Today we’d like to introduce you to Shannon Barbaro.
Hi Shannon, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Movement has always been part of my life. I was a competitive figure skater growing up—early mornings at the rink before school, long hours training and pushing through injury. It gave me discipline, resilience, and a deep connection to my body. But it also left me with chronic imbalances and injuries that followed me into adulthood.
After college, I moved into the fast-paced startup tech world in San Francisco. I had a rewarding and successful career in business development, but it took a toll. I was constantly on the road, sitting in uncomfortable positions for long hours, and felt the wear and tear on my body. That’s when I found Pilates.
It felt like physical therapy and intelligent exercise combined into one. It gave me what nothing else could—relief, strength, and a deep reconnection to how my body was designed to move. I practiced almost every day and often dreamed of becoming a teacher. But I wasn’t ready to make that kind of shift just yet.
Years later, I had children in my late 30s (36 and 38) and quickly found myself in early perimenopause. My body was changing, my hormones were shifting, and I was in the middle of a major identity transition. I experienced what so many women do at this stage—feeling invisible, dismissed, and unsure of what’s next.
That low season became the turning point. I realized I was meant to create a space to support other women going through these same shifts—a space that would feel like both a sanctuary and a strategy.
That’s how Pilates Lab Ventura was born—the first Pilates Biohacking studio of its kind. While we welcome everyone, our mission is especially centered around helping women who are dealing with hormonal changes, autoimmune flare-ups, joint pain, inflammation, and nervous system overload.
We created our signature LAB Method: Lengthen, Align, Biohack. It’s a science-based, systemic approach that combines classical Pilates, functional movement, and intelligent recovery. The goal isn’t just to move—it’s to feel better in every way.
At Pilates Lab, we pair this method with modalities that work on a cellular level:
TheraLight 360+ whole-body red light therapy, which helps reduce inflammation, pain, and support autoimmune conditions while boosting ATP production, mitochondrial health, muscle recovery, and hormonal balance.
NuCalm neuroacoustic therapy—essentially a private sound bath that deeply calms the nervous system, improves sleep, and supports mental clarity.
Power Plate vibration training to stimulate muscle fibers, improve balance, aid lymphatic drainage, and support muscle mass and bone density.
Everything we offer is backed by randomized controlled trials, research, and medical literature. That was non-negotiable for me. Too often, women are brushed off with labels like “anxious” or “depressed” when what they’re really experiencing is a complete physiological shift. Pilates Lab was built to offer tools that are validating, restorative, and empowering.
This is Pilates reimagined. It’s rooted in precision, upgraded with modern wellness tools, and designed to support your strength, vitality, and longevity.
And for now, it exists only in Ventura.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The road has been anything but smooth—and I think that’s what makes it worth sharing…
I started Pilates Lab with no investors, no financial backing—just my own savings and a vision I believed in down to my bones. Building something from scratch, especially in wellness, takes grit. I wear every hat: founder, teacher, strategist, creative, customer service, even janitor some days. But being self-funded also means I get to lead with heart, not hype. Every decision is made with the long game in mind—client care, integrity, and community.
One of the biggest challenges? Education. Helping people understand that what we offer is not just another workout—it’s a system designed to help you live better, longer, and more pain-free. Anyone can deliver a “burn and shake” reformer class on a piece of equipment that resembles a version of a reformer that makes you sweat. But what we do at Pilates Lab is different. We deliver a curated, intelligent movement system rooted in classical Pilates, upgraded with functional movement and evidence-based tools. This is movement with meaning.
We train the entire body, not just the mirror muscles. We emphasize side-lying work, unilateral movement, spinal articulation, rotation, extension, breathwork—all the elements your body needs to function well, age well, and move well. But here in Southern California, people still want the challenge—and we deliver that too. The magic is in the blend: giving your body what it craves and what it truly needs.
It’s been especially rewarding to modernize the original Pilates repertoire for today’s bodies and pain patterns. Tech neck, sitting-induced dysfunction, pelvic instability, and nervous system burnout are the norm now—and we address all of it head-on. This is Pilates 2.0 for the modern world.
Has it been easy? No. But I didn’t build this for easy. I built it for impact and women just like me who need and deserve MORE. And I’m just getting started.
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?
Lots of great questions here!
Pilates Lab is the first-ever Pilates Biohacking™ concept—founded on the belief that intelligent movement paired with evidence-based recovery is the missing link in modern wellness.
We specialize in small-group reformer classes and private sessions that combine classical and contemporary Pilates with advanced modalities like red light therapy (TheraLight 360+), NuCalm neuroacoustic meditation, and Power Plate vibration training. Our focus is functional longevity—helping clients reduce inflammation, regulate their nervous system, and build sustainable strength.
We’re best known for delivering challenging, evidence-based reformer classes, highly personalized private sessions, and cutting-edge biohacking services. We’re also proud to be the only location north of Los Angeles offering TheraLight 360+ treatments. Everything we do is guided by our signature LAB Method™—Lengthen, Align, Biohack. This fall, we’re expanding with a new Bone-Building Pilates class to support muscle mass, bone density, and balance through progressive resistance.
What truly sets us apart is the quality of our educators.
As the Pilates landscape shifts toward fast, fitness-driven formats, we’re proud to stay rooted in the classical system, layered with evidence-based contemporary Pilates. Every instructor on our team is comprehensively trained through rigorous, 500+ hour programs—with a deep understanding of anatomy, movement mechanics, and the full Pilates repertoire.
This level of depth and education is becoming increasingly rare—and it’s exactly what thoughtful, results-driven clients are now seeking. Our studio is equipped with classical apparatus like the Cadillac, Wunda Chair, and Foot Corrector, allowing us to teach in a way that is purposeful, precise, and true to the method.
We don’t follow trends—we uphold standards. And that’s the difference you feel the moment you walk in.
Brand-wise, we’re proud to be redefining what Pilates can look like in today’s wellness landscape. Pilates Lab isn’t about fast fitness—it’s about depth, recovery, and results. We don’t just teach Pilates. We preserve it, evolve it, and deliver it with purpose.
What matters most to you?
Integrity. Leading with heart. And sharing the tools that have genuinely reshaped me in midlife.
I don’t offer anything I haven’t used myself, struggled through, or personally benefited from. What matters most is giving people access to the things that helped me reconnect to my body, my energy, and my identity during one of the most confusing and transformative chapters of my life.
I believe when you lead with integrity and purpose—without shortcuts or hype—you build something that lasts. That’s what Pilates Lab was created to do.
Pricing:
- First small-group reformer class: $25
- First Private session: $100
- 10 pack small-group reformer classes: $375
- First 10 pack small-group reformer classes: $280
- Theralight/NuCalm memberships options start at $199/month
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.pilateslabventura.com
- Instagram: pilateslabventura
- Facebook: Pilates Lab Ventura
Image Credits
Wise Photograohy by Nicole
Byba Sepit Photo
