Gina Senz has returned home to her Sequim roots, bringing with her a love of fitness. She just opened her fitness studio Perfect Balance on March 3 and already is attracting clients from their 20s into their 80s.

“I started doing Pilates for myself in 2000 and I really enjoyed it. My instructor encouraged me to start teaching, so I became certified in Pilates and as a personal trainer and TRX suspension trainer,” Senz said. “Pilates is a ‘mindful motion’ … You have to concentrate on the form, breathing and coordination to get the full benefit of the exercise.”

Pilates is a group of exercises — up to 200, Senz estimated — developed by Joseph Pilate to focus on strengthening the core of the body. The arms and legs are used like levers for the abdominal muscles to make the core strong.

“Pilates makes our core much stronger so it’s good for making muscles strong — long, lean, supple muscles,” Senz said. “With TRX suspension training, the body’s weight is used against the straps. For me, it’s challenging because you work your core but you have to stabilize yourself. You use balance and stability at every turn. I feel like a lot of the exercises are complementary to other activities people like to do like kayaking.”

Senz offers up to seven sessions a day and it makes a good variety because she’ll do Pilates with some clients, then personal training or TRX  training with others. The first session always is free. Classes are scheduled daily and personal training is by appointment only. Go to www.perfectbalancenw.com to see the classes and times available.

“My business incorporates so many things I’ve loved, Pilates, personal training and TRX. I like the challenge of them — almost every exercise can be made easier or harder — and it offers a lot of flexibility for many body types and abilities,” Senz said.

Each year on the first Saturday in May, the Pilates Method Alliance® (PMA)® celebrates Pilates Day. Pilates Day was created by the PMA® to promote awareness of the many benefits that Pilates Method brings to every age group and to promote healthy living.

Senz will have an open house May 3 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. with Susanne Conway-DeBrino (certified Pilates instructor), Alicia Potswald (yoga instructor: ashtanga, iyengar and hatha blend) and Kerrie Heart (certified live foods chef who will be doing live demos at Pilates Day).

“Fitness has been a passion of mine for a long time and I wanted to share this type of equipment with the community,” Senz said.