Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrea White Marinas.
Andrea, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I got into Pilates while living in Minneapolis as a dancer and choreographer. I took a private lesson and was quickly blown away by how much I personally needed this work. It was humbling at first, but after every session my body felt stronger, more awake and centered. I was calmer and more focused. In my twenties, I lived in New York and studied ballet with top-notch instructors. Teaching Pilates seemed to be a natural continuation of that intense study, and properly lining up the body for more efficient movement.
I moved to LA and finished my certification at Core Conditioning in Studio City and starting teaching full-time, developing a steady private practice in Santa Monica and mat classes at Easton Gym in West Hollywood. Later, I got certified to teach prenatal and through creating prenatal reformer classes my business grew quickly. That was ten years ago. Last summer, I opened my own studio, on Montana Avenue and 11th Street. It’s a dream space with high ceilings, wood beams and a sanctuary-like feel.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Though we have grown organically, we do face certain challenges. We are located on Montana Avenue (which is great for foot traffic) but are on the second floor and prohibited from using signage on the building. On one hand, it’s awesome to give clients privacy, but we miss reaching a lot of people who walk by our business everyday because they don’t know we are there. We have to be creative about getting the word out to the local community.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Andrea White Pilates – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
We are a boutique Pilates studio located in the heart of Montana Avenue specializing in private and semi-private sessions. Our group sessions are limited to three people, so every student receives a lot of personalized attention. Alignment, proper technique and mindfulness are pillars of our teaching, and many of our instructors are (or were) dancers so that influences our approach to training.
We specialize in mindful movement for functional wellness and sustained health. It is important to us that every client truly connects to the deeper muscles of their body to perform the exercises correctly and benefit the right muscles. We genuinely invest in our students and cheer on their progress.
Aside from our beginner and intermediate reformer classes, we teach prenatal Pilates classes. I personally have trained hundreds of women through their pregnancies and also guide women on the postnatal end to make sure they reconnect to their cores safely after childbirth. Another one of our instructors has a fun men’s only class.
Pilates is more than a fitness regimen, it teaches body awareness and trains one to move through the world more gracefully.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I would love to become a teacher trainer and develop future Pilates instructors. We strive to enrich the Santa Monica Pilates community through hosting social and philanthropic events.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1101 Montana Ave, Suite D
Santa Monica CA 90403 - Website: www.andreawhitepilates.com
- Phone: (323) 384-8987
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andreawhitepilates/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AndreaWhitePilates/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/andrea-white-pilates-santa-monica
Image Credit:
Kate Haus Photography
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