About Us

"Exercise is body movement that has a purpose."

— Carola Trier

Michele and Kristin first met in the fall of 2005, when Michele was a teacher and Kristin was a teaching apprentice. The next summer, a few months after Michele opened Rinaldi Pilates in the east village, they ran into each other at a Pilates conference in midtown Manhattan.

Michele invited Kristin, a newly certified teacher, to start a Saturday morning shift at her studio, and the rest is history. Michele ended up successfully running Rinaldi Pilates for over a decade, with Kristin staying on as her longest employee.

Twelve years later, they began a new chapter in their professional relationship: one as partners in The Pilates Local. These two friends are intent on providing their longtime clients a space where they can enjoy quality instruction in a beautiful and comfortable environment.

Michele Rinaldi,Co-founder

A native New Yorker and co-founder of The Pilates Local, Michele discovered the merits of Pilates while rehabilitating her own chronic back and hip injuries from nearly two decades as a gymnast.

After receiving an MA in Psychology in 2001 and working in the healthcare field, she decided to combine her love for movement and understanding of the mind/body connection. Upon the completion of nearly 600 hours of apprenticeship to fulfill her Pilates certification a year later, her journey truly began. Michele founded Rinaldi Pilates in 2006, and soon established herself as respected instructor with a reputation for quick results addressing injury recovery and prevention, weight loss, and pre- and post-natal fitness and health.

With her longtime associate Kristin Hoesl and The Pilates Local, she brings her passion and experience to a broader audience. Through her continued studies of biomechanics and anatomy, Michele’s teaching reaches beyond classical Pilates—providing her clients a deeper understanding of the relationships between the practice and their personal movement patterns.

When she is not thinking about Pilates, she is dreaming about her next European vacation, the next cooking class she would like to take, her next tennis match, and the cheeseburger she will eat at Keen’s after a productive week in the studio.

Kristin Hoesl,Co-founder

Kristin hails from Long Island and is the co-founder of The Pilates Local. A lifelong dancer and athlete, she first discovered mat-based Pilates through her freshman year college dance professor, and began her comprehensive training at Core Pilates NYC in 2005. She remained there as an integral part of their highly acclaimed teacher trainer program for over a decade.

Kristin enjoys working with people of all ages and abilities. She has eight years under her belt as a member of Crossfit South Brooklyn, and specializes in teaching Pilates to weightlifters and athletes. She is especially attuned to the needs of the senior population, and works with many students who are in their 60s, 70s, and beyond. Additionally, she has been fortunate enough to mentor hundreds of apprentices on their journey to becoming teachers; the experience taught her how to have the patience, clarity, and expertise she needed to be a truly great instructor.

When Kristin isn’t at the studio, she enjoys taking French lessons, going to the theatre, planning hiking and camping trips, and relaxing over a delicious meal and a glass (or two) of wine.

Dani Busko,Instructor

Dani came to Pilates unconventionally. She was not naturally athletic or gifted with any sort of graceful movement abilities. She teaches with the true spirit and belief of Joseph Pilates; any person can become comfortable in their own body and move with confidence if they practice the method.

After a long battle with several autoimmune disorders that left her physically, mentally, and emotionally debilitated Dani turned to Pilates for recovery. Pilates was her gateway fitness into regaining her physical ability, mental stamina, and emotional confidence.

In 2012, Dani completed her Pilates certification at Core Pilates, NYC, under the tutelage of Kristin Hoesl, co-founder of The Pilates Local. She has been teaching full-time at various gyms and studios in NYC since completion of her certificate.

When Dani is not running across NYC bridges at sunrise, practicing her kickboxing skills, sampling mezcals or bourbon, or on the sidelines cheering her clients on to victory in their fitness endeavors, she is compassionately teaching her dedicated clientele at The Pilates Local.

Michelle Shea,Instructor

Michelle is a professional dancer from Brooklyn, NY. She graduated from SUNY Purchase’s Conservatory of Dance with a BFA in Dance Performance and a minor in Psychology. She currently dances with Azoth Dance Theatre and Ayalis in Motion. She also teaches dance to young children at Midtown Movement and Dance Company. Michelle received her Pilates teacher certification at Core Pilates NYC’s Comprehensive Training Program, and is also certified in pre/postnatal and special cases/injuries.

Michelle’s pursuit of a healthier dance career is what inspired her to study Pilates and make it a part of her daily life. She feels movement is essential for a happy and healthy body and hopes to inspire her students of all ages to feel the same.

Michelle Yard,Instructor

Brooklyn native Michelle Yard brings over fifteen years of pilates experience to The Pilates Local. In 2016 Yard completed a 600+ hour comprehensive pilates certification from Core Pilates NYC. Through the years, she has had the pleasure of studying with Blossom Leilani Crawford, Lesley Powell, Amy Baumgarten and others. Michelle brings her love of movement to all of her clients/group classes and focuses on building strength from the core while paying attention to proper alignment and form. In addition to teaching pilates, Michelle is a professional dancer with a B.F.A from NYU Tisch School of the Arts, and a freelance company manager with an M.A. in Arts Administration from CUNY/Baruch College. She is a former member of the Mark Morris Dance Group and currently performs with Brooklyn-based company Reggie Wilson/Fist and Heel Performance Group and Vanessa Walters: Ripening Projects. Her teaching style can best be described as supportive and energetic, with a touch of tough love. One of her students affectionately calls her the “giggling dictator.”

Heather Giesa,Instructor

Heather is a native New Yorker and lifelong mover & shaker. She was first introduced to Pilates in high school, while a dance major at Fiorello H. LaGuardia HS of Music, Art & Performing Arts. After a brief dance career, and almost a decade of experience teaching dance enrichment programs in public schools, pursuing a classical Pilates certification seemed like a natural transition. She completed the comprehensive 600 hour program at Core Pilates NYC in the Fall of 2012. Soon after, she began an additional 200 hour certification to become a teacher trainer & taught on the faculty at Core for 6 years Heather is a seasoned instructor who loves to work with clients of all ages and abilities. She holds multiple Pre and Postnatal certifications, and has a true passion for working with this population – especially since having experienced the benefits of a consistent Perinatal Pilates practice herself.

When she isn’t teaching, Heather enjoys cooking, people watching, dinners alone, schlepping her two boys around Brooklyn, documentaries about anything, and ALL things RuPaul.

Karen Putterman,Instructor

With sensitivity, passion and an eye for detail, Karen supports her clients in their work to develop strength, flexibility, tone and endurance.
Karen has been a dedicated and passionate student of Pilates since 2005. In 2018, she completed a 600 hour comprehensive training program in the classical system. She brings good humor and enthusiasm to her teaching. Karen knows from experience that the practice of Pilates enables people at varying levels of fitness and health to not only improve their physical status, but to also enhance their sense of mental and emotional satisfaction.

When she isn’t at the Pilates studio, you may find Karen making jewelry at her other studio, planning a family dinner, attending a dance performance, or exploring a new art exhibition in her native New York City.

Kelli Cruz,Instructor

Kelli is originally from Colorado but has called NYC her home for nearly 30 years. She started dancing at the age of five and discovered pilates after a dance related injury in college. Pilates continues to support her active lifestyle and love of both the physical and mental benefits of movement, a passion she hopes to share with others.

Kelli completed her comprehensive training at Core Pilates NYC in 2007 and has been teaching ever since. She enjoys teaching clients of all levels and abilities. Over the years she’s trained and specialized in working with pre/postnatal clients. When working with clients with injuries, having personally experienced both injury and recovery, she is both patient and encouraging. Kelli’s overall style is personal, challenging, compassionate & hopefully fun! Her goal is to help her clients find what they love about Pilates.

When not teaching, Kelli can be found sweating buckets in a hot yoga class, volunteering, listening to podcasts or planning her next big trip.

Tye Trondson,Instructor

Tye (she/her) was drawn to Pilates as a conditioning method to accompany her contemporary dance pursuits. Living with hypermobile joints, Tye found it difficult to feel centered in movement. Pilates helped her develop a sense of stability, from her core to her fingertips. A new sense of grounded-ness led to a relief of tension in her body and mind. Tye’s passion for building strength—through functional movement and mindfulness—is what led her to teach Pilates!

Tye completed 900 hours of teacher training over a two-and-a-half-year certification at the University of Wisconsin-Madison under Collette Stewart and Liz Sexe. Tye’s teacher training was based in functional anatomy and the classical Pilates method.

As a young instructor, Tye brings excitement and curiosity to every session. Her classes emphasize precision, relieving tension, and fostering three-dimensional body awareness. She hopes students leave class with a sense of harmonious balance, where their bones and joints align, and their spirit is empowered.

When she’s not at the Pilates studio, Tye enjoys dancing, choreographing, and biking around Brooklyn!

Services menu

Introductory Packages

Three Private Sessions | $300
One Semi-Private Session | $60 (per person)
One Tower Class | $45 (per person)

In Studio Sessions

Single Private | $140
5-pack Privates | $675
10-pack Privates | $1300
Single Semi-Private | $75 (per person)
5-pack Semi-Privates | $365 (per person)
10-pack Semi-Privates | $700 (per person)
Single Tower Class | $55 (per person)
5-pack Tower Class | $250 (per person)

Virtual Private Sessions

Single | $140
5-pack | $675
10-pack | $1300

Off-site Private Sessions

Single | $175
5-pack | $850
10-pack | $1650

Sessions Request Form

*for space rentals, press, and general inquiries, please our use our contact form.