Today we’d like to introduce you to Julianne Scoles.
Hi Julianne, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Hi, I’m Julianne, owner of Morgan Hill Pilates.
Movement has always been part of my life. I grew up in Southern California, the fourth of five children, and started dancing as soon as I could walk. I continued dancing through college, performing for the NBA Clippers and later on a Holland America cruise ship.
It was on that cruise ship that I was first introduced to the Pilates reformer. While Pilates wasn’t entirely new to me—many of the movements were familiar from my dance training—the equipment opened up a whole new world. I became fascinated by its ability to improve not only strength and movement, but also recovery and rehabilitation.
After returning home, I completed my Pilates certification through Pilates Sports Center in 2009. Over the next several years, I taught in gyms and studios, eventually realizing my passion was working in smaller settings where I could build meaningful relationships and provide individualized guidance.
In 2013, my family moved to Northern California. I was fortunate to find work at a Pilates studio owned by a physical therapist—a role that combined my love of movement with my growing interest in rehabilitation. Around the same time, I began teaching at a small studio in Morgan Hill, helping the owner while she recovered from surgery.
In 2016, that studio owner approached me with an unexpected opportunity: she was moving and asked if I wanted to take over the business. I was a new mom, facing ongoing health challenges, and had never owned a business before. The timing was intimidating, but it was also an opportunity I couldn’t ignore.
I said yes.
Just three months after taking ownership, I was diagnosed with four tick-borne illnesses. The years that followed were some of the most difficult of my life, but the studio gave me purpose, community, and a reason to keep moving forward. Through my own experience, I gained an even deeper appreciation for how movement can support healing, resilience, and quality of life.
That perspective continues to shape Morgan Hill Pilates today. Our studio is built on the belief that movement should be accessible, individualized, and empowering—whether someone is recovering from an injury, managing a health condition, or simply looking to feel stronger and move better.
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?
The journey has definitely not been smooth. Looking back, I think every major step in my journey came with some level of uncertainty, fear, or challenge.
One of the biggest struggles was moving to Northern California in 2013. We left behind family, friends, and our support system and had to start over. Building a new community from scratch was difficult, both personally and professionally.
The most significant challenge came after my son was born. My health began to decline, and for a period of time I stepped away from teaching while trying to understand what was happening to my body. When I took over Morgan Hill Pilates in 2016, I was a new mom, managing ongoing health issues, (which I would soon learn was four tick-borne illnesses with no direct path to healing), and had no experience running a business.
There were many days when I questioned whether I was capable of doing it all. Owning a business is challenging under the best circumstances; doing it while navigating a chronic illness and raising a small child added another layer of complexity. I had to learn to ask for help, trust others, and adapt when things didn’t go according to plan.
Then, in 2020, COVID shut down our brick-and-mortar studio almost overnight. Like many small business owners, I was faced with the challenge of figuring out how to continue serving clients when we couldn’t be together in person. What initially felt like a setback became an opportunity to reimagine how we taught. We shifted to virtual sessions, which allowed us to stay connected to our community and continue helping clients move and feel better during a difficult time. That experience ultimately expanded our perspective on what was possible and helped create the foundation for the growth that followed. The studio, space, and team we have today are, in many ways, a result of lessons learned during that season.
While I wouldn’t describe the road as smooth, I am grateful for the challenges because they helped define both me and the studio. Experiencing my own health challenges gave me a deeper understanding of what many clients are going through when they walk through our doors. I know what it’s like to feel disconnected from your body, to face limitations, and to have to rebuild strength one step at a time.
Those experiences continue to shape the values that guide Morgan Hill Pilates today: compassion, adaptability, resilience, and meeting people where they are.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Morgan Hill Pilates is a boutique Pilates studio focused on helping people move better, feel stronger, and build confidence in their bodies. We offer private sessions, semi-private training, and small group classes designed to meet clients where they are, whether they are recovering from an injury, managing chronic pain, returning to exercise, or simply looking to maintain an active lifestyle.
One of the things that sets us apart is our individualized approach. While Pilates is often associated with fitness, we see it as a tool for improving quality of life. Every body is different, and every client comes to us with a unique history, set of goals, and challenges. Our instructors take the time to understand those needs and create a supportive environment where clients feel seen, heard, and successful.
I have always been drawn to the rehabilitative side of movement. That perspective has shaped the culture of our studio. We regularly work with clients who may not feel comfortable in a traditional fitness setting and help them discover that movement can be both effective and approachable.
What I am most proud of is the community we have built. While we teach Pilates, what we are really creating is a place where people feel welcomed, supported, and encouraged. Over the years, we have watched clients regain strength after surgery, return to activities they thought they had lost forever, and develop confidence they never expected to find through movement.
At the end of the day, our mission is simple: to help people move through life with greater strength, freedom, and confidence. We believe movement is for everyone, and we are committed to making Pilates accessible, personalized, and empowering for every person who walks through our doors.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
What makes me happiest is connection—whether that’s with my family, my clients, my team, or my community.
As a Pilates instructor and studio owner, I have the privilege of walking alongside people through important moments in their lives. There is something incredibly rewarding about seeing someone accomplish something they once thought was impossible, whether that’s recovering from an injury, gaining strength after a setback, or simply feeling more confident in their body. Watching those transformations never gets old.
Outside of the studio, my greatest joy is my family. Some of my favorite moments are the simple ones—spending time with my husband and son, being outdoors, traveling, sharing meals with friends, or creating memories with the people I love.
I think what makes me happiest is helping people feel seen, supported, and capable. When someone leaves the studio standing a little taller, moving a little easier, or believing in themselves a little more than when they arrived, that’s incredibly fulfilling to me. Knowing that the work we do can positively impact someone’s daily life is what continues to inspire me every day.
Pricing:
- Introductory one on one session – $65
- Most commonly purchased- 8 class monthly membership for $288
- Introductory 4 pack of privates $340
- Introductory 4 pack of groups – $148
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.morganhillpilates.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mh_pilates/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/morganhillpilates
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/morgan-hill-pilates-morgan-hill?osq=morgan+hill+pilates&override_cta=Request+information
