Davidson Reid
Founder, Teacher & Trainer
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30+ years of Pilates mastery, former professional dancer.
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Board Certified Structural Integrator
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International Teacher Trainer
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Renowned for resolving chronic pain through precise movement and fascia work.
Davidson Reid’s experience with Pilates started more than 35 years ago when he began studying Pilates as part of his Ballet training. After spending his late teenage years and twenties as a Ballet dancer, theatre performer, and Pilates Instructor in New York, Europe, and South Africa, he returned to Atlanta in 2001. Soon after his return, he acquired Studio Lotus and, along with the team he built, grew it into Southeast's largest and most respected Pilates studio. In June of 2002, he began a partnership with his former employer in New York, Power Pilates, and became their first Teacher Trainer and Regional Director. Over the next 15 years, Power Pilates became the primary source of the new generation of highly skilled, sought-after Pilates instructors in Atlanta and the region. During that time, Davidson wrote numerous original workshops, presented at conferences worldwide, and certified hundreds of Pilates instructors in Atlanta, across the rest of the country, and internationally. In need of a change in rhythm and responsibility, Davidson began studying Structural Integration and anatomy with Thomas Meyers in 2016. After more than a year of intensive study and work, Davidson became a board-certified Structural Integrator, sold Studio Lotus, and began an extended hiatus from Power Pilates. In early 2018, along with his partner, Sarah Cook, he opened Physical Culture, a reimagined studio that is better able to help clients realize their individual potential. In January of 2025, Davidson excitedly accepted Power Pilates' offer to become a Master Teacher Trainer and resume leading teacher training courses at home and abroad. Since that time, he has traveled to several cities in Asia and the US, teaching the Power Pilates curriculum, which he loves and believes in, to another new generation of Pilates instructors.
Sarah Cook
Founder, Trainer, & Healer
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20+ years classical Pilates, prenatal / women’s health specialist.
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Expert in scoliosis and spine alignment.
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Fuses compassionate coaching with high-level biomechanics.
Sarah is a seasoned movement educator and wellness practitioner with over 20 years of experience. As co-founder of Physical Culture in Atlanta, she brings a multidisciplinary approach to her work—combining classical Pilates training with contemporary methods, nervous system integration, and sound-based therapies. Her specialties include women’s pelvic wellness, pre- and postnatal Pilates, and scoliosis care. She is passionate about working with individuals across all life stages and regularly supports cancer patients, helping to ease the physical and emotional challenges often experienced during treatment. Sarah holds a B.A. in Dance from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, with additional studies in English and Psychology. She is certified through the Pilates Method Alliance (PMA) and received her 600-hour comprehensive certification through Power Pilates. She is also a Pre + Post Natal Pilates Specialist, and continues to deepen her expertise in anatomy, biomechanics, and neurolinguistic programming. In addition to movement education, Sarah is trained in vibrational sound healing and biofield tuning, offering both private and group sound baths to support nervous system regulation, relaxation, and somatic integration. Sarah also enjoys bringing the benefits of her work into the corporate wellness space, offering customized sessions and workshops for organizations—including Sephora—to help teams reduce stress, improve focus, and cultivate sustainable well-being. Her approach is rooted in the belief that mobility, stability, and joy are essential foundations for a thriving life. Through consistent practice and thoughtful ritual, Sarah empowers clients to make lasting change—physically, emotionally, and neurologically.
What We Do
Physical Culture is a structural integration studio. We use a combination of tools and techniques including pilates, Redcord, kettlebell, and manual work to help our clients bring their bodies and minds into their most ideal alignment.
Our Approach
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We begin with simple postural and movement assessments to determine what major feature of your posture, which, if corrected, could have the greatest positive downstream effect on your mind and body. These 8 to 10 corrective sessions usually involve both manual myofascial release techniques like structural integration, and primary movement techniques like pilates, resistance training, and suspension exercise.
What is more important than the individual tools and techniques used in these corrective sessions is how they are used together to bring the body into an easier physical relationship with itself and with the always present forces of gravity and ground reaction. These “easy” relationships allow for the most efficient distribution of these forces. In turn, this creates fewer concentrations of stress in the body and leads to less physical and emotional pain. Next, as your practice continues and your skills improve, we will continue to “clean-up” any remaining or new areas of pain, strain, and discomfort in your body.
By adding appropriate instability, longer levers, and heavier loads to the movements you've already practiced, your sessions will evolve into an increasingly challenging workout. The results of this will be greater precision and detail in your movements, leading to increased range of motion in the joints, more strength, more stamina, increased flexibility and mobility in the soft tissues, and all the other known benefits of regular exercise.
During this time, our emphasis is on learning and practicing the correct physical technique with natural ease and fluidity while we explore and understand that the quality of our emotions determines the quality of our lives and the quality of our bodies determines the quality of our emotions.
It takes incredible physical and emotional energy to have an incredible life. We are working to understand and actualize that your mind and body are not merely “connected" but are, in fact, one, with no difference, no separation, and no distance between them. Your physical body is the best tool you have to improve your emotions, and your emotions have the greatest effect on your body. Becoming consciously aware of this relationship and developing the skills required to intentionally influence one with the other in the most efficient and effective ways possible lie at the heart of our approach and are what we believe to be the foundation of a life filled with joy.
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Finally, with your body, well-integrated and a greater understanding that the results in your body are created by both physical and emotional habits, we will repeatedly practice this, not until you get it right but until you cannot get it wrong. With this, your new physical and emotional awareness becomes your new physical and emotional habit.
These maintenance sessions are typically done in a small semi-private format with other clients, all of whom are experienced enough to work with some autonomy. This arrangement frees your instructor to continue each client’s individual session in a semi-private environment. There are no generalized group classes where you may be slowed down by someone who is too inexperienced for the session or where you could be pushed ahead into exercises that may be inappropriate or ineffective for you. The result of our approach is better, longer lasting physical and emotional results in a faster, safer, and more effective way.
your best self.
Studio History
2002
2016
2020
In 2002, Davidson proudly acquired Studio Lotus, transforming it into the Southeast Training Center for Power Pilates. Over the years, we expanded our reach by opening two additional locations. During this period, Davidson has certified hundreds of instructors in Atlanta and thousands around the globe, solidifying our commitment to excellence in Pilates education.
Davidson made a significant move in 2016 by selling Studio Lotus and downsizing to establish a new venture Physical Culture in Brookhaven. Shortly after, he welcomed Sarah to the team, enhancing the studio's atmosphere and offerings. Together, they aimed to create a welcoming space that promotes health and well-being.
Davidson and Sarah realized it was time to expand as their clientele continued to grow. In March2020, coinciding with the start of the COVID shutdown, they signed a lease to double their space, believing it would only be a temporary measure. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, they not only survived but thrived, using this time to focus on supporting people's health, wellness, and stress management. Their commitment to their community was evident by their continued growth, and once again they were in need of a larger space.
2025
Happily thriving at our home within Plaza Del Sol, nestled in the heart of historic Chamblee.