Built on passion and purpose

OUR STORY

about our company

BetterBody Pilates is a Pilates studio in Calabasas built on one simple standard: people get better results when they’re coached well. We don’t run loud, crowded, cookie-cutter classes. We teach Pilates with intention—so you move better, get stronger, and feel the difference in your body week after week.

Our team is made up of experienced, fully certified instructors who coach form, alignment, and smart progression. We use the full Pilates system (Reformer, Chair, Cadillac, Barrel) to keep training effective, safe, and specific to your needs—whether you’re brand new, returning after a break, managing limitations, or ready to level up your practice.

BetterBody is also a community. You’ll be known by name, coached with care, and supported with a plan that makes sense—because the best results come from consistency + great instruction.

What we Are known for

Form-focused coaching: precise cueing, real technique, and the details that protect your body and build results
Safety-first progress: smart pacing and progressions that reduce injury risk and keep you improving long-term
Real programming (not trends): structured sessions designed for strength, mobility, posture, and longevity

What to expect

A calm, welcoming studio with high standards and personal attention. You’ll get clear coaching, thoughtful progressions, and training that meets you where you are—so you leave feeling stronger, more capable, and better every time.

Do I need experience to start Pilates?

No. We’ll guide you to the right starting point and progress you safely.

What’s the difference between private and small group?

Private is fully customized; small group keeps personal coaching with shared energy.

Is Reformer Pilates good for back pain?

Often, yes—when taught with proper form and progressions tailored to your body.

How many times per week should I come?

Most clients see meaningful change with 2–3 sessions per week.

What should I expect in my first session?

A personalized and focused introduction, clear coaching, and a plan for your next steps.

OUR PURPOSE IN ACTION

our vision & mission

Empowering Bodies, Uplifting Lives

Our mission at BetterBody Pilates is to empower individuals to improve their physical and mental well-being through personalized Pilates training, creating lasting positive transformations.

Inspiring a Healthier, Stronger World

Our vision is to inspire and enable individuals to embrace Pilates as a transformative practice, building stronger bodies, fostering mental well-being, and creating a healthier world.

MEET OUR

INSTRUCTORS

Mari Pratt

Certified Physicalmind Instructor, Certified Personal Trainer (NASM), CES, CGFI, PES, CES, BCS, HIIT, TRX Since 2000

Mari Pratt is the founder of BetterBody and has been teaching Pilates and training clients for 25+ years. Her style is straightforward and detail-driven: clean form, safe progressions, and training that actually works. She built BetterBody for people who want expert coaching, real accountability, and results they can sustain.

Michal Meoded

Certified Pilates Sports Center 2011 and

Yoga certified 2015

Michal became interested in pilates after having her third child over 8 years ago. She started her first pilates session at Better Body Pilates and fell in love with it. She felt leaner, stronger, and more flexible. Around the fall of 2011, Michal began training to accomplish her teaching certificate at Pilates Sports Center in Encino. She was certified on all the apparatus such as: mat, reformer, Cadillac, and chair. Michal joined Better Body Pilates as a pilates instructor and began spreading her love and knowledge with others.

Kym Damesworth, PT

Doctorate in Physiotherapy, Biomechanics Specialist, Neurokinetic Therapy TM (NKT), Certified Pilates Instructor

Doctorate in Physiotherapy, and an honorary doctorate in Functional Biomechanics, Anatomy, plus other certificates from various studies and programs. She is a biomechanics specialist and also specializes in rehab post-abdominal reconstruction.

Jennifer Hookham

Yoga & Pilates Certified.

Teaching Since 2011

In 2005, she became a certified group exercise instructor through the American Council on Exercise, focusing on Pilates and yoga. Several years later she began to take reformer classes and fell completely in love with equipment based Pilates. She studied with World-renowned Maria Leone at Bodyline Studio in Beverly Hills and was certified by the Physical Mind Institute.

Nikola Caravana

Certified Pilates Instructor Since 2014.
Functional Nutrition Student

A classically trained Pilates instructor since 2014, she integrates psychology and a trauma-informed approach into her teaching. Her calm style builds strength, alignment, and confidence while helping clients feel grounded and resilient. Rooted in classical Pilates, she is expanding her education in functional nutrition to support long-term strength and longevity.

Dana Waters

Certified Pilates Instructor Since 2010.
CPR Certified

Teaching Pilates since 2010 and certified through Pilates Studio City, she brings a ballet-trained eye for alignment, control, and mindful strength. After overcoming a serious heart health challenge in 2015, she developed a deeper, recovery-informed approach. CPR certified, she creates calm, supportive sessions rooted in expertise, compassion, and meaningful progress.

Maytal Charash

Certified Pilates Instructor.
Foundations & Functional Strength Coach

A certified Pilates instructor for 10 years, she teaches with quiet excellence rooted in the true foundations of Joseph Pilates. Passionate about private sessions, she focuses on alignment, breath, and precise details that create lasting change. As a wife and mom, she supports clients through every life stage with strength and confidence.

Mari Pratt

Certified Physicalmind Instructor, Certified Personal Trainer (NASM), CES, CGFI, PES, CES, BCS, HIIT, TRX Since 2000

As a former certified massage therapist (certified through the Institute of Phsyco-Structual Balance in Santa Monica), Mari became interested in Pilates for its rehabilitative and strengthening qualities. I was exposed to the benefits of Pilates working in a physical therapy office, where I noticed the safe benefits and rapid improvements on post-surgical patients.

Michal Meoded

Certified Pilates Sports Center 2011 and

Yoga certified 2015

Michal became interested in pilates after having her third child over 8 years ago. She started her first pilates session at Better Body Pilates and fell in love with it. She felt leaner, stronger, and more flexible. Around the fall of 2011, Michal began training to accomplish her teaching certificate at Pilates Sports Center in Encino. She was certified on all the apparatus such as: mat, reformer, Cadillac, and chair. Michal joined Better Body Pilates as a pilates instructor and began spreading her love and knowledge with others.

Kym Damesworth, PT

Doctorate in Physiotherapy, Biomechanics Specialist, Neurokinetic Therapy TM (NKT), Certified Pilates Instructor

Doctorate in Physiotherapy, and an honorary doctorate in Functional Biomechanics, Anatomy, plus other certificates from various studies and programs. She is a biomechanics specialist and also specializes in rehab post-abdominal reconstruction.

Jennifer Hookham

Yoga & Pilates Certified.

Teaching since 2011

In 2005, she became a certified group exercise instructor through the American Council on Exercise, focusing on Pilates and yoga. Several years later she began to take reformer classes and fell completely in love with equipment based Pilates. She studied with World-renowned Maria Leone at Bodyline Studio in Beverly Hills and was certified by the Physical Mind Institute.

Nikola Caravana

Certified Pilates Instructor Since 2014.
Functional Nutrition Student

A classically trained Pilates instructor since 2014, she integrates psychology and a trauma-informed approach into her teaching. Her calm style builds strength, alignment, and confidence while helping clients feel grounded and resilient. Rooted in classical Pilates, she is expanding her education in functional nutrition to support long-term strength and longevity.

Dana Waters

Certified Pilates Instructor Since 2010.
CPR Certified

Teaching Pilates since 2010 and certified through Pilates Studio City, she brings a ballet-trained eye for alignment, control, and mindful strength. After overcoming a serious heart health challenge in 2015, she developed a deeper, recovery-informed approach. CPR certified, she creates calm, supportive sessions rooted in expertise, compassion, and meaningful progress.

Maytal Charash

Certified Pilates Instructor.
Foundations & Functional Strength Coach

A certified Pilates instructor for 10 years, she teaches with quiet excellence rooted in the true foundations of Joseph Pilates. Passionate about private sessions, she focuses on alignment, breath, and precise details that create lasting change. As a wife and mom, she supports clients through every life stage with strength and confidence.