Story & Lesson Highlights with Lana House of Pacific Palisades/Santa Monica

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Lana House. Check out our conversation below.

Lana, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: Would YOU hire you? Why or why not?
Yes, without a doubt, I would hire myself. This past year has been incredibly eye-opening and has made me more confident than ever in the teacher and business owner I am. I show up with integrity, I care deeply about my clients, and I genuinely give my all.

I’ve spent many years growing as a teacher and business owner, but this year—especially after the fire—taught me even more. Being pushed out of my usual routine and into other studios gave me the chance to see how different people teach and run their businesses. That experience really clarified how I operate, what I value, and what I bring to the table. It reminded me why I’m proud of the way I work and the kind of environment I strive to create.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m a classically trained Pilates instructor with over 20 years of teaching experience, and I still genuinely love what I do. My teaching is rooted in classical Pilates, while also being informed by modern biomechanics to ensure the work is both safe and highly effective for today’s bodies.

I decided to become an instructor in my 20s with the dream of running my own business from home—and I’m grateful that dream became a reality. I’ve always had a strong passion for health and wellness, and Pilates has been the foundation of that journey. I also love staying active outside the studio through tennis, hiking with friends, and, more recently, surfing—a sport I discovered during COVID.

Pilates played a huge role in helping me take on such a challenging new sport, and that’s what I love most about it. My goal is to help people feel strong, capable, and confident in their bodies so they can move freely, try new things, and enjoy an active life—whatever that looks like for them.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who taught you the most about work?
My parents taught me the most about work, each in very different but equally important ways. Early in my life, my mother was the breadwinner while my dad was pursuing his dream of becoming a film director. From my mom, I learned what hard work, responsibility, and sacrifice really look like. From my dad, I learned the value of following something you truly love.

When I was a teenager, my mom had the opportunity to pursue her own dream of opening a gift shop, and I was able to see firsthand what it takes to build a business from the ground up. Watching both of my parents showed me that while hard work is essential, finding joy and purpose in what you do matters just as much. That lesson has stayed with me, and I’m grateful to be doing work today that I truly love.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Yes—there were moments when I truly felt like giving up. When COVID hit in 2020, I feared all the hard work I had put into my business might fall apart. Instead, I adapted quickly, and that period unexpectedly became one of the most successful times for my business.

Last year, however, after the Palisades fire devastated our town and dispersed our community, the challenge felt much heavier. For the first time, I seriously questioned how I could keep going. What ultimately carried me through was the clarity that teaching Pilates is what I’m meant to do—even if it had to look different for a while. One month after the fire, on my birthday, I returned to teaching at a friend’s studio. Being able to help people again, especially those who had lost so much, brought me immense joy and reminded me why I do this work.

While this year has been especially challenging, I know I’m walking in my purpose. I’m proud of the resilience this season has revealed, and I’m excited about what the future holds for House Pilates. Just like after COVID, I believe I’ll one day look back on the fire and recognize it as a turning point that led to growth I couldn’t have imagined at the time.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. How do you differentiate between fads and real foundational shifts?
I think the biggest challenge today is learning how to tune out the noise. We’re constantly surrounded by new trends and quick fixes, especially in the fitness and wellness space. Over time, I’ve learned to differentiate fads from real, lasting shifts by looking at what actually holds up.

Pilates is a great example. It’s been labeled a “fad” many times, yet it has existed since the 1920s because it works. Foundational approaches tend to be simple, repeatable, and sustainable. They focus on building strength, improving mobility, and supporting long-term health rather than chasing results or aesthetics.

I rely on intuition and common sense—listening to my body, keeping movement joyful, eating real food, and respecting what the body can do rather than how it looks. These principles don’t change with trends. They’ve stood the test of time, and that’s how I know they’re foundational rather than fleeting.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. If you laid down your name, role, and possessions—what would remain?
This is something I’ve thought about often, especially this past year. In many ways, the fire forced me to confront this question in real life. While I was incredibly fortunate not to lose our home or possessions, I did lose my role as I had known it, and I watched many in my community lose everything.

What remained were the things that truly matter to me: my family, the friends who have become chosen family, and my faith. Those relationships and beliefs were what grounded me when everything else felt uncertain. Stripped of titles, routines, and roles, what was left was love, connection, and trust in something bigger than myself—and that clarity has stayed with me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.housepilates.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/housepilatespalisades/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lana-house-9ab73937a/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/house-pilates-pacific-palisades-2?osq=house+pilates

Image Credits
Beauties and Babies