Nicole Lal of Miami and Los Angeles on Life, Lessons & Legacy

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Nicole Lal. Check out our conversation below.

Nicole, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What do you think is misunderstood about your business? 
When I think about what’s often misunderstood right now, I don’t just see it in one studio or one class, I see it reflected across the Pilates industry as a whole. There’s a growing belief that Pilates has to be extremely challenging to the point where an exercise or position feels nearly impossible to accomplish. At the same time, I’ve also witnessed the complete opposite: the idea that Pilates must be so slow, controlled, and anatomically detailed that the client is barely moving. At that point, the session stops feeling like a workout and starts feeling like a lecture.

The way I approach my sessions is by coming back to what clients actually want. They want to feel like they’re working out and progressing in their bodies. That challenge should feel effortful, but also supported enough to create real gains whether that’s strength, flexibility, or confidence in movements they didn’t have access to before.

My hope for the industry, especially as Pilates continues to grow and reach so many different bodies, is that as more instructors become certified, they’re also taught that movement is movement and Pilates is simply a method of movement. It doesn’t have to be black and white, and it doesn’t need to turn into a competition about who teaches Pilates “better.” There’s room for different approaches, as long as clients are moving with purpose and progressing over time. That’s enough for me.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Nicky Lal, and I own Pilates studios in both Miami and Los Angeles. My brand, Fuerza, captures a lot of who I am and what I believe in through one word. Fuerza means “strength” in Spanish. My family is originally Argentine, and I’m a first-generation American who grew up deeply rooted in Hispanic culture in Miami so having a studio there feels personal. I also spent 14 years in Los Angeles, and that’s where I built the foundation of my work and community.

In my studios and in my teaching, I help clients build Fuerza physically and as a result, mentally too. As Pilates continues to evolve and step into the spotlight, I’ve loved seeing the industry expand to more people and more bodies, and I care a lot about keeping the work purposeful and accessible without losing its depth.

A major part of what I do is train professional athletes and help them regain confidence and autonomy in their bodies, especially during recovery. I take the time to understand the demands their sport places on them, then use Pilates to bridge performance, recovery, and long term movement health often in a way they haven’t experienced in “traditional” conditioning or rehab.

Alongside training athletes and growing as a teacher, I also support fellow instructors. I teach them the responsibility that comes with working with athletes and help them build confidence through workshops, classes, and hands on support that many instructors don’t always get in their day to day teaching. This work is deeply rewarding, and I’m grateful it allows me to build relationships that last.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized I’ve lived a few different versions of myself. Some seasons were steady and confident like I could see the road ahead and I knew exactly where I was going. Other seasons were the complete opposite: uncertain, messy, and full of questions about what was next. Looking back, I can see that the unclear seasons shaped me just as much as the clear ones. They taught me how to trust myself when there wasn’t a perfect plan.

I can honestly say I’m okay with not having myself completely figured out. I don’t need a final version of me to feel grounded. What I do know is that I never would have imagined I’d be where I am now or doing what I’m doing, and I hope I can keep surprising myself in that way as I keep growing through changes, challenges, and wins.

I’ve also learned to tune out the noise about what I “should” be. I feel most at ease when I’m led from the inside out and when I’m guiding myself instead of performing for outside expectations. I value guidance and support deeply, but I’ve gotten better at filtering it through what actually feels true for me. That’s the version of me I’m most proud of: the one who keeps choosing me over approval from others.

Do you remember a time someone truly listened to you?
I do and it was one of the most powerful experiences of my life. Not just being heard, but being listened to in a way that made me feel fully seen. Like my words mattered. Like my emotions made sense. Like I didn’t have to over explain or prove what I was feeling. That kind of presence creates a bond that’s hard to describe, because it doesn’t feel like conversation it feels like connection.

When someone really invests in you, your wins, your setbacks, your next steps, it changes something. To know someone is in your corner, rooting for you, and witnessing your life with genuine care is something I’ll never forget.

That kind of listening doesn’t always come often. Sometimes it’s brief. Sometimes it’s rare. But just knowing people are capable of slowing down and showing up for each other like that is meaningful in itself.

And I don’t know if I’ll ever experience it again in the exact same way. But what I want to carry forward is this: I want to give that to myself. I want to listen to myself with that same level of attention and respect to recognize what I need, what I want, what’s best for me, and to actually invest in my own wellbeing. Because as beautiful as it is to receive from someone else, I don’t want to depend on it. I want to be able to create that steadiness within myself, too.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
Loyalty, without question. Not the kind that demands perfection or ignores reality but the kind that reflects real commitment to a friendship, a partnership, a bond.

For me, loyalty shows up in the moments that aren’t polished. It’s staying present when things get messy. It’s being the person who doesn’t disappear when someone is struggling, while still caring enough to be honest with them. Loyalty is trust, consistency, and follow through. It’s knowing someone has your best interest in mind, and proving it with how you show up not just what you say.

It also means choosing the hard conversations, not avoiding them. Choosing repair over ego. Choosing to be in it for the long haul, not just when it’s fun or convenient.

I’m someone who fully invests in the people in my life, my family, my friends, and even my clients. I’m committed by nature, and I’m drawn to that same steadiness in the people I keep close. To me, loyalty is love with consistency. It’s showing up again and again, through the good and the ugly.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace when I’m in the sun with the people I love. No agenda, no next thing, just being fully in the moment with the ones who feel like home.

And I also feel that same peace when I’m in my element teaching. When I’m training and truly connecting with a client, everything gets quiet in the best way. I’m fully present, locked into their body, their patterns, their progress, and I get to help them understand movement and, in a way, understand themselves. That’s more than work for me. It’s grounding. It’s where I feel most like myself and what I’m here to do.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://pilatesfuerza.com
• Instagram: @pilateswithnickylal & @fuerza.pilates

Image Credits
Michael Rhine @michaelxrhine