Bailey York shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Bailey, 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?
People often think BAYLATES™ is just a workout method… but it’s so much deeper than that. Yes, it’ll tone your body, improve mobility and flexibility, abd build strength, but what I’ve created goes beyond movement. BAYLATES is about reconnecting to yourself. It’s about healing the relationship you have with your body, rebuilding confidence, and learning how to move through life with more presence and power.
Most people don’t realize how much emotion and mindset are tied to the way we move. I’ve lived it — the body dysmorphia, burnout, emotional eating, pushing through pain just to feel “enough.” BAYLATES was born from that healing.
So no, it’s not “just Pilates.” It’s a lifestyle, a mindset, and a method that helps people come home to themselves… physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Bailey York, founder of BAYLATES™, a holistic movement and mindset method that fuses yoga, barre, Pilates, strength training, and breathwork. What makes BAYLATES unique is that it wasn’t planned—it happened in the moment.
Three years ago, I was teaching a sculpt yoga class when the barre instructor didn’t show up. The studio asked me to fill in, and I laughed and said, “I don’t know barre, but I know Pilates—so we’re going to call this Bae-lates.” I created the entire class out of instinct, blending sculpt, Pilates, and breathwork. It ended up being one of the best classes I’d ever taught—people raved about it, and from that day, I continued to build off of it.
I’m expanding BAYLATES globally through online programs, teacher certifications, pop ups and retreats—helping people become certified and knowledgeable in all modalities.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before the world told me who I had to be, I was bold, loud, and full of light. But somewhere along the way, I learned to shrink — to be likable, quiet, small. To not take up too much space.
Through this method, I help men and women reclaim that their power — the freedom to take up space, to feel everything, and to break down their walls.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
When I finally got honest about what was really behind the grind — the self-hate, the body obsession, the debt, the constant need to prove I was worthy. I used to call it ambition, but really, it was pain in disguise. The day I stopped punishing myself and started moving from love instead of fear, everything changed.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
That transformation starts with self-hate. The fitness industry profits off women believing they need to be fixed — smaller, tighter, more disciplined, less emotional. It glorifies burnout, restriction, and comparison, then calls it “wellness.” I bought into that for years — I thought if I just worked harder or looked better, I’d finally feel enough.
But real transformation doesn’t come from punishing your body. It comes from learning to listen to it. BAYLATES™ was born out of that truth — that strength and softness can coexist, that movement can be healing, and that confidence isn’t built in the mirror, it’s built in the mind.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. Have you ever gotten what you wanted, and found it did not satisfy you?
Yes — more than once. I’ve made it to the top at every studio I’ve worked at. I’ve had the classes packed, the waitlists full, the praise, the recognition and still, I’d walk out thinking, okay now what? I chased achievement thinking it would fill me, but success without soul always feels empty.
Im hungry for more impact, more truth, and more connection. BAYLATES™ provides what I wish I had when I was struggling: confidence, support and will power. I’m grateful I get to serve, to expand, and to leave something that actually matters.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.baylates.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/baylates_
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Baylates-61562031546344/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@BaylatesMethod
Image Credits
Ky-Leigh Martinez
