Marlys Yvonne

A former professional ballet dancer, Marlys Yvonne first discovered Pilates while recovering from an injury. The practice fostered a new kind of awareness, reconnecting her to her own body. “I felt a different type of strength … more balance and more connection to myself,” she recalls. “It was just something that I knew I wanted to share with others.”

That calling led her to co-found Ara Pilates + Movement after relocating from the East Coast to the Coachella Valley. Through the Indian Wells studio, Yvonne has cultivated an environment that champions access and inclusion, from discounted and donation-based classes to monthly off-site community events. She also launched a teacher training program for aspiring Pilates instructors, a proud achievement.