Balanced Body Timeline

Ken builds waterbeds in Hollywood as Liquid Sleep Interiors. A customer, Isa Bohn, asks him to build a piece of equipment for her called a Reformer. (Ken’s response: “A what?”) He agrees. And we’re off!

To support a more diversified business, Ken changes the company name to Current Concepts. His brother Dave designs the new logo. Ken begins to work with Stephan Frease, a Pilates instructor and expert at equipment function and safety, and develops adjustable footbars, standing platforms and the fifth yellow spring.

Pilates elder Ron Fletcher contacts Ken: “Can you make customized equipment for my studio?” Their collaboration began with these first measurements.

The relationship with St. Francis leads to equipment innovations that become industry staples: jump board, oversized standing platform, ropes instead of straps, and risers instead of casters.

Hollywood stars start taking Pilates classes with Ron Fletcher, Kim Lee, Stephan Frease and Isa Bohn, which generates media interest for the method.

Publicity in the late 1980s and early 1990s: the Los Angeles Times, Self Magazine, American Fitness, Life Magazine and Shape.

Current Concepts releases the very first Pilates workout video in the world: “Studio Reformer Techniques with Elizabeth Larkam.”

The first Pilates patents issued since the death of Joseph Pilates in 1967, including the Infinity Footbar. In the same year, Current Concepts introduces the TSSR (Tubular Steel Studio Reformer).

Current Concepts becomes Balanced Body—a name better suited to describe our mission and ideals.

After more than four years of litigation, the Pilates Trademark lawsuit ends. The court decides that the term “Pilates” cannot be trademarked. All are now free to use it.

Via a license agreement with Physio Pilates to manufacture Balanced Body equipment in Brazil, we begin a long-term (and ongoing) partnership and friendship — a significant step in our international growth.

Seen here: Ken with Claudio Soares, in 2007.

Balanced Body moves to a 77,000 sq. ft. location on Ferguson Avenue in Sacramento, our home for 12 years.

We begin implementing green business practices with the purchase of our first CNC machine and the use of sustainable wood for our Reformers.

Our first Pilates on Tour continuing education conference is held in San Francisco.

Ken suffers a cervical spine injury while bodysurfing. He makes a full recovery with Pilates (of course) and a little help from his friends. In this photo, employees at Balanced Body helped him decorate for the holidays.

The popular EXO® Chair makes its debut. It’s the most compact, durable Pilates chair on the market, and offers a ton of exercise options – including many that could only previously be done on a Reformer!

We receive the first of our prestigious WRAP awards, given by the state of California to recognize our achievements in waste reduction. We would go on to win 2 more.

We re-brand, and along with a new look, our transition to a mindful movement company is official.

Our goal is to discover new ways to invite people into our healthy community.

Created in collaboration with internationally acclaimed design form, IDEO, the all white Allegro 2 Reformer quickly establishes itself as an industry icon.

We moved into a sleek, new 100,000 sq.ft. building. Our 1,000 solar panels generate most of the energy we consume.

Created for price-sensitive customers, the Rialto Reformer becomes one of our more unique and popular products. A high-quality wooden frame at an affordable price.

Balanced Body’s acclaimed continuing education conference holds it’s 100th event. Time to celebrate. And what better place than in New Orleans!

Two years to plan, Balanced Body moves into two new spaces at our existing Sacramento location. The first space is 25,000 sq.ft., and was previously leased next door. A new exterior wall was then constructed, which added another 8,800 sq.ft. to our new footprint. Finally, we added an additional 43,500 sq.ft. at the Depot Park (our former location). Our new total is now 177,300 sq.ft. (up from 100K sq.ft.). We also expanded our solar capacity – which was more than doubled – to create a 1.1 megawatt solar array, one of the top three of its kind in the state!