March 27, 2017

Meet Bruce Burchmore of Pilates Logic in Toluca Lake

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Bruce Burchmore.

Bruce, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I did my first Pilates session in 1994 after being introduced to it by a friend. I was hooked immediately and sought out a way to study the technique in an effort to incorporate Pilates into my personal health regimen. It became clear that the only way I would really learn the method was to take a certification course which I completed in 1997 while simultaneously working on a doctoral degree at USC in music. During the two years that I spent in the certification program I fell in love with Pilates and eagerly pursued a career Pilates so I could help other people. I used the last of my student loan checks and bought a complete collection of Pilates apparatus and began working out of my apartment. In 1999 I opened my retail space and hired other teachers with the eventual addition of a second location. Over time, I realized what I loved most about Pilates was teaching others so I closed one of the locations to dedicate more time to teaching my clients. I have resided at the Toluca Lake location since 2004. I am still extremely passionate about music and perform with a group of local musicians playing a version of country and western music. Of course, being a Pilates teacher in a town like Los Angeles, one begins to be influenced by the entertainment industry especially when many of them are your clients. In 2013, I began writing and producing a documentary film about the late harpsichordist Scott Ross who remains a legendary figure in the world of classical music. My Pilates client Andy Garcia has agreed to narrate the documentary. So once again my passion for music keeps popping up in my life.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Actually the road has been quite smooth, with only a few significant bumps but they really were quite few up to this point. Obviously being an employer can be a challenge, particularly if you realize that you may have hired the wrong person, so being a boss can be hard if you have to let someone go. It’s not fun. I love working with people and my interaction with the public has always been very easy. I’m a very patient person so even the most challenging client is someone I can easily work with well with. I’ve worked with individuals who were at one time in a coma, terminally ill cancer patients, geriatric patients, and individuals with such severe arthritis that none of their joints really articulated at all. I worked with a lady once who had a steel rod inserted into her spine and she couldn’t articulate her vertebrae at all. Not easy to work with!

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Pilates Logic – what should we know?
My business is a fully equipped Pilates studio and I am the main teacher. My studio is conveniently located across the street from Trader Joes on Riverside Dr. and close to several movie studios. The Pilates method is a technique which although very complicated in all of its components is actually a very straightforward and simple logic. What sets me apart from most other teachers worldwide is my ability to explain the method well and provide inspiration for students to truly achieve their goals. My services range from private classes to group classes because it’s nice for the public to have as many choices as possible. Most of my work is private clients because most people realize a private course will help speed up the learning curve and get the best results. The group classes by that logic are a little bit more challenging for me as a teacher because not everybody has the same mind spirit or body and each individual needs a type of attention very specific to them.

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Passion. One should love what they do and do it well. Showing up is also very important. I’ve never been afraid to work long hour days sometime starting at 6 AM and finishing at 8 or 9 PM with very little break in between. I work every day of the week and I make myself available to friends and loved ones whenever they desire a workout, so I’m very busy.

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