Hidden Gems: Meet Molly Niles Renshaw of Phoenix Classical Pilates

Today we’d like to introduce you to Molly Niles Renshaw.

Hi Molly, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hi, I’m Molly Niles Renshaw — Pilates teacher, studio owner, writer, and entrepreneur.
I first got into Pilates back in college at Skidmore in Saratoga Springs, NY, where I was a dancer major. I immediately loved how it made me feel stronger and more graceful, so Pilates became part of my routine.
In the mid-90s, I was pursuing modern dance in NYC, but mostly worked as a waitress and artist model. I hated being on my feet late at night, so I looked into Pilates certification. Lucky for me, Romana Kryzanowska — who trained directly with Joseph Pilates — was offering a program right in Midtown. It took me about a year to complete the 75 prerequisite hours just to get into the program, and another year and change to do all my apprentice hours. Very different from the weekend certifications nowadays. When I got certified in 1999, it was a real apprenticeship of learning a method – how it should be!
Pilates wasn’t super well-known back then, so I spent the next five years teaching at the main Pilates studio on 2121 Broadway, learning from the best.
I moved back to my hometown, Los Angeles, in 2004 and taught at different studios. I never thought I’d open my own, but when Mari Winsor’s studios closed because of her ALS diagnosis, and then another studio closed a year later, I got tired of moving around with my clients. So, with my partner Hector Mercado, we took the plunge and opened Phoenix Classical Pilates in 2018 — named after the phoenix rising from the ashes.
We made it through Covid and have been growing ever since. I took over as sole owner in 2021, expanded the space, added more equipment, and now we have seven amazing teachers offering private, semi-private, and group classes every day. Honestly, sometimes I can’t believe how far I’ve come — I’m proud to run one of the few classical Pilates studios in LA.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Like life, starting a business is never a smooth road! Getting a new business off the ground was definitely no joke. Hector and I opened Phoenix with a small client list, some used equipment, and a lot of debt—and honestly, we had no idea what we were doing. When the web designer building our very basic website asked about our marketing strategy, we just looked at each other and shrugged. This was late 2018. For the first year, we kept things simple: teach clients, collect payments, and split rent and expenses. A few other teachers rented the studio as independent contractors, and we figured it out as we went.

Then Covid hit and completely changed everything. We shut down like everyone else and pivoted to Zoom classes, and I’ll always be grateful to the loyal clients who stuck with us. That period really exposed some big flaws in our business model—especially the fact that we didn’t qualify for PPP loans because everyone was an independent contractor. It was stressful, but it pushed me to get serious about learning how to run a real business.

I started working with business coach Seran Glanfield of Spring Three, and for the first time I learned how to build something that could grow, not just survive month to month. I learned the value of having employees instead of contractors, build recurring revenue, how to clarify our brand and mission, and how to market through social media, newsletters, and ads.

Around the same time, Hector and I realized we had different long-term visions for the studio. In 2021, I bought him out and became the sole owner. He’ll always be the co-founder and remains an important part of Phoenix as our lead teacher. Since then, I’ve made big changes, grown revenue significantly, and built a team of seven employees. It hasn’t been easy—I’ve had plenty of wins and a few flops—but it’s been an incredibly challenging and rewarding ride.

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Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m really proud to run one of the few true classical Pilates studios in Los Angeles. While the trend has shifted toward large Reformer classes with interpretive choreography, we stay grounded in our mission: offering the highest-quality classical Pilates instruction through small group classes (never more than six students), along with private and semi-private sessions. Trying to give meaningful attention—or hands-on guidance—to 12 or more people isn’t just difficult, it’s unsafe.

A lot of studios today don’t actually teach Pilates the way Joseph Pilates intended. He was incredibly specific about his method—exercise order, repetitions, flow, and intention—and documented it clearly through photos and film back in the mid-1900s. We honor that system rather than reinventing it. At Phoenix, we teach with the order and flow of Joseph Pilates exercises but using modern biomechanics.

Another big misconception is that Pilates is just about the Reformer. It’s not! The full method includes the Mat, Cadillac, Chairs, and Barrels. At Phoenix, we use all of it with authentic Gratz apparatus (the BEST!), which feels completely different from the equipment found in most studios. You really notice the difference the moment you start moving.

What sets us apart is that we combine this classical foundation with modern biomechanics. I’ve been teaching since 1999 and have earned multiple certifications over the years, and my entire team is deeply trained in anatomy, physiology, and biomechanics. Our goal is to deliver Pilates that’s not only true to the method, but also smart, safe, and incredibly effective.

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Finding the right mentor can honestly be the difference between success and failure, and I’ve been incredibly lucky to have amazing mentors throughout my career. For me, the key has always been finding someone I deeply respect, but who I can also actually talk to and learn from as a human being.

When I first started in Pilates, I was completely intimidated by the grand dame of Pilates, Romana Kryzanowska. I respected her enormously, but I found my true mentor in Bob Liekens, who partnered with her in running the certification program at The Pilates Studio in NYC. Bob taught me how to really look at the body, which shaped how I teach to this day. I also found kindred spirits in my teachers Ton Voogt and Michael Fritzke, who showed me that teaching could be fun and that it’s okay not to take everything so seriously—it’s just Pilates.

After moving to Los Angeles, I met Mari Winsor, who was hugely influential in the industry and had an incredible network. She taught me so much about building relationships, working with high-profile clients, and again, not taking it all too seriously. That theme seems to come up a lot for me.

A few other people have had a big impact on my path. Alisa Wyatt, who founded Pilatesology, believed in me early on and has been a great friend and supporter. Shari Berkowitz is another close friend, a Pilates teacher of teachers and a master of biomechanics—I learn from her constantly. And finally, Seran Glanfield, my business coach, has been instrumental in helping me turn my studio into a thriving, sustainable business.

What’s worked best for me is showing up, staying curious, and being open to learning at every stage. Mentorship isn’t about finding one perfect person—it’s about building relationships over time and being willing to learn from many voices.

Pricing:

• $275 for First 3 Private Sessions
• $89 for First 3 Classes
• $140 for a Private with Molly
• $167 for 4-class/month membership
• $287 for 8-class/month membership

Contact Info:

• Website: https://phoenixclassicalpilates.com
• Instagram: @phoenixsantamonica
• Facebook: Phoenix Classical Pilates
• Other: Pilatesology.com (use code: MOLLY30)

Image Credits
Caddie Hastings