Body Control Pilates studio owner Holly Prather is transforming people’s bodies through pilates, barre and private training classes every day.

“It took a while for [the business] to build and for people to understand the benefits of pilates, but everybody that begins pilates and truly gives it a chance, they see the benefits, they see the results and they see the changes. Not only in their body, but also in the way they feel,” Prather said.

Prather originally taught step, water and basic aerobics at the YMCA in Newnan before discovering pilates in 2002.

“I just really fell in love with pilates and saw changes in my body, in my core and in my joints and everything improved for me and I wanted to bring it to LaGrange,” she said. “I decided that to bring this to LaGrange, I would take a leap of faith and open my own studio.”

After opening her business on Mooty Bridge Road in 2004, Prather said the studio’s current location on Main Street is their third location.

“I had outgrown my first studio pretty quickly, I was there for almost two years, then we moved to a bigger location on Vernon Street and were there for about eight years. We’ve been here at this location for a little over two years,” she said.

Prather said she teaches barre because it is light on joints like pilates.

“It goes so beautiful with pilates because pilates is very good for dancers. The barre allows you to tone the lower body like nothing else is able to do,” she said. “They just go together.”

Prather said her favorite thing about teaching is seeing how people physically change after each lesson.

“Seeing the overall change of people from when they walk in the door and from when they walk out, I just love that,” she said. “They can walk in here and just be tired with no energy and just seem like they may not be able to achieve the workout. Then, when they’re leaving they may be tired and sweating, but they’re smiling and they feel proud of themselves. They feel like they have accomplished something great for themselves, and I truly believe it creates such a positive energy in everybody.”

Prather said helping other people is why she likes instructing her classes.

“It’s just like a paycheck when somebody comes to you and says ‘I am feeling so good’ or ‘I have done this’ or ‘I have lost this much weight,’ that’s what this is all about, improving the lives of other people. That’s why I do this,” she said.

Body Control Pilates Studio is located on 220 Main Street and is open Monday and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m, Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m, Friday from 9 a.m to 2 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.