Established 2015 · Pasadena, CA
Pasadena's #1 traditional Pilates studio.
Rooted in the original teachings of Joseph Pilates — private sessions, intimate group classes, physical therapy, massage and nutrition, all under one roof.
Welcome to P/oP
A studio built on the original method — and on community.
Voted Pasadena's #1 Pilates studio since opening our doors in 2015, Pilates of Pasadena is one of the few traditional studios in the area focused on the original teachings of Joseph Pilates. Our goals are longevity, functionality and overall wellness — whether you're an athlete, cross-training, or staying healthy through every stage of life.
We work with the full range of Pilates apparatus — reformer, cadillac, wunda chair, barrels and spine correctors — and blend in contemporary tools like the Oov, balls, bands and weights when they serve the work. We're the only studio in Pasadena with instructors trained in the Oov method.
Our instructors are comprehensively certified through BASI, Stott, Polestar and Balanced Body, and experienced with osteoporosis, scoliosis, pre- and post-op joint replacement, post-physical-therapy work, back issues and more.
"Over the years I've seen so many friendships formed at P/oP, which always warms my heart." — Maria Jimenez-Tierney, Founder
Personal attention, always
No music blasting in dark rooms. Every session — private or group — is taught with individual attention, tailored to your body and level.
Truly a family
Our clients and instructors have organically formed a warm, diverse community. Friendships form here — that's the point.
Beyond Pilates
Physical therapy, sports massage, nutrition coaching, monthly sound baths and continuing-education workshops, all in the studio.
Sessions & Pricing
Find the session that fits you.
All appointments are booked directly with an instructor — email us or call/text 626-765-6500 and we'll match you with the right fit. Sessions are 55 minutes.
New to P/oP? Start here
Intro to Pilates
3 private 50-minute sessions
Our introductory package for first-time clients. Build core strength and learn the foundational moves of this timeless method, one-on-one with a certified instructor.
One-on-one
Private
Just you and your instructor
Fully customized workouts, goal-setting and motivation. The most effective way to get the most out of every session.
One-on-one
Master Private
With 15+ year instructors
Private training with our most experienced teachers — over fifteen years of Pilates instruction behind every session.
2 people
Duet
Bring a partner — or we'll find one
Perfect for couples and workout buddies who want to train together. No partner? No problem — we'll pair you up.
3 people
Trio
Small-group, tailored to each
A fun, affordable way to experience Pilates. Every workout is tailored to each individual's level within the group.
4 people · experienced
Semi-Private
Led by founder Maria
For clients with 5+ years of ongoing practice who know the flow and work independently while keeping up with the class.
6 people max · experienced
Group Reformer
Intimate, safe, personalized
The best-known Pilates apparatus. Spring resistance builds core strength, postural alignment, coordination and power. A beginners class or the Intro package is a prerequisite.
Group
Mat Class
Zoom weekly · in-person monthly
Traditional mat repertoire with props and a fresh challenge every time — no two classes are ever the same. Taught by Mirko: Zoom Tuesdays 9:30am, in-studio one Sunday a month.
Reduced rate
Junior Instructors
Sheetal · Michelle · Robert
Fully certified new instructors offering thoughtful, detail-oriented privates at a reduced rate — a great option if you're new, returning, or working with specific conditions.
Monthly · third Saturday
Sound Bath
With Lara · 6:00pm
Bring a blanket and let the stress of life melt away with the meditative sounds of singing crystal bowls.
To book: email info@pilatesofpasadena.com, call or text 626-765-6500, or contact an instructor directly. Mat classes can be booked online ↗.
Weekly Schedule
Group classes, all week long.
Group reformer classes are capped at six. New to the studio? Get in touch with the instructor before signing up for a reformer class.
Monday
6:00 pm
Group Reformer
with Mirko
Tuesday
9:30 am
Mat — Live on Zoom
with Mirko
Wednesday
6:00 pm
Group Reformer
with Justin
Thursday
6:00 pm
Group Reformer
with Mirko
Saturday
1:00 pm
Group Reformer
with Cindy
3rd Saturday
6:00 pm
Sound Bath
with Lara
One Sunday / mo
Monthly
Mat — In Person
with Mirko · limited spots
Private, duet and trio sessions are scheduled directly with your instructor — the studio is open daily, Mon–Sat 7am–8pm.
Beyond the Reformer
Physical therapy, massage & nutrition.
Complete wellness under one roof — in-studio and virtual options available.
Physical Therapy
Dr. Sue Breland, MPT, DPT, OCS · Nishati Physical Therapy
Manual therapist specializing in sports medicine, board certified in Orthopedics. Sue has treated athletes from the 49ers, LA Kings, UCLA and Cirque du Soleil — plus pediatrics through geriatrics. Services include pelvic floor PT, prenatal wellness, cupping, lymphatic massage, guided mindfulness and more. We do not accept insurance — please check with your provider about reimbursement.
Massage Therapy
Michelle Vidal · Certified Massage & Stretch Therapist
The Massage — Swedish-based with deep-tissue techniques; cupping or gua sha included on request. The Sports Massage — targeted soft-tissue work for recovery and performance. The Stretch — assisted Fascial Stretch Therapy to decompress joints and improve mobility. Monthly package rates available.
Nutrition Coaching
Mirko Turla · Precision Nutrition Coach L1 & L2
Custom-tailored nutrition programs without fads or calorie counting: sustainable habits, building a plate, managing stress-eating, boosting energy and focus. One-on-one, duet and group coaching — free 30-minute phone consultation to start.
Our Stories
Meet the P/oP family.
Every instructor here has completed a comprehensive certification from a leading school — BASI, Stott, Polestar or Balanced Body. Reach any of them directly to book.
Maria Jimenez-Tierney
Founder
Teaching since 2001, Maria opened P/oP to honor the traditional teachings of Joseph Pilates. She discovered the method while studying sculpture in New York — "I felt as though I was dancing on a machine."
Raised on ballet folklórico, ballet, jazz and African dance, Pilates felt like a natural fit. After her own osteoporosis diagnosis, she now specializes in Pilates for osteoporosis and the maturing body, weaving weights into sessions for resistance training. Her classes are lively spaces where adults of all ages connect, move and grow — and after three decades she can still be caught dancing around her kitchen.
Contact Maria
Mirko Turla
Instructor · Polestar Master Trainer
From the Italian Alps with 20+ years in health and fitness across London, Sydney, Hong Kong and Singapore. PMA®-CPT certified and a Polestar Master Trainer who has run certification courses across Asia and now Southern California.
Mirko works with everyone from working professionals to pre/post-natal women closing a diastasis recti to retired baby boomers maintaining functionality. He's also taught aerobics, aqua fitness, kickboxing, TRX, strength training and indoor cycling — and is a certified Precision Nutrition Coach (L1 & L2) offering one-on-one and group coaching.
Contact Mirko
Lisa Deines
Instructor · Polestar
Lisa's Pilates journey began with her own scoliosis — and the massive body-mind shift she felt through training. After 20 years in fashion, she found her true passion in helping others.
A former competitive soccer player with a deep love of community and creative expression through movement, Lisa helps clients get out of the head and into the body — working from the inside out toward mobility, stability and strength. To Lisa, Pilates is play time.
Contact Lisa
Kiana Fotoohi
Instructor · Polestar, NCPT
A lifelong mover with a BFA in Dance Performance from Rutgers, Kiana is nationally certified with 500 hours of Polestar training emphasizing rehabilitation for spinal pathologies and injuries.
After teaching privates in New York City, Kiana returned to her hometown of Pasadena, where she's worked with a vast range of clients — pre/post-natal, scoliosis, sciatica, herniated discs, rotator cuff tears and more — guiding each person to leave with more self-confidence and self-awareness.
Contact Kiana
Lesley Elliott
Instructor · BASI, PTA
A licensed Physical Therapist Assistant with 17 years of experience, Lesley holds degrees in Health & Wellness and Physical Therapy, and completed her comprehensive training with BASI.
A torn ACL and the aggressive rehab that followed gave her a rare mix of sympathy and empathy for other people's pain. Her goal: help clients improve muscle imbalances, foster body awareness and build strength through patience and precision — always judgment-free.
Contact Lesley
Lara Scheunemann
Instructor · BASI · Sound Bath
Years of dance left Lara with back and knee injuries — and Pilates healed them. BASI-certified, she's also a Reiki Master and self-defense instructor with over 12 years of teaching and healing.
Lara teaches everyone from healthy athletes to elderly clients with severe handicaps, using her deep knowledge of how the body moves to help clients walk a bit straighter and live with a lot less pain. She also leads our monthly Sound Bath, every third Saturday.
Contact Lara
Justin Blanchard
Instructor · Ron Fletcher Program
Trained by Pilates elder Ron Fletcher in one of the country's most rigorous programs, Justin brings 10+ years of teaching and a gift for making movement safe, challenging and fun.
Justin grew up immersed in the method — his mother still runs a Pilates studio out of his childhood home in Texas. An alumnus of NYU Tisch (BFA) and Brown (MFA), he's taught in New York, Boston and Los Angeles, and lives in Altadena with his wife, son and miniature schnauzer.
Contact Justin
Jacquelyn Thropay
Instructor · Polestar
Pasadena-raised and Polestar-trained right here at P/oP, Jacquelyn found Pilates through her own recovery from an early disc injury — practice as a path of renewal and resilience.
With 10+ years of personal practice and a background supporting healthcare clinics, her teaching centers on a compassionate mind-body approach for beginners, older adults and those navigating health complexities. A lifelong singer and musician with a B.A. in Philosophy from USC, she's currently exploring the therapeutic role of voice in Pilates.
Contact Jacquelyn
Cindy Ricalde
Instructor · Balanced Body
A former professional dancer with 30+ years in performing arts and movement education, Cindy is comprehensively certified through Balanced Body and teaches ballet at Los Angeles High School for the Arts.
She's integrated Pilates into the high-school PE curriculum — realizing Joseph Pilates' own vision of the method in schools. Her supportive, encouraging style helps clients move with greater ease, efficiency and vitality in daily life and athletics alike.
Contact Cindy
Sheetal Dhanapal
Junior Instructor · Polestar
Raised on tennis, soccer and Bharatanatyam classical Indian dance, Sheetal found Pilates through a wellness recommendation for endometriosis — and it transformed her life.
Certified through Polestar right here at P/oP under Mirko's guidance, she offers sessions at a reduced rate while building experience, treating each session as a collaboration between client and teacher. Off the mat she's a neighborhood dog-sitter, youth tennis instructor and frequent picnic-goer.
Contact Sheetal
Michelle Vidal
Junior Instructor · BASI · Massage Therapist
A licensed PTA since 2015, Michelle is also a certified Massage and Stretch Therapist through the National Holistic Institute — mobility and movement are her keys to wellness.
Her mission is preventative and restorative care for stressed, overworked muscles: relaxation and stretching techniques that decompress stiffness, improve flexibility and sustain physical well-being. She teaches Pilates at a reduced junior rate and offers full massage services in the studio.
Contact Michelle
Robert Mann
Junior Instructor · Polestar
Raised in Boulder with deep training in Tibetan Buddhism, Robert embodies "spacious mind / healthy mind" — a 20-year yoga practitioner now certified through Polestar.
His holistic approach emphasizes physical strength and flexibility while nurturing mental calm and clarity, blending meditation, art and weight training into a whole-person practice. He teaches at a reduced junior rate.
Contact Robert
Dr. Sue Breland
Physical Therapist · MPT, DPT, OCS
UCLA-educated with Master's and Doctorate degrees in Physical Therapy, Sue is a manual therapist specializing in sports medicine, board certified in Orthopedics and certified in Aquatic PT.
She's treated athletes across football (49ers, UCLA), hockey (LA Kings), soccer, MMA, beach volleyball, Cirque du Soleil dancers and more — plus pediatric through geriatric patients with orthopedic and neurologic conditions. In the capoeira community she earned the nickname "curadora" — healer.
Contact Sue
Gallery
Life at the studio.
Studio Policies
A few house rules.
Visit Us
Come find us on Arroyo Parkway.
Studio
990 S Arroyo Parkway, Unit 2
Pasadena, California 91105
Hours
Monday – Saturday · 7:00am – 8:00pm
Get in Touch
Parking
- Limited spaces in the complex lot — street parking if full.
- Arroyo Parkway: 2-hour street parking, 10am–3pm.
- All-day parking on Raymond Ave (one street west), Glen Arm St, and the east side of Marengo St.
Join the Team
We accept resumes from comprehensively certified instructors (Polestar, BASI, Stott or Balanced Body preferred, 500+ hours). Send yours to info@pilatesofpasadena.com with subject "Pilates Instructor".