Meet Danny Sternbaum of Tether Pilates

Today we’d like to introduce you to Danny Sternbaum.

Hi Danny, 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?
I’m Danny, the founder of Tether Pilates in Granada Hills, CA. My story with Pilates began when it helped my wife find relief from severe shoulder pain through targeted exercises. That experience showed me the real impact mindful movement can have.

I’ve always enjoyed running and hiking, but knee pain from past injuries started becoming more of a regular issue for me. Pilates definitely helped change that. It eased my pain and built my strength in ways I hadn’t expected. That personal transformation inspired me to share Pilates with others, focusing on helping achieve practical results for my clients.

Before starting Tether Pilates, I worked (and still do) for over 20 years as a musician, recording engineer, and producer in the music industry. That career taught me how to provide professional, results-focused service, which I now bring to every Pilates session. After earning my BASI Pilates certification, I opened a private studio in my home in Granada Hills.

Tether Pilates is about helping people move better and feel better, one session at a time. I’m grateful to have built a space where real change happens.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Starting Tether Pilates has been rewarding, but it hasn’t been a smooth road by any means. Transitioning into a new career as a Pilates instructor while maintaining my work as a musician and producer was a challenge, especially while balancing family life with my wife and two young kids. Adding to that, the BASI Pilates comprehensive certification program required learning a vast amount of information and mastering new skills, from anatomy to precise teaching techniques.

Fortunately, having practiced Pilates for several years gave me a strong foundation, which made the learning curve a bit more manageable. Still, it took dedication to refine my teaching skills, especially when tailoring exercises for specific needs like helping clients with injuries or supporting athletes in their training. At the same time, I was building a clientele and navigating the world of marketing in Pilates, which was entirely new territory for me.

One of the most valuable skills I’ve developed is clear and effective communication. Learning to guide clients through exercises in a way that’s easy to understand has been crucial. It’s been rewarding to see how this skill has carried over into other parts of my life, like teaching and connecting with my kids! It hasn’t been easy, but every challenge has helped me grow as an instructor and as a person.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Tether Pilates?
Tether Pilates is my private studio in Granada Hills, CA, where I offer one-on-one Pilates sessions to help people move better and feel stronger. As a BASI-certified instructor, I focus on personalized reformer Pilates, targeting things like pain relief, core strength, and better balance. The studio is in my mid-century Eichler home, with a calm setup overlooking an atrium reflecting pool, using equipment like a Balanced Body Reformer Tower, wunda chair, and spine corrector, plus mats and props.

What makes us different is the individual attention. Every session is tailored to the client’s needs, whether they’re dealing with an injury, wanting to boost athletic performance, or just aiming to feel better. My background working in music taught me how to create a professional, focused experience, and I bring that to the pilates studio, making it a welcoming space to achieve real results and progress.

I’m proud of Tether Pilates for staying true to the idea of meaningful movement. The name “Tether” comes from connecting intentional exercise to lasting wellness, not chasing trends. I love seeing clients leave sessions feeling stronger or moving with less pain. It’s about helping people discover what their bodies can do in a supportive, private environment.

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I’ve always seen risk-taking as a balance between instinct and intention. To me, it’s about weighing what you might gain against what you could lose, then trusting yourself to move forward. In my career as a musician and producer, I took risks that shaped my path like choosing to work on passion projects over high-profile gigs with iconic artists. Those decisions weren’t always the “safe” choice, and I can’t say every one paid off the way I hoped, but they led me to where I am today, which I’m quite happy with!

Starting Tether Pilates was definitely a bit of a risk. It was daunting, especially while juggling family life with my wife and two young kids. It meant investing time, money, and energy into mastering a new craft and building a business from scratch in a competitive space. But that risk has been incredibly rewarding. Seeing how my clients have improved their lives has made it all worth it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.tetherpilates.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tetherpilates
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tetherpilates
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/tether-pilates-granada-hills-2

Image Credits
All photos by Beth Sternbaum