By George Berkheimer, for the Bedford Gazette
Brittany Reid was a professional ballerina for the Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle, Wash., for 15 years, accustomed to a regimen of Pilates exercises to strengthen and condition her body. After suffering an ankle injury, Pilates became part of her rehabilitation after surgery, helping her return to dancing months quicker than predicted. That experience inspired Reid to get her Pilates certification, and now provides a new career after retiring from ballet and moving to Bedford nearly a decade ago.
Q: How long have you been in business?
Reid: Encore 814 Pilates opened at the beginning of 2025, and I’m the owner and principal instructor. We’re the only Pilates studio in Bedford County. As we expand our class offerings in the coming months, we will look to add additional instructors.
Q: What can your customers expect?
Reid: We offer a friendly, welcoming, inclusive environment that provides community and a support system to help people commit to a healthy lifestyle. Our studio was designed not only for performance, but also with modern comforts and stylish amenities. It features six Pilates reformers as well as a group class space. We have group and private classes, mat classes, group exercise classes, and senior chair exercise classes.
Q: What drew you to this career?
Reid: It came from my love of Pilates and wanting to share its benefits with the community. It helps build strength, increase flexibility, and prevent injuries. Bedford and the immediate surrounding areas didn’t offer a certified Pilates experience, and I was thankful to have the opportunity to fill that need.
Q: Who are your clients?
Reid: We have developed a family of return clients ranging from teens to seniors, and we see people who are looking to support their healthy lifestyle, stay mobile as they age, or who are looking to gain flexibility or prevent injuries. Women make up a large portion of Pilates clientele across the nation, and we see that here too, but a number of men have joined us as well. It’s not uncommon for NFL players and other professional athletes to do Pilates regularly, and it has been recommended in professions such as police and fire departments for many years. Some of our clients come as far away as Johnstown and Cumberland, and we also see tourists looking to continue their Pilates practice while visiting here.
Q: What attracted you to Bedford?
Reid: After ballet I was looking for a change of pace and scene from big city living. Bedford offered the perfect mix of a small, close-knit community, beautiful outdoor spaces, and safe neighborhoods while still being close to Pittsburgh and Washington, DC.
Q: Why do you like it here?
Reid: I chose to raise my family and run my studio here in part due to its history of supporting small businesses. I’m encouraged by all the other women-owned businesses that already exist and have success here. Our location in the heart of downtown is surrounded by other small businesses and heavy foot traffic, with a larger community network of small businesses working to support one another. There’s a strong sense of development happening right now, many people are coming from other parts of the country to call Bedford home as new businesses and industries continue to open their doors here. My children go to school here, and my parents live here as well.
Q: How are you involved with the community?
Reid: Encore 814 is a member of Downtown Bedford Inc. and participates in supporting various community activities throughout the year.
Q: What else should people know about your business?
Reid: The quality of our studio space, classes, equipment, and chiefly our Reformers, is equal to that of any professional studio in any major city. Our location offers the personal support aspect and top-notch customer service with faces you recognize and live in the community with. You don’t need experience to give Pilates a try, and you don’t need to feel nervous or anxious. We’re here to help you feel comfortable on your health and wellness journey in a local setting. Book with us on the Vagaro app and keep a look out for our freshly revamped website coming soon. We can’t wait to see you here!