Toronto’s first Black-owned Pilates studio is a place where everyone can breathe. Moving freely as you are is one of the most important attributes in the space for founder Jennifer Winter.
The former ballet artist found Pilates to be therapy, but often felt out of place in white spaces. That’s why she created her own.
“At times, the Pilates world can feel like a secret book club where they ask you for a password at the door,” Winter told The Star. “I experienced a lot of gatekeeping and tokenizing in my movement journey. If you don’t see yourself represented, it usually escalates to a world of doubt, and I just got sick and tired of it.”
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In a city where the latest Census numbers show that more than 50 percent of the population is composed of “visible minorities,” it’s hard to believe that Toronto is just now getting its first Black-owned Pilates studio.
Located on King Street East, Winter says Have A Nice Day Pilates embraces inclusion and authenticity.
“Everything you need to know is in the name. It’s not Have a Perfect Day or Have the Best Day. We like to think that we are dismantling perfection one nice day at a time,” she added.
Winter plans to expand the studio by offering items to achieve optimum self-care. She also hopes to have more workshops and a mentoring program for people of color.
“Pilates grounds me and I learn something new every day. I think that’s also why I love sharing this technique with the world: endless possibilities.”
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Keep up with the studio, merchandise, and virtual classes on Instagram.
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