We speak with Pilates Instructor Melanie Steele about her Pilates career to date and her teaching focus.
1. Tell us a little about yourself and your Pilates background.
Hi! I'm Melanie Steele, founder and owner of Sculpt Pilates with studios in Detroit and Troy, Michigan. Before opening Sculpt Pilates, I spent over 15 years in the utility construction industry, where I currently serve as the Chief Operating Officer of a power construction company. Pilates completely transformed my life, and I knew I wanted to create a space where others could experience that same transformation. I opened Sculpt Pilates because I got tired of getting waitlisted and I wanted to build a community where people feel welcomed, challenged, and supported regardless of where they are in their journey. If you asked my friends to describe me, they'd probably say I'm driven, optimistic, compassionate, and someone who's always dreaming up the next big idea.
2. How did you discover Pilates?
Like many people, I was looking for a workout that would help me feel stronger without constantly leaving my body feeling beat up. What I found was so much more than exercise. Pilates challenged me physically, but it also taught me how to slow down, breathe, become present, and reconnect with myself. It became one of the few places where my busy mind could finally be still.
3. How do you keep learning?
I'm constantly learning through continuing education, workshops, mentorship, and by taking classes from other instructors. I believe you never stop being a student. I'm also inspired by my clients. Watching someone accomplish something they never thought they could, whether it's their first plank or simply feeling confident in their own body again. It is one of the greatest reminders of why I do this. Inspiration is everywhere when you're paying attention.
4. The best advice you were ever given as a teacher?
Teach the person in front of you and not the exercise. That advice changed everything for me. Great teaching isn't about showing how much you know; it's about helping each client feel successful, seen, and safe.
5. Is there something you try and instil in each of your clients?
I want every client to feel welcome and leave believing they're capable of more than they thought when they walked in. Pilates isn't about perfection. It's about progress, consistency, and learning to trust your body. I also want people to know that movement is one of the greatest gifts they can give themselves.
6. The best Pilates course you ever did was?
Every course has added something valuable, but the most impactful experiences have been the ones that focused on movement quality, programming, and understanding why an exercise works, not just how to teach it. Those courses changed the way I think about movement and how I coach clients.
7. What’s your favourite piece of equipment to use with clients in studio and why?
The Reformer - without question. It's incredibly versatile. It can support someone who is recovering from an injury while also challenging elite athletes. It meets people exactly where they are and grows with them, which is one of the reasons I fell in love with it.
8. How do you stay motivated?
My clients keep me motivated. Every success story, every milestone, and every person who tells me they feel stronger, have less pain, or simply feel happier because of Pilates reminds me why I started. Building Sculpt Pilates has never just been about opening studios. It's about creating a positive impact in people's lives.
9. What makes you laugh the most?
Being around family, instructors and clients. There's never a shortage of laughter at the studio. I also love those moments when clients realize they accidentally did something incredibly difficult and then immediately start laughing because they surprised themselves because I am the same way. I laugh through the complex work to keep myself from crying – lol.
10. What’s your favourite way to spend a day off?
You'll usually find me spending time with family and friends, enjoying brunch, exploring new restaurants, traveling, or simply slowing down with a good cup of latte. I love experiences that help me recharge and reconnect.
11. How many pairs of grip socks do you own? Do you love or hate a stretch band?
Too many to count! They are in my purse, backpack, car, tucked in a couch, in our sock cemetery, in my office drawer - they are everywhere and nowhere at the same time. I love a stretch band! It just changes the movement pattern and muscle activation for me.
12. Does your family ‘really know’ what’s involved in your job?
They probably understand about half of it! They know I teach Pilates and own studios, but they don't always see the countless hours spent planning classes, mentoring instructors, creating marketing campaigns, building community partnerships, managing operations, and making sure every member has an incredible experience. Owning a studio is equal parts instructor, coach, entrepreneur, problem solver, community builder, janitor, and therapist and honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way!
