When Laura and Diane first met as NYU students in New York City, they had no idea they’d one day reconnect to support the next generation of Pilates instructors. But years later, a surprise reunion in Southern California revealed a shared passion: Pilates.

For Diane, Pilates had been life-changing. Inspired to deepen her practice, she enrolled in a teacher training program. But coming from a different industry—with no built-in Pilates network, a full-time job, and a long commute to the weekend intensives—She quickly ran into common roadblocks: studios that were rarely open to hands-on practice, and mentorships that were available but came with a steep price tag. Momentum began to stall—until she began working with Laura. That changed everything.

Through that experience, they saw a clear gap: students needed support between classes. Consistent. Accessible. Personalized. Affordable. So they decided to build it.

Tailored support. Real solutions.

Laura is a seasoned Pilates instructor, educator, movement specialist and professional dancer based in La Jolla. She is a Pilates educator, and holds additional certifications through The Pilates Institute of Southern California and the La Jolla Yoga Center. She studied Ideokinesis with André Bernard at NYU, developing a unique teaching approach that blends Pilates, dance, yoga, and fitness into what she calls “an amalgam of form and function.”

She earned a Bachelor of Science in Dance Therapy and Performative Studies, and has taught in the Musical Theater Department at the Coronado School of the Arts, combining expressive movement with therapeutic principles. Laura’s expertise lies in kinesthetic education with an emphasis on alignment, mobility, balance, and functional strength.

Bringing extensive experience to her boutique studio, she designs personalized programs that support clients through all stages of their movement journey—including pre and post-rehabilitation for total hip arthroplasty. Laura empowers individuals of all levels to improve body awareness, build sustainable strength—all in a welcoming environment rooted in both science and creativity.

Diane is a wellness entrepreneur, product designer, and apprentice Pilates instructor, she brings a multidisciplinary background in launching mission-driven brands and product design. She founded an eco-conscious beauty brand, worked in Asia and Europe as an editorial travel photographer, and most recently co-founded and soft launched a platform for wellbeing and longevity.

Drawing from this diverse entrepreneurial experience, she developed the business framework that underpins the support system for aspiring Pilates instructors—designed to make the certification journey more connected and purpose-driven.

On a personal note —

Pilates found me at exactly the right moment. After my physical therapist recommended it, what started as a new fitness class turned into something way bigger—suddenly I wasn't just doing an hour of exercise, I was actually standing up straighter and feeling less like a stressed-out mess. I felt stronger, more centered, more connected to my body than I had in years. It made such a difference that I wanted to learn more about it.

As I was exploring what a meaningful new career might look like at this phase of my life—something that truly aligned with who I was becoming—teacher training felt like the perfect fit. So I took the leap and enrolled, excited and maybe a little nervous, but completely committed to this new path. What I didn't know then was just how rich and complex the world of Pilates really was, and honestly, I had no idea what I was really getting into. But sometimes the best journeys begin with that perfect mix of "I have no idea what I'm doing" energy and pure excitement about diving headfirst into something new.

What I didn't anticipate was how challenging it would be to maintain that momentum while juggling everything else in my life.

Coming from a completely different industry meant I was starting from scratch—no local connections in the Pilates world, no built-in community to lean on. While my certification school and teacher were fantastic, the challenge was in all those in-between moments when I was back home, too far away to meet with my cohort between intensives. While I was grateful to find many open doors for observation hours, I discovered that finding affordable opportunities for hands-on practice time or mentorship within my budget was not easy or even available. I was catching those early 5 AM flights to weekend intensives (not my strong suit as a night owl), arriving exhausted after full weeks of work, trying to squeeze practice and study time into already packed days. Being back in student mode after years away from formal learning was harder than I'd anticipated—especially diving into something completely outside my previous experience. The financial investment felt heavy, especially when I wasn't sure how to turn this passion into sustainable income.

There were moments when I questioned whether I was being realistic. The initial excitement started to fade as I faced the reality of inconsistent practice, limited access to practice time between intensives, and the overwhelming feeling of "what have I done?" (Cue the 3 a.m. questioning of all my life choices.)

Then, after a chance reconnection with my friend Laura, everything shifted.

Working with her didn’t just change my practice—it transformed my entire approach to this journey. Suddenly, I had the hands-on practice labs and real-time feedback I’d been missing—because in Pilates, you need to feel these movements in your body, and they must be precisely aligned to avoid strain or injury. The path forward became clear, achievable, and full of possibility once again.

I'm sharing this to help any others out there who might be feeling this as well. I was—loving Pilates deeply but not sure how to move forward sustainably.

This experience sparked Laura and my journey toward creating an 'after school program' for students who are new to this industry or transitioning careers while still managing very full schedules in the meantime.

I hope these workshops help make your path a little clearer (like it did for me) and a lot less overwhelming. You've already taken the hardest step by starting this journey—now it's just about finding the right support and maybe avoiding some of the detours I took (like those 3 a.m. "what am I doing with my life" moments).