About Pure Balance
At Pure Balance, we are dedicated to reminding everyone who walks through our doors of their worth, empowering them to thrive in the lives they want to lead. We strive to provide a welcoming space for community, support, and empowerment for all bodies.
Who We Are
A local, female-owned Pilates Reformer studio that is committed to helping people embrace and celebrate their bodies through mindful movement.
Who We Serve
Our intimate Pilates classes and holistic wellness programs are designed to serve all bodies, ages, and fitness levels.
Our Promise to You
Pure Balance strives to create an environment that welcomes you as you are, encourages growth, and equips you with the skills to care for yourself - mind, body, and spirit.
Your Transformation
Movement and exercise start to become about what you gain, not what you lose. Our goal is for you to be confident in yourself and your ability to keep your cup full, so that you can show up in your life with MORE.
Our Core Values
Meet the Team
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Studio Founder & Owner
As the owner and founder of Pure Balance, Ali is the spirit of the place. Her classes embody the core values of our studio: to create a safe and supportive environment for all bodies to explore movement. Influenced by her dance background, her class flows incorporate a natural rhythm that elevates the overall movement experience. Ali strives to guide each individual into body awareness by meeting you where you are in your journey and making sure you can feel not only physically but emotionally supported. Beyond the physical movement, Ali takes pride in integrating education into her classes, as well as prioritizing nervous system regulation to foster a deepened sense of connection for clients.
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Instructor
Lisa Yaconelli got her Pilates training through The Pilates Center in Boulder, Co. and her BFA in modern dance at Temple University in Philadelphia PA. She has been performing dance, teaching, and creating in Athens for over twenty years. She loves the mindfulness of Pilates and how strong one can become continuing the practice. The potential of strength you can gain from Pilates is incredible and the confidence that goes along with that is immeasurable. Lisa is grateful to be a part of the Pure Balance community which puts an emphasis on body positivity and the joy that’s possible from accepting and challenging our bodies. Our bodies truly are a gift!
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Business Manager
I am originally from Columbus, Georgia but fell in love with Athens when I moved here to attend school at UGA. I have been in the fitness industry since 2020 and I share Pure Balance's values and passion for health and wellness on a communal and personal level. I have several years experience in business and project management and am looking forward to combining my fitness and administrative experience to enrich the experience of every client.
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Instructor
Corrin brings a vibrant energy to Pure Balance Pilates Studio, creating an atmosphere where clients can have fun while challenging themselves. Her teaching style is relaxing and assuring - with a cadence that allows participants to find their own rhythm. With a background in strength training, Corrin incorporates layers of modifications, making each class accessible and enjoyable for all. Clients often leave Corrin's sessions with a satisfying soreness, a testament to the effective and fun challenges she introduces. Her commitment to providing a dynamic and engaging experience aligns with our studio's values of fostering connection and maintaining a curious mindset.
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Instructor
After two years as a client, Chamberlain Smith is excited to make the transition to instructor at Pure Balance. Her dance background initially drew her to Pilates and she quickly fell in love with the style of exercise and community found in the studio. Outside of Pure Balance, Chamberlain works full time as a photographer at the University of Georgia, performs with Speakeasy dance company, and spoils her two cats Sunny and Moon!
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Instructor
Michelle is kind, warm, and compassionate in her teaching style. Clients appreciate the flow she brings to each class, creating a harmonious and enjoyable experience. Michelle not only encourages the physical aspects of Pilates but also emphasizes giving oneself grace and moving with ease, fostering a compassionate and mindful approach to wellness. In addition, she integrates more extensive breath work into her sessions, allowing participants to connect more deeply with their movements and breath. Drawing from a rich background in yoga and dance, Michelle incorporates elements from these disciplines into her classes, adding a unique dimension to her classes.
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Instructor
Lisa is an All-American track and field athlete, personal trainer, and fitness instructor with a MEd in Sport Management, a BS in Exercise Science, and a minor in Coaching. She began teaching mat Pilates in 2009, discovering a love for movement and instruction, and has since expanded to teaching Pilates, yoga, strength training, and more!
Lisa is the Associate Director for Fitness, Well-being & Student Engagement at UGA’s Ramsey Student Center, where she leads fitness programs and well-being initiatives for the Division of Student Affairs. Her goal for her classes is to leave you feeling energized, challenged, and encouraged!
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FRONT DESK ASSOCIATE
I graduated from Warren Wilson College, a small liberal arts school outside of Asheville, North Carolina. I grew up in Athens, though, and my love for the community here brought me back home. My background is primarily in painting, printmaking, bookmaking and poetry. My creative focus relies on poetic concepts of balance, softness and vulnerability as strength, and how we connect and integrate the body, mind, and spirit with our environment. I am happy to join the Pure Balance team, whose values of compassion and integrity align with my own personal mission to cultivate meaningful connection.