Michele came to Just Pilates STL looking for a different way to get strong.

A longtime weight lifter and boot camp fan, she had reached a point where those workouts just weren’t working for her body anymore. She wanted something more her pace without giving up strength training, so she signed up for ClassPass and started experimenting with yoga, barre, boot camps—and Pilates.

Her first-ever reformer class was at JPSTL, and she fell in love.

Within three or four weeks, Michele noticed that the back pain she’d been experiencing was gone and her body simply felt better. She loved the combination of strength and stretching, the challenging layers, and discovering movements she hadn’t thought she could do.

About four weeks after starting, she approached Natalie about becoming an instructor.

Life—and running another business—meant the timing wasn’t right immediately. But the idea never went away. Michele eventually began comprehensive training through Breathe Education and is currently working through her certification and the Just Pilates STL Student Teaching Practicum.

As an instructor-in-training, Michele especially loves watching someone approach an unfamiliar exercise unsure of themselves and then succeed. She believes movement should build confidence for life outside the studio, too—and if something isn’t working for your body, there’s another way to approach it.

When you walk into Michele’s class, she wants you to know we’re all in this together. Everyone was a beginner once. She wants you to feel seen, laugh, have a great time, and leave proud of what your body can do.

Outside JPSTL, Michele has owned MuscleWorks Massage Therapy since 2011. She’s a lifelong St. Louisan who loves Cardinals and Blues games, live music, traveling, cooking, and summers boating and barbecuing at the lake with family.

And if you spot her at a Mexican restaurant with two other women named Michele, you’ve encountered the “Mexican Micheles.”

Apparently, your restaurant is being rated. 😂