EMILY SMITH-WILSON

OWNER

I began practicing Pilates in 2002 during my off-season as a competitive athlete. I was drawn to its complexity and the strength it built in my body, making it the foundation of my fitness journey. Over my 20+ year Ultimate Frisbee career, I used Pilates for strength and injury prevention. I represented the U.S. in seven World Championships, made three National Team appearances, and in 2022, capped my career with a second World Championship gold medal and induction into the Ultimate Frisbee Hall of Fame. 

I am deeply committed to studying the Classical Pilates Method as taught by Joseph H. Pilates. Instead of focusing on just Mat Pilates or Reformer Pilates I focus heavily on all apparatus and my classes reflect my understanding on the Pilates system. Whether you are a professional athlete, someone who hasn’t exercised in years, are returning from injury, or referred by a Physical Therapist, my compassionate yet focused approach will guide you toward strength and freedom of movement. I understand that each body can have a story—of happiness, pain, injury, or health—and my mission is to help you reconnect to your body, mind, and soul, to return to health. My work is rooted in the belief that conscious, correct movement has the power to be transformative and life-changing.

I specialize in Pilates for individuals with scoliosis, osteopenia, osteoporosis, chronic low back pain, pelvic floor dysfunction, knee and hip replacements, and previous spinal surgeries. I also support prenatal and postpartum clients. My approach focuses using the Pilates system to build safe and effective workouts designed to improve spinal alignment, joint mobility, core strength, and overall well-being at every stage of life.

I hold a B.S. in Exercise Physiology with a focus on Sports Training & Conditioning, and a minor in Coaching from the University of Minnesota. I became a certified Peak Pilates System Instructor in 2004 and a Peak Pilates Teacher Trainer in 2014. To further deepen my Pilates expertise, I completed the Pilates Professional Advanced Teacher Training (PPATT) Program - The Red Thread, an 884+ hour training course, with world-renowned instructor Kathryn Ross-Nash in 2016. I was later hand-picked to teach the PPATT program and continue to study the work with my mentor, Kathryn Ross-Nash.

When I am not in the studio, I enjoy gardening and spending time on the trails mountain biking, running, and hiking with my family and visiting my home town of West Yellowstone.