Jacqueline Hinton of Santa Monica on Life, Lessons & Legacy

Jacqueline Hinton shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Jacqueline, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What is a normal day like for you right now?
A typical day for me starts early and is deeply rooted in movement. I wake up at 6:30am and start teaching Pilates from 7 to 11am. Teaching takes a lot of focus and energy, so I really value my 11:30am–1pm ballet class afterward, it keeps me grounded as a student, not just an instructor.

From 1–3:30pm, I switch gears into admin work and auditions, which is where the business and acting parts of my life overlap. At 3:30pm, I hop on Zoom to teach or move with my mom and her friends, one of the sweetest parts of my day. I wrap up more admin work from 4:30–5:30pm, then head to Barry’s Bootcamp or yoga from 5:30–6:20pm to get my own workout in.

My evenings from 6:30–8:30pm are usually spent tying up loose ends from the day and prepping for tomorrow. After that, I wind down with dinner and quality time with my husband and our dog, Riley.

It’s busy, but I love the rhythm of staying connected to movement, family, and my work all in the same day.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Jacqueline Hinton and I’m an actor, dancer, and the CEO of Good Body Pilates Studio, a Latina-owned boutique Pilates studio in Santa Monica. I come from a dance background, I earned my BFA in Dance from the University of Texas at Austin and after years performing professionally in LA for 20+ years, I found a home in Pilates as both a practice and a way to support my community.

Good Body Pilates blends classical Pilates foundations with a contemporary, accessible approach. What makes us special isn’t just the equipment or the workouts, it’s the intention, the inclusivity and the sense of belonging. We’re a neighborhood studio that supports real people, real bodies, and real life, and we’ve been honored to be voted Santa Monica’s Most Loved Pilates Studio two years in a row.

Alongside running the studio, I continue to work as an actor and creative, and I’m developing projects that explore identity, generational story, and representation, including my film work. My journey has always been about honoring where I come from, creating space for others, and using movement and storytelling as tools for empowerment and connection.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
For me, it actually went the other way around. I was the rule follower. I did what I was told, tried to check the boxes, tried to make sense to everyone else.

And then I got older. I experienced more. I lived more life.

Now I don’t give a f*ck. I do what feels honest. I do what feels aligned. I do what makes me feel alive.

I realized that the version of me before the world had expectations… she was bold, intuitive, curious, and completely unafraid to take up space. And instead of trying to “find” her again, I just stopped abandoning her.

That’s who I’m becoming now.

Do you remember a time someone truly listened to you?
My husband truly listens to me. Not just to respond, but to understand. He gets that people need the freedom to be themselves, to say what they want, do what they want, and exist without shrinking. And feeling that kind of support every day is rare and powerful.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
The project I’m committed to, no matter how long it takes, is being the best example I can be for my niece. Not in a perfect way, but in a real way. I want her to see a woman who isn’t afraid to take up space, who changes her mind, who starts over, who chooses herself, and who builds a life based on truth instead of pressure. I want her to see that strength doesn’t mean being hard, and softness doesn’t mean being weak. If she grows up knowing she’s allowed to be whole, to be loud, to be quiet, to be soft, to be powerful, then I know I’ve done my job because sometimes the most important work we do isn’t what we create, it’s who we show ourselves to be.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. If you retired tomorrow, what would your customers miss most?
I think my clients would miss the community we’ve built together and the way I teach, not just the exercises, but the connection, the conversations, and the feeling that they belong somewhere. That sense of belonging is everything.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.goodbodypilates.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goodbodypilates.com
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/90495747/admin/dashboard/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/goodbodypilates
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/good-body-pilates-studio-santa-monica-4?utm_campaign=www_business_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)

Image Credits
Headshots: Dana Patrick Dance: Barry Weiss Dance: Justin Hinton