Today we’d like to introduce you to Kylie Cipolla.
Hi Kylie, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My Pilates journey started at a studio on the Upper East Side when I was living in New York. They needed a front desk person, which was perfect because I had just graduated NYU and I needed a job. The perk was I would get free Pilates classes. At this point in my life I was working out at the gym often, but I had never taken a Pilates class before. Well, it was unlike any fitness technique I had experienced. I was connecting with my body in a deeper more mindful way and working harder than ever before. Sure, I had done crunches and squats, but this new method went deeper. My whole body was involved. But the biggest difference was the instruction, the way the instructor kept guiding my attention back to my body instead of drifting away doing mindless reps. I’ll never forget the way she could bring me to my maximum effort and yet it felt so peaceful. As I continued taking classes, my body felt truly capable of anything. But it wasn’t just my physical body that felt balanced. I noticed my anxious thoughts were quieter and I would leave feeling like I just had a therapy session. I thought, everybody needs this. And that is when I decided to get certified and begin teaching. Eventually, I moved back to LA, my hometown, and I found Jackie Hinton, the owner of Good Body Pilates in Santa Monica. Immediately we clicked. She leads with kindness and openness and a love for what she does and it’s a huge inspiration to me. I’m so lucky to part of a studio with such great values and community. I’ve also been able to bring a mat Pilates class to the gym where I rock climb. The core strength and injury prevention elements of Pilates are perfect for rock climbers so it feels natural to train this way. I truly love what I do and I just want to share it with as many people as possible!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Pilates has been becoming increasingly popular in recent years which has been great for my career development. The need for instructors and classes has aligned perfectly with my personal journey. The biggest struggle was more personal. I hold myself to a really high standard and I have a touch of perfectionism which sometimes causes me to overthink my lesson plan, but I think it also keeps me growing and staying curious.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a Pilates instructor who cares and respects the method and its benefits. I see the term Pilates being used pretty broadly, especially on the internet, and I think people are confused about what Pilates actually is. I get so much joy getting to share this practice with people who are unfamiliar to working in this particular way. At Good Body, we only have 6 reformers, so my classes are very intimate and hands on. You’re getting a lot of personalized attention. The personal connection and community aspect is very important to me. It’s always been my mission to build an environment that is safe and welcoming, where you can let your guard down and be open to trying something new or not being perfect. It feels good to make Pilates accessible, which is also why I was so happy to introduce mat Pilates to the members at my rock climbing gym. There’s no equipment required for mat work. In fact, I even taught an impromptu mat class on the lawn of the villa at my family reunion this summer in Italy!
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
I have an anatomy app on my phone that I reference constantly. I love that it’s easily accessible and gives me a 3D look at the body. When I was first starting, I was trying to learn as much as I could about Joseph Pilates and his original method, so I was reading books like “Return to Life Through Contrology” and “The Caged Lion.” Now, I get a lot of inspiration from other long-time Pilates instructors online. It’s great to watch someone who has been in this business for decades break down an exercise I already know, but with different cues.
Pricing:
- New Client Special: 3 Group Classes for $99
- New Client Special: 3 Private Sessions $295
