A new Pilates studio in Sylvan Park is taking the intimidation out of working out and building community in the process.

Students at Studio Pilates use the reformer for toning exercises

When Naomi and Jason Priestley moved to Nashville from Los Angeles in 2021, they did so in search of a better life for their kids. Seeking safety and privacy–not to mention a better education–for their two teenagers, they started exploring their options. When the perfect school revealed itself in Nashville where the couple already had friends, they knew it was meant to be.

Happy parents make happy kids, so the Priestleys built their own community by opening Studio Pilates International in Sylvan Park, combining their love for Pilates, wellness and connection.

“You have to make deep, meaningful roots. Otherwise, it’s just another location,” says Naomi. “This was a great way meet people and create a community.”

strengthen your core and connections at Studio Pilates

A long-time makeup artist, Naomi became a personal trainer, spin instructor and pilates teacher after having kids, but as the kids started to grow up, she set her sights on entrepreneurship.

“I was always working for somebody else, which was perfect [at the time] because it was all someone else’s responsibility, but it was a dream of mine to create something of our own,” she says.

As for the decision to open a franchise of Studio Pilates—an Australian-based practice that focuses on safe, results-driven Pilates workouts that are rooted in science—she says it was a no-brainer.

“I could start this from the ground myself or use a franchise to help me model the backend of things, so we have that global support of a proven brand that holds your hand through it,” she says. “I researched all of them, and this one aligned with me the best. Not just because they are amazingly supportive on the backend, but we agree with the method. It’s scientifically-proven and it gets results.”

Jason, who famously starred as Brandon Walsh on Beverly Hills 90210, has seen those results first-hand. “I added Pilates to my workout regimen 22 years ago after I broke my back [in a racing accident]. My doctor told me to do things to strengthen my core and support my spine and I’ve loved Pilates ever since,” he says. “This is a wonderful opportunity for us to help other people. You can make these workouts as hard or as easy as you want them to be, so it’s very easily personalized to each individual client.”

Naomi and Jason Priestley.

And while new workouts can be intimidating, Studio Pilates International makes learning (and training) accessible for students of all levels, thanks to monitors that surround the studio. During class, a teacher offers corrections and guided cues, but the monitors illustrate each move so students can stay focused on their own practice rather than looking from side to side for help. It also allows the teachers to focus on helping the students who need it most.

“There’s a lot of power in the fact that the screen shows you the correct way to do every exercise,” says Jason. “Because you can see what exactly you’re supposed to do, it takes away the intimidation.” studiopilates.com