Today we’d like to introduce you to Tara-Lyn Nunziata.
Hi Tara-Lyn, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started teaching Pilates in 2001, changing from a career as a TV producer for Turner Broadcasting. I fell in love with Pilates from the start. I was a dance minor in college and danced and was into fitness my whole life and Pilates kept me grounded in that with my busy job and lifestyle.
After taking regular classes and private sessions for a year or two, I looked into getting certified. And since I am a person who does things with full heart and full throttle, I found the most authentic comprehensive program that had direct roots to Joseph Pilates, and began to study in NYC with his protege Romana Kryszanowska, and her teacher trainers at the time through the New York Authentic Pilates, the first standardized Pilates Teacher Certification program.
It took me about a year to finish, with a minimum of about 8 hours a day, at least 5 days a week and some weekends. I submerged myself in learning the method and was teaching in the “hayday” of Pilates in NYC. IT was a different world to me and a trip. I had to pinch myself. My days were filled with so many different types of clients, broadway and tv stars, aging ballerinas, some of the cast of Saturday night live, Curious socialites, transient yogis, expectant moms, a variety of interesting people, men and women, old and young. And I was good at it. I relate to people easily, make them comfortable and connect. And it helped them no matter what. It helped me.
Pilates gave me a healthier relationship with my body, mind and spirit. It kept me strong, physically and mentally. I felt purpose in giving that to other people.
I moved back to the suburbs of NJ when I had my first child and got a job at a local studio. I could create a schedule that would allow me to be mostly home with my daughter, and 2 years later I had my son and could teach and be a mostly stay at home Mom, which was important to me. I had figured out the perfect working part time Mom gig.
Working at several studios throughout the early years of childrearing, and along the way launching Pilates programs in a prominent gym and wellness center, i realized that business development of Pilates was an interest that I was also excelling at. It was then that I knew it was the right time to open my own studio. While I was writing my business plan and still working for the wellness center, I formed an LLC and started to take my own clients in one of my friend home studios that she so graciously offered while I was preparing. I had an old client that was a corporate realtor and she took me hunting for the perfect space. 15 spaces later, I found the space for our flagship location. The Studio Tara Lyn Pilates, that I have currently, in Montville, NJ.
During the same time of writing the business plan in 2016, I became founding faculty of a Classical Pilates certification program, now called Rebel Pilates Collective. I wanted to be a part of creating skilled teachers with the same kind of passion I had. I joined some colleagues from my Pilates past, one of which had a program operating in their studio in Houston and became part of the team that took this certification to a national level, operating in multiple cities at once. Today this program still runs in my studio, I have taught it in other cities, and I have trained over 30 students since.
Somewhere along the way I decided to go into a lease share for a second studio in a neighboring town. I learned a lot of important business lessons from this, primarily, be careful who you are getting in a professional bed with. The terms of the agreement from who I was subleasing the space to when we were not using were not followed and I had to put more energy into policing that that running the studios. I had to make one of my first decisions to let go of what was not working, a hard lesson in business, so that I could use my energy for the success of my original studio. I closed that studio in August 2025 and it was one of the hardest but smartest decisions I could have made.
We have been open 8 years and our community is the magic of our business. Our teachers and clients. I am so proud that we have such a variety of clients with a variety of needs. We have everyone from all ages, men and women, professional athletes, celebrities, teens, seniors. Anyone with any need or limitation, can walk into our studio and learn the Pilates system to make their lives better. My teachers are trained and equipped to adapt the method to over 30 common pathologies and considerations. I have an incredible skilled team of instructors, including a cracker jack studio manager I cannot live without.(my work wife). We are definitely a needle in the haystack in todays definition of Pilates and since it has become even trendier. (with a bit of a wild west happening where Pilates is not always really pilates) You see it isn’t a trend. It is a way of life. A system. A method.
In early 2026, I soft launched my Virtual Pilates Teacher Coaching business- hosting mentorships, classes, business coaching sessions for Pilates Professionals. This platform is a resource for Pilates Professionals, offering coaching and guidance to help them excel in this industry.
25 years later, 2 grown children, a difficult divorce, a fateful reconnection with a past love that became my forever, and an insane travel bucket list, one thing remains consistent. My goal is to help people rise to their best. Spread this amazing work near and far. Help people thrive and live better. This profession and industry is the vehicle. And I am just a relentless messenger and aspirant alchemist.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
no smooth road here! I described the struggles in the previous answer but. I will bullet point them:
1- being a working mom, being a woman owned business
2- running a business- no ones really understands this unless you are in it how hard it is creating a business from scratch and building it to something beautiful
3- making mistakes in business, like opening 2nd studio with subletting space and being able to make courageous difficult decisions. people hate you. people judge. Hiring people, firing people, managing people. people deceiving you. being smart about it without hardening your heart. but still getting up in the morning and doing your best despite it
4- getting a divorce and having to close the second location at the same time- with legal involvement in both
5- balancing a family, work and not losing yourself
theres probably more lol
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I own a Pilates Studio. I run a teacher training program that certifies Pilates Teachers. I run a virtual teacher mentorship and coaching platform. I teach Pilates and specialize in training teachers, and clients with specialized needs- Professional athletes, Cancer patients, celebrities. And they are all the same amount of importance When they walk in my door they are the most important person at that time.
I forgot to put in the first section that I volunteer teaching Pilates to Cancer patients through the Summit Medical Group Foundation and their comfort care program. This program helps keep cancer patients strong and connected to their bodies during treatment and is approved by the doctors of this medical group.
I am most proud of the community I have created through The studio, the teachers I train and the grit and resilience i have to keep doing it. I am also proud of the great humans my kids have turned into. I am most proud that I can whether any storm and come out more learned and evolved than before because I work on myself daily.
I am known for creating a thriving inclusive community in my business, I am also known for my zest of life and sense of adventure and ability to take risks.
What sets me apart is I have an easy way I connect to people and make them feel seen and important, Because they are. Everyone is. I also live life with great passion.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
My advice would be ideas and dreams are the start. Make them big. Don’t limit yourself.
BUTTTT- The white knuckle work and perseverance is what makes it or breaks it. and the ability to keep getting on the horse when you fall off. They main difference between a visionary and an entrepreneur is the ability to complete all the small steps on the journey. and refusing to take the no’s. keep going. Be like a camera lens that can dissect near and pull out to a wide shot. Don’t spend too much time focusing on the future without the everyday steps to get you there. but don’t also become hyper-fixated on the day to day to forget the dream. Be fluid, and be able to shift from each.
I wish I knew that you can still be an open hearted and trusting person in business and still have clear boundaries. I am still working on that everyday!
Pricing:
- Pilates Virtual 4 Private Training Sessions: $399
- Pilates Business Coaching Intro Session: $200
- Pilates Virtual Private Training Session: $115
- The Pilates Pivot Subscription: $59/Month
Contact Info:
- Website: www.taralynofficial.com. www.taralynpilates.com
- Instagram: @taralynofficial, @taralynpilates
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/taralynpilates
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tara-lyn-n-a7941538/
- Twitter: @taralynpilates
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@tara-lynpilates5830
- Other: https://www.taralynpilates.com
