Today we’d like to introduce you to Melody Hierling.
Hi Melody, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’m Melody, owner and teacher at Starlight Pilates.
3rd Generation from Pacific Grove, Ca. I found Pilates after experiencing sciatica in my early twenties. It has shaped my life and I became fascinated with body movement and the history of Joe and Clara Pilates. I never felt more connected with my internal life force and strength than during and after a great Pilates session.
I have been immersed in the practice and study of Pilates for over two decades. I founded Starlight Pilates as a way to share this knowledge and forward the growth of true therapeutic movement. I am dedicated to cultivating a vibrant, inclusive Pilates community. My experience spans a wide range of client needs, including scoliosis, sports conditioning, pre- & post-natal, osteoporosis, pelvic health, sciatica, low-back pain and injury recovery. I am thoughtful, intuitive, and grounded in compassion. I love what I do and the creativity it inspires. Working with people in motion is my absolute passion.
I am a Balanced Body Advanced Movement Practitioner (2026) and completed my Comprehensive Pilates Instructor Certificate from Balanced Body Education in 2018. I apprenticed with Carrie-Ann Belanger at VEZA Pilates in Pacific Grove . My experience in both Classical and Contemporary Pilates has been a huge contribution to my practice. I follow current science and research related to the human body in movement. Each client is a unique embodiment of the human experience. With intention, repetition and integrity you will feel and see the impact of Pilates in everything you do.
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?
When I first started my training, I was only doing it to further my own practice and understanding of the exercises. It was a far away dream of mine to be able to teach full time and own a studio, one that I could not see a path toward for many years. After a long career in restaurant hospitality then sales and marketing, I was laid-off from the spirits industry and found myself wanting something more fulfilling. So I ‘returned to life’ through Pilates and started teaching again in Santa Cruz before returning back to Monterey. I partnered with another local and opened a new studio, but we had different visions and in the fall of 2025 Starlight Pilates was born. Opening two studios in less than two years has taken determination and tenacity. I am ALL-IN on this new space and have so much momentum to continue moving forward and bringing the highest level of service Pilates has to offer on the Monterey bay.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
To be committed to the study and practice of Pilates takes a unique personality. I specialize in working with clients of all body types and conditions. I have an holistic approach, and take the time to understand the life experiences of my clients. Knowing what they do in their daily lives and tailoring our sessions to include functional strength so they can garden, play sports, sit on the floor with their grandkids, look and feel great for upcoming life events, and overall wellness. I use some techniques specifically for brain-body connection. We are re-wiring neural pathways, in every part of the brain to communicate with muscles, nerves, fascia, breath. This means clients are not only getting stronger bodies through consistent and intentional workouts, but are also feeling the benefits of improved proprioception and interoception, overcoming obstacles/fear, and gaining the tools to address pain with at-home pilates principles. There are so many benefits of having a pilates practice and I am passionate about sharing this with anyone who is interested! I think what sets me apart from others is that I am flexible, think on my toes, and have the ability to intuit what each person needs on any given day. I don’t just teach fitness, I teach movement and help clients understand their own embodiments of the human experience. My training and education set me apart. As a comprehensive Pilates Instructor AND and Advanced Movement Practitioner, over 1,000 hours of education and training and countless hours of teaching experience. Many instructors have taken a weekend online course and are teaching group classes with very little training. It is so important to understand special conditions and injuries to provide modifications and keep clients safely progressing. I have a deep understanding of anatomy, biomechanics, kinetics and mindfulness.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
Pilates is on fire! I see many group reformer and mat studios popping up. Pilates is not an inexpensive habit, so these studios provide a service at a more affordable price-point. Where I see it going is the market getting flooded with mediocre studios, and trendy hot pilates, sweat it out until your eyes bleed workouts that do not reflect the true nature of why Pilates came about and how it stayed so powerful. My hope is to maintain the highest level of standards and keep true to the original teachings and elders, while applying current science and research to continue to move forward with integrity. I hope many more teachers will join me in this dedication so the Pilates community grows with that same integrity.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.starlightpilatesstudio.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/starlightpilatesstudio/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567048541345
