Welcome to Core Athletica® Pilates Studio
At Core Athletica® Pilates, we believe movement is medicine — and how you move matters.
Locally owned & operated in Ankeny, Iowa, we are a full‑service Pilates studio designed for people who care about longevity, mobility, athletic performance, and living an active life without chronic aches or pain. Whether your goal is to move better, feel stronger, protect your joints, or continue doing what you love for years to come, our approach meets you where you are.
Pilates for How Your Body Actually Functions
Our small classes and private training sessions focus on more than just getting a workout. We teach intelligent, intentional movement that improves:
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Pelvic floor + core function and spinal support
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Joint mobility and stability
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Posture, balance, and coordination
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Athletic performance and movement efficiency
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Relief from back pain, hip pain, and everyday aches
Every session is designed to help your body move with less strain and more ease — so strength, flexibility, and resilience build naturally over time.
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A Supportive, Individualized Experience
No two bodies are the same, and your Pilates practice shouldn’t be either.
Our highly trained Core Athletica® instructors provide expert cueing and thoughtful modifications in every class, making our sessions appropriate for all ages, fitness levels, and backgrounds — from beginners to seasoned athletes. If you’re navigating injuries, tightness, pain, or simply want to move smarter, you’re in the right place.
You don’t need prior Pilates experience. We’ll teach you how to move well.
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Supporting Health Beyond the Studio
At Core Athletica®, we take a whole‑body approach to wellness. In addition to movement, we offer infrared sauna sessions and guided detox programs to support recovery, energy, and overall health.
Modern life places a significant load on the body — stress, environmental toxins, poor sleep, and digestive challenges can all impact how you feel and how your body performs. Our detox and sauna offerings are designed to complement your Pilates practice by:
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Supporting natural detoxification pathways
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Enhancing recovery and circulation
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Improving energy and resilience
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Helping address root causes of fatigue, inflammation, and digestive imbalance
When movement and lifestyle support work together, the results are powerful.
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Our Mission
Our mission is simple: to help you live the active life you love — with strength, confidence, and less pain.
We’re here to help you move better today, protect your body for the future, and feel supported every step of the way.
We look forward to welcoming you into our studio.
See you soon,
Erica + the Core Athletica® Team
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Meet the Owner
Erica Ziel B.Sc., FDN-P, CPT, PPES
Owner of Core Athletica® Inc, The Core Athletica® Method, The Core Rehab Program, Core Studio Workouts + App, and The Knocked-Up Fitness® prenatal program. Erica has been in the fitness + health industry for over 20 years, with a degree in Health and Human Performance from ISU, PMA®-CPT, STOTT PILATES® certified, Personal Trainer Certified, is a Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner, and Mom of three. She has morphed her education with her constant finding of research, and hands-on approach teaching a variety of clients. Through in-person and online training and coaching she has helped over 10,000 improve their health and say goodbye to pain and dysfunction.
She's a small-town Iowa girl that fell in love with healing the body through movement. Now two decades later, she empowers this message through programs, her Core Connections podcast, instructor courses, and now her very own brick and mortar Pilates wellness studio!
