From her early days as a pilates instructor to now leading the world’s largest pilates brand, Tianna Strateman’s path has been anything but ordinary. As President of Club Pilates, she’s navigated the delicate balance between wellness and business, helping shape a global movement while staying deeply rooted in the practice that first transformed her own life. Along the way, she’s learned lessons about leadership, resilience, and the power of meeting people exactly where they are—on and off the mat. We sat down with Tianna to talk about her evolution as a leader, her personal relationship with Pilates, and why she believes this modality resonates so profoundly with women at every stage of life.
Living Well with Tianna Strateman
From instructor to president of the world’s largest Pilates brand—that’s quite a journey. What have been the most surprising lessons along the way, especially as a woman leading in the fitness space? The most surprising lesson has been realizing that the variety of experiences you collect throughout your path and career all serve a purpose, even if you don’t see it at the time. Certain experiences or lessons often teach you something valuable, but it can be difficult to reflect on their impact when you’re in the thick of it. Whether it was working as an instructor and witnessing firsthand the impact you can have on people’s lives or stepping into the business side of things and bringing a female perspective to a historically male-dominated industry, every moment has mattered.
Another important lesson I’ve learned is that no one has all the answers—we’re all figuring things out as we go. As my journey has unfolded, I’ve come to understand that leadership is deeply rooted in human connection. Early on, I believed that being a great leader meant always knowing what to do. But over time, I discovered that leading with empathy, self-awareness, and genuine intention has a far greater impact. By showing up as my authentic self and focusing on supporting the people around me, I’ve found that I can lead more effectively—and more meaningfully. It’s a privilege to be able to do work that I’m deeply passionate about.
How has your personal relationship with Pilates evolved through the years? I began practicing Pilates at a young age in a physical therapy setting while rehabilitating a dance injury. It became a key part of addressing my imbalances and weaknesses, ultimately helping me perform better. From the start, what I loved most about Pilates was how dynamic and varied it was—it allowed my body to move in all directions, which is essential not only for dance but for everyday life. Since then, Pilates has been a constant presence through every stage of my journey. Whether I was focused on being in great shape, navigating pregnancy, or recovering postpartum, it always met me exactly where I was. That adaptability and support are what make this practice so uniquely powerful. I truly aspire to being a lifelong practitioner, as I can clearly see how Pilates will continue to support me as I move through each season of life.
You oversee a brand where wellness and business intersect daily. Have you ever had to make a decision that felt good from a mission-driven standpoint but risky from a business lens? How did you navigate that? Early on in my career with Club Pilates, it was really important to me to maintain our 500-hour Pilates education as the gold standard across the brand. It would have been much easier (and faster), to lower those requirements and offer a weekend-long certification process in order to scale and grow quickly. However, it was important to ensure our instructors were deeply skilled professionals. That level of preparation is core to offering the best possible member experience, and staying true to those roots was a mission-driven choice, even though it may have been challenging from a business growth standpoint.
What’s one leadership lesson you learned the hard way—and how has it shaped the way you mentor others? One of the most valuable leadership lessons I’ve learned is that striving for perfection isn’t sustainable—or necessary. I still have very high expectations for myself and those around me, but I’ve come to understand the importance of giving myself grace, and I try to mentor others with that same mindset. We have a very talented, driven team and I encourage people to lead with authenticity, embrace their imperfections, and focus on showing up as their best selves. Letting go of perfection has allowed me to grow not just as a leader and mentor, but as a person.
Another powerful lesson has been learning to give my team the space to think independently, solve problems, and even make mistakes. It’s a big shift—from being hands-on with every detail to stepping back and trusting others to lead. At first, it was hard to let go. But I’ve realized that real growth—for both myself and the team—only happens when I focus on supporting, empowering, and nurturing those around me.
You often talk about Pilates as a lifelong movement system. Why do you think it resonates so deeply with women, especially through different life stages like pregnancy, postpartum, and menopause? I can personally attest to how Pilates has supported me during each unique phase of my life – from dancing, to pregnancy, to postpartum recovery, and onward. I’ve also seen it in my friends, my family, and the many Club Pilates members who share testimonials with us. No matter what stage of life they’re in, the common thread is that Pilates has a way of meeting people exactly where they are, which speaks to the longevity and power of the modality. One of the most unique things about Pilates is that it can be customized. There are progressions and regressions for every body, every posture, and every goal. It’s not a one-size-fits-all approach, and that’s exactly why it’s such an effective, lifelong tool for people, and especially women, navigating all kinds of transitions.
Do you have any non-negotiables in your daily routine that keep you balanced?Absolutely—there are a few non-negotiables in my daily routine that help keep me grounded and balanced. Eating healthy, nourishing food is a big one. Whether it’s meal prepping ahead of time or choosing the healthiest option on a menu, fueling my body well is essential—especially on long desk-bound days.
I also make a conscious effort to carve out a bit of “me” time. It’s not always easy, but I’ve learned that even small moments count. That might look like a walk on the beach, a few deep breaths in the car, or a short meditation—whatever helps me reconnect and stay present. The days move quickly, and without those moments, it’s easy to feel uncentered.
Time with my family is another key source of balance, no matter how hectic the day gets. And on a practical level, I stick to small daily habits that support my overall well-being: taking the stairs, parking a little farther away to get extra steps in, staying consistent with my supplements and hydration, and keeping up with my skincare and wellness routines. These little rituals really add up and help me stay aligned, inside and out.
What’s a misconception about Pilates that you’re constantly trying to shift—and what do you wish more women understood about their bodies through this lens? The biggest misconception I hear is that Pilates is easy. People often think you need to “feel the burn” or be incredibly sore to believe you had a great workout, but that’s just one element of fitness! Pilates emphasizes mobility, stretching, strength training, and movement through all planes of motion, all of which are foundational to everyday functional living. These components may not always leave you sore, but they are deeply beneficial for all aspects of life. At Club Pilates, we truly believe Pilates is for every body, which is a huge part of what makes our environment so inclusive. We meet people where they’re at and rely on our instructors to provide the proper modifications. Everyone has different strengths and weaknesses, and Pilates is an incredible way to tailor your movement and help support your body for many years to come.
Is there a piece of wellness advice you once believed that you’ve since let go of? I used to believe that in order to get results, you had to be perfect 100% of the time. But since becoming a mom, I’ve learned that consistency, diligence, and giving yourself a little grace go much further. As I mentioned earlier, I’ve shifted toward a more flexible approach to wellness—one that leaves room for real life. That means not beating myself up if I miss a workout or end up eating my kid’s leftovers for dinner. Sometimes, the best choice is hitting snooze and getting an extra hour of sleep because your body needs it. To me, learning to listen to my body and make intuitive decisions is a big part of holistic wellness.
How do you protect your peace in a world that’s constantly demanding your time, energy, and attention? A constant work in progress, I do my best to intentionally schedule moments that bring me peace. If I don’t protect that time and prioritize it on my calendar, it’s far too easy for it to disappear. Whether it’s extra time with my kids, a Pilates class, walking my dog, a date night with my husband, or simply doing something that feels meaningful to me—if it’s on the calendar, I’m much more likely to follow through. Having an organized schedule gives me a sense of calm and removes a lot of the daily guesswork.
I’m also mindful of the kind of content I consume and the energy I allow into my space. Protecting my mental space by curating what surrounds me—whether it’s digital noise or emotional energy—has become a key part of maintaining my overall well-being.
Do you have a mantra or internal phrase you return to in moments of doubt or burnout—something that brings you back home to yourself? “What’s my why?” I always come back to my why. It’s so important for me to remember that my passion is helping people bring Pilates and overall wellness into their lives. This practice has had such a positive impact on my own life, and I’ve seen it positively transform the lives of hundreds, if not thousands, of others. Everything I do is for my family – remembering that helps center me and keep me moving forward.
Wellness has become a buzzword—but what does it genuinely mean to you on a personal level? For me, wellness is about the intention behind everything you do to feel your best and live your best life. It’s what I consume, whether it’s food, hydration, a great glass of wine, or media. It’s how I move, through Pilates and other activity choices. It’s also what I do for myself, whether proactively or reactively. It could be acupuncture, an infrared sauna, red light therapy, or trying out new wellness hacks that support me on my personal journey. It could also be one of the main principles of Pilates, remembering to breathe! Wellness as a whole also means sharing that knowledge with others. It brings me immense joy to help people make small shifts that lead to big impacts in their daily lives. Ultimately, it’s about living the happiest, healthiest, longest life possible – and wanting that for the people I care about most, too.
