I am fully vaccinated + boosted and encourage you to be too. My household recovered from Covid in June of 2022. I am happy to wear a mask by request for private sessions and automatically wear a mask in group classes.
If you have not been vaccinated, masks are required in the studio. For everyone else, masks are encouraged – especially if you may have been exposed to someone who is ill. Masks are currently required in group classes. If you do not have a well-fitting mask, I can provide one when you arrive. Both rooms in the studio have air purifiers, and windows are opened when the weather allows. All surfaces that have been touched are cleaned between sessions with a non-toxic hospital grade disinfectant.
Yes! In person sessions are available in downtown Oak Park, IL. Masks are currently recommended but not required for private sessions and required for group classes. Virtual sessions are available if you do not live near the studio or prefer to work in the comfort of your home.
Yes! While I am prioritizing in person sessions at this time, I understand that you may not be able to make it into the studio for a variety of reasons. In that case, I’m happy to work with you via Zoom wherever is convenient for you.
Yes! Trio Circuit classes are now available. Please schedule a discovery call to learn more about how trios can help you on your wellness journey.
Nope! We can work together as long as PayPal is available in your country and we are able to find a video chat service that works for you (typically Zoom). Just keep in mind that all sessions are booked in Central Time.
Irene Bean Wellness is based in Oak Park, IL just outside of Chicago. All sessions are booked in Central Time.
Studio address: 715 Lake Street, Suite 200, Oak Park, IL 60301
Yes! In some cases, a medical release will be required before we begin our work.
While many trainers use these metrics to track progress, I reject the notion that someone needs to weigh a certain amount or be a certain size to feel good in their bodies. My focus is on helping students gain both strength and body awareness so they are comfortable doing their daily activities of living, confident when trying something challenging, and knowledgeable about how to take care of themselves.
It depends on where you’re starting from, what your goals are, and how committed you are to doing your homework. Ten to 20 sessions will dramatically shift movement patterns, however many students start to notice a difference in just a few sessions. As Joseph Pilates put it, “In 10 sessions you’ll feel the difference, in 20 you’ll see the difference, and in 30 you’ll have a new body.”
The more work you put in on the front end, the faster you’ll see results. Two to three sessions per week to begin with will jumpstart your progress followed by weekly meetings to solidify new patterns and to promote continued growth. That said, lots of progress can be made with weekly or bimonthly sessions if you are dedicated to doing your homework. My goal is to empower you to feel confident and strong in doing all the things you love without needing to meet regularly with an instructor. Some students continue working with me weekly or monthly so they can keep diving deeper. Many step away feeling transformed after ten to twenty sessions and go months or even years before checking back in. I’m always available for a tune up or to work through a new challenge.
If you may be contagious and were scheduled for a studio session, please switch to a virtual session (assuming you feel well enough to participate). The beauty of virtual sessions is that we never have to worry about getting each other sick. We can always focus on breathing, gentle movements, and thinking through ways you can promote healing.
If you were signed up for a group class and may be contagious, please stay home to stop the spread.
If you are not feeling ill but are experiencing discomfort/pain, this is absolutely your call. We will need to avoid an area of a recent injury, but that typically leaves lots of body to work with. There’s almost always something we can do to help you feel better!
Call 9-1-1! Remember, I’m not a doctor and can’t provide medical treatment. Please take care of yourself and I’ll look forward to hearing from you when you’re able to reach out.
Please call, text, or email if you think you’ll be more than 15 minutes late to our session. I’ll be at the studio or the Zoom meeting will remain open for 15 minutes from the session’s start time. After 15 minutes with no contact, the session will be considered a no-show. If you send a heads up that you are still planning on attending, even if you’ll be more than 15 minutes late, I’ll wait at the studio or keep the Zoom meeting open until you arrive. Better to use some of your session than miss it entirely, even if you just make the last 10 minutes during which we can at least check in about your homework.
The full session rate will be charged for cancellations less than 24 hours before the start time and for no-shows as described in the previous section. This policy ensures that I can continue to provide maximum availability to all students.
The 24 hour cancellation policy goes both ways. In the rare event I need to reschedule your session with less than 24 hours notice, the make-up session will be comped.
Please call, text, or email immediately if you’re having trouble accessing your Zoom session. We’ll troubleshoot as quickly as possible or can try using an alternate service to begin our session. You may want to log into the meeting five minutes before the scheduled session to ensure we can begin right on time.
Instructors cannot bill insurance for Pilates training. To have Pilates training covered as a medical expense, you would need to find a Physical Therapist who also offers Pilates Training. However, you may be able to pay for Pilates sessions with your HSA/FSA card. Please be sure to confirm your eligibility to use these funds. You’ll typically need an “exercise prescription” from your doctor indicating the type of training, amount of training, and the recommended time frame (i.e. Pilates for back pain, 2-3 per week for eight weeks). This prescription should be saved in your tax files along with the receipts from our sessions. You won’t need to submit these documents when you file your taxes, but would need them in the event of an audit. If you are planning on using a HSA/FSA to pay for your sessions, please let me know the details of your prescription so I can be sure your receipt reflects the terminology used by your doctor.
No! In fact, this studio is gratuity free. Private session rates are based on the total session time and are the same for all services – Bodywork, Pilates, etc. This allows for greater transparency and for private session packages to be shared across services.
Please reach out if you have financial need for assistance. Scholarship spots are limited. Priority is given to people recovering from severe and/or chronic injuries as well as health and wellness industry students or trainers.
Contact me here and I’ll get back to you ASAP!