ABOUT

At the start of 2020, I was deep into my graduate studies in psychology from Pepperdine when I met a colleague who taught Pilates. At the time, I had no idea that a casual introduction would completely shift my life’s path. When the pandemic hit and lockdown began, I started searching for ways to stay active at home. I had always struggled to find an exercise routine that truly held my interest—until I saw my colleague posting Pilates videos. Curious, I decided to give it a try.

From the very first session, I felt a shift—not just physically, but mentally. The movements were low-impact yet powerful, and within weeks, I saw changes in my body that no other workout had ever given me. More than just the physical benefits, I realized I actually looked forward to practicing every day. Pilates wasn’t just exercise; it was a form of movement I deeply connected with.

As I continued my home practice, a thought kept surfacing: I can do this, and I can make this my full-time job. What started as a way to escape corporate life soon revealed itself as something greater—a calling to help others move. I wasn’t sure how to make that a reality until I discovered a Classical Pilates Teacher Training Program at the Pilates Institute of Southern California—just a mile from my home. I took it as a sign. It took me a couple of years to take the leap, but the moment one of my jobs ended, I wasted no time. The very next day, I signed up for training.

The journey was intense—over 800 hours of lectures, lessons, apprenticeship, observation, research, and self-practice—but it was worth every moment. I trained with Stacey Vargas, the studio owner and program director at the Pilates Institute of Southern California, and honed my skills at other studios in the South Bay, including Form Pilates LA, where I now teach.

Before diving into my certification, my only experience with Pilates was mat work. For three years, I practiced using videos from an app and YouTube, completely unaware of the world of apparatus-based Pilates. I had only touched a reformer and Cadillac a handful of times before training, but despite falling in love with the different apparatus—Cadillac, chair, barrel, and reformer—mat Pilates remains my first love. It’s pure, raw, and incredibly challenging because it’s just you and your body.

Alongside my Pilates certification, I also became certified in Reiki Levels 1 and 2 and completed a certification in Stress, Anxiety, and Self-Regulation through the HeartMath Institute. With these tools, my goal is not just to help people move but to help them release energy, tension, and stress through movement.

Now, over a year into teaching, I am beyond grateful to help others find the same connection to their body, breath, and mind that Pilates gave me—just as Joseph Pilates intended.