Align Pilates – A Chill Environment for a Great Pilates Workout
This past May, Align Pilates on Park Blvd celebrated its 1-year anniversary as a member of the UH business community. After years of working at various Pilates studios throughout San Diego, local mid-city resident Nicky McGreevy decided it was time for her to branch out and open her own studio. Nicky began her Pilates journey as a young gymnast living in the Bay Area doing mat Pilates. When she was 18 she moved to San Diego to attend college. By her mid-20s, she discovered reformer Pilates and started training to become certified in every discipline: mat, reformer, chair, and apparatus. She also did advanced training so she could work with people with various injuries. After one and a half years and over 600 hours, Nicky became a certified Pilates instructor. While attending Pilates training, she met Sheena Zoller. They both were new moms who became fast friends, and soon found themselves working together at a Pilates studio in Del Cerro.
In January of 2019, Nicky was walking through Normal Heights (where she had lived since 2008) and saw a “for rent” sign on Adams Ave. Nicky thought it would be an ideal space for a Pilates studio. She called Sheena, asking if she wanted to be business partners. At first Sheena was hesitant. Neither of them had experience opening and running their own studio. But Sheena quickly realized this was a golden opportunity and was all in. The landlord liked them and they quickly negotiated a lease that was fair to everyone involved. Sheena and Nicky designed their ideal studio, and Sheena’s husband, who worked at a construction contracting company, handled all of the remodeling. They wanted their space to be welcoming. They had seen too many studios that were focused on appearance and attire. They wanted a studio that was down-to-earth with a chill vibe, where people could feel comfortable walking into. They set their prices competitively, while ensuring affordability. They opened the studio on Adams Ave in May of 2019. Sheena came up with the name, “Align Pilates” – a simple name that reflects the focus of Pilates on the body’s need for alignment.
In the beginning, Nicky and Sheena taught all of the classes themselves, splitting up the mornings and the evenings. Business was thriving until COVID hit causing them to close their doors temporarily. They survived the pandemic, and by 2022 things rebounded. Nicky and Sheena started discussing opening a second studio. In January of 2024, Nicky was walking down Park Blvd and saw a “for rent” sign for a space located between Madison on Park and El Zarape. She thought it was the perfect spot for their second Pilates studio as there were no other studios on this block. Sheena agreed. They remodeled the studio to look similar to the one on Adams Ave, and in May of 2024, they opened.
Photos by Jane Gilbert