned to me and I was still fluttering my fingers without realising. And he said to me (loud and in front of everyone) 'so we're making sh!t up now are we?'. Now I think this kind of chat is okay with someone he knows well and has this kind of 'banter' with - but he's just met me, I am new to the class and clearly not confident in what I'm doing. So it's not okay. It felt like he was trying to impress his regulars by picking on me. It's playground behaviour, and he's old enough to know better.On a side note - Many people have said to me also that fluttering fingers is a common Autism stim - I don't have autism but imagine if I did and he was drawing attention to it like this? I get the vibe that he doesn't like people who are different, or who do things differently.I said to him, 'did you just say to them that I'm pissing about?'. He looked VERY guilty. And I've never challenged anyone like this in my life. I walked out, and all he said was 'I'm sorry if you feel that way'. This is a NON APOLOGY - what a mature professional adult would have said would be 'I'm sorry, what can I do to make things better?'He called to 'apologise' (which I suspect was to avoid a negative review), but his 'apologies' were essentially gaslighting. Implying I'm overreacting. But a good instructor should want to listen to an upset client, and make positive changes where possible. I asked him if he will admit to saying about me 'p!ssing about' to the other ladies, and he said 'well I don't have a photographic memory'. Then he said, 'well some of them I've known for years and what I say to them is between us'. And then he couldn't get me to accept his fake apology to make him feel better about his bullying ways, so he hung up on me. He also called me 'Kim Jong' on the phone, when I had texted him my name the day before -so some casual racism in there too.There are other instructors here who I'm sure are a
August 2019 by Emma Yates
The Ilkley Fitness Centre is a really fabulous place. There is a great range of classes to attend and loads of flexibility to make sure you can fit in exercising around your schedule.
July 2019 by Jo Stott
Ok so I might be a little biased BUT after having an enforced break from going to my classes I am SO delighted to be back in Steve's classes and Susie's yoga classes too and really appreciate The Ilkley Fitness Centre (TIFC) as THE Centre of Excellence in Ilkley! Exercise is very important to me, as is the environment I exercise in and the level of instruction, Steve is THE best technique instructor I have ever experienced and has taught me so much over the years in terms of correct technique, safe exercise, posture and so has Susie. I love the studios and the social side of TIFC, a real sense of community. TIFC is to Ilkley what Bodies used to be.
May 2019 by Jodi Stephenson
Amazing place
March 2019 by Hazel Cooke
Excellent classes taught extremely well.
March 2019 by Cate W
Welcoming atmosphere, great environment, wide variety of classes and lots of coaching and instruction on technique to get the best out of the classes
January 2018 by Chris Mumby
Clean, good equipment. Good classes.
September 2017 by Sarah Corrie
A brilliant well-equipped convenient centre with the best pilates classes I have found in the area by a mile - and I've tried several!
September 2017 by Brian Greenfield
Excellent classes. I'm back after missing it over the summer. What a difference it makes!. Steve is a patient professional instructor.
September 2017 by Janine Heptonstall
I have been a regular Pilates and Fitness student of Steve Walther's in excess of 10 years and cannot recommend him highly enough.
As a trained ballet dancer he understands the strengths and weaknesses of the body and tailors his classes around building core strength safely.
He is the only teacher I have encountered who has his eye on every single group member and adjusts posture accordingly.
He ensures that the correct technique is maintained throughout every class from Pilates through to FB and he will always encourage people to push to their maximum ability both by increasing weights or offering multiple levels of each Pilates position.
September 2017 by John Hayes
This is an excellent fitness centre. A range of different classes are available. I attend Pilates run by Steve who is a fantastic teacher. He looks after everyone in the class and over the years I have greatly benefited from all he has taught me.
