Pilates Story opened on February 14th, 2017 to carry the torch of Joe Pilates’ work and his mission of “Return to Life!” We had NO idea how much work we needed to do. After our amazing two year anniversary party in 2019 where 75 people showed up and we stayed up till midnight (yes, we drank many bottles of wine and laughed a lot ), our community continued to grow.
Then, COVID hit. 2020 – 2023: we call that the BLIP (see the Avengers). Now going strong since 2017, we’re offering services beyond pilates like personal training and therapeutic massage! We are heading “to infinity and beyond” to engage your unique body story and help tell it.
At our studio, you can feel and experience Joseph Pilates’ life’s work. We are nothing but truthful and original. We all come from different places and backgrounds, but Classical Pilates continues to connect us. We are a highly trained and passionate group of teachers who are deeply knowledgeable about our bodies and the art and science of movement.
When Hye-Yeon was 11 years old she was hit by a car in an accident that left her unbalanced with steel rods in her hip, perpetually weak muscles and joint pain. She started practicing Pilates in 2004 after a total left hip replacement to learn how to use her regained mobility safely and mindfully. Pilates helped her to reconnect with the body that had been lost to her for so many years. Hye-Yeon’s goal as a teacher is to help you to discover and connect with your own body, which should be a vessel of happiness and the fullness of life, the way she discovered hers. It is not easy but it is possible! She strongly believes that.
After six years of practicing Classical Pilates, Hye-Yeon decided to join the advanced teacher training program at The Pilates Center where she eventually became a teacher training advisor. and has now been teaching classical Pilates since 2010. She completed The Heritage program with Cara Reeser in 2019 to learn Kathy Grant’s work and is on the path to complete a graduate certificate course in Movement Science Made Simple (MSMS) with Cara Reeser and Jeremy Laverdure to further gain the knowledge of anatomy of movement and rehabilitation. Additionally, to gain the deeper perspective of the makeup of the human body and movement patterns, Hye-Yeon also takes classes with Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen of Body Mind Centering.
Hye-Yeon wants to share what she has learned from her trials and errors as a forever student of mother nature. To share what she loves and knows about pilates, the anatomy of movement, everyday movements while sustaining strength of mind and body and keeping healthy human relationships is her complete joy. As a woman now in her fifties, she is exploring how to build a strong, empowering and thriving mid-womanhood by creating safe, creative spaces for women to come together and support each other. She’s also deeply invested into bringing DEI (Diversity Equity Integrity and Belonging) in the Pilates world and beyond by mentoring, teaching and collaborating with other modality.
To book a session with Hye-Yeon, please click the button below:

To book a session with Micayla, please email: micaywynn@gmail.com

Karen has been a certified Pilates instructor since 2004. She was first introduced to Pilates at the age of 18 years old, after developing knee problems while studying ballet in NYC. She was sent to the original Pilates studio run by Romana Kryzanowska, a direct disciple of Joseph Pilates. After returning home to the Bay Area, she continued her ballet training with, as her teacher noticed, “much better alignment”. Pilates training was not as prominent on the west coast for about 10 years, but later, when Karen continued to have alignment and pain issues from dancing, it had luckily become more available, and so she resumed her Pilates training under the guidance of Jennifer Stacey in San Francisco. She completed her Teacher Training Certification under Ellie Herman in 2004, and has studied extensively with Lizz Roman to learn how to use Pilates for rehabilitation of injuries and chronic pain issues. She has also studied with Karena Teck Lineback who specializes in Pilates for scoliosis and osteoporosis.
Karen likes to teach Pilates with an emphasis on form and how it applies to functional life movement. She likes to educate her students to have more freedom in movement, strength, and to learn ways to help themselves when their body/pain issues arise so that they can get along with more ease.
To book a session with Karen, please email: fleasus@gmail.com

Jeffrey Mince is an International Coaching Federation Professional Certified (PCC) Positive Psychology and Mindfulness Coach with specialized training in grief and end-of-life support. A former Buddhist Monk with over 30 years of meditation experience, Jeffrey blends his deep practice of Buddhist Psychology and Meditation with his professional background as a university-trained educator, a teacher of Buddhist Psychology, a touring musician, and a creative mentor. His diverse expertise shapes a compassionate, practical approach that fosters holistic well-being and emotional resilience. Jeffrey is passionate about helping others manage stress, develop emotional intelligence, and improve mental health through personalized, hands-on coaching.
For more information about working with Jeffrey please visit: www.PunkMonkWorks.com
We are a classical boutique pilates studio in the heart of West Portal neighborhood, San Francisco. We are proudly equipped with Gratz machines for your unique whole body experience
Mon-Fri: 8:30a – 7:00p
Sat: 8:30a – 4:00p
Sun: Closed