Diana Upton-Hill

Mar 29

Written By Eliza Gilbert | etg design studio

I started Virtual Mat Pilates with Blayne during a time in my life that I had never been so unhappy with my body.

It had been nearly two years since the birth of my child, but I hadn't been able to lose the weight, tone up, or get into any consistent "groove" in regard to diet and exercise. I felt weak, exhausted all the time, and generally uncomfortable in my own skin. As a performer, feeling good (and, let's face it, looking good) is imperative to one's career; I had a long way to go before wanting to be up on the stage again.

At the beginning of the pandemic, I had become aware that Blayne was offering virtual classes. I quickly jumped at the chance to join in. Not only is her instruction style extremely encouraging and effective, but "attending" class with others all over the country - many of whom already knew one another from previous in-person classes - was like scoring a group of new friends for myself.

Each week I looked forward to a little social interaction and a lot of physical/mental/emotional self-improvement. (I even began to find myself being quite grouchy over the weekend if I had to miss my "me time" Pilates class on Friday.)

Nearly a year has passed, and the results are dramatic. I have been able to shed and keep off around 25 lbs, plus a couple of dress sizes! Friends and family comment regularly on my physical transformation, but, even more importantly, the amount of confidence and strength I have regained is immeasurable.

I highly recommend Blayne to be your fitness coach, your encourager, and your personal cheerleader. She will not disappoint!

Eliza Gilbert | etg design studio

ACTOR. SINGER. GRAPHIC/WEB DESIGNER. KNITTER. HISTORY BUFF.

I get ridiculously excited about effective communication through design and I high-five myself when I solve a problem (in code, in design, in life). I yell the answers (not in the form of a question) at Jeopardy contestants and laugh heartily when I’m dead wrong.

etg design studio is a boutique design and web studio founded by me (Eliza Gilbert) in 2001. I work with small businesses, non profits, artists, creatives, and entrepreneurs to build custom, results-driven Squarespace websites that represent who they are and attract their ideal client or customer.

But, wait! That’s not all! I also fly like the wind with desktop publishing, have mad design skills, and chew on branding mood boards for a snack!

I have a corporate background in design, communication, and consulting (with a focus on helping companies communicate with their employees) and a freelance background specializing in small businesses, theatre companies, nonprofits, and the arts.

After working regionally in theatre and light opera -- and then enjoying a 13+ year career as a Graphic Designer and a Communication Consultant -- I returned to school and finished a BFA in Acting from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro that I had begun in my 20s.

The knitting is slow going and I sometimes get distracted from it. As for history... I'm a junkie. Documentaries and biographies are my drug. Lately I'm a little obsessed with Prohibition and late 19th / early 20th century US sociological and political history.

https://www.etgilbertdesign.com