Today we’d like to introduce you to Courtney Pyles.
Hi Courtney, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Movement has always been part of who I am. I grew up with a dance background, and for a long time, health and fitness have been a passion of mine.
In 2023, I became a certified yoga instructor. Not long after stepping into that new chapter… life shifted in a way I never expected. I was diagnosed with breast cancer.
What followed was a year of recovery and rebuilding. Three surgeries — including a double mastectomy and two reconstruction surgeries. One of those was a DIEP flap reconstruction, which involved abdominal surgery. When I came out of that last procedure, I had no core strength whatsoever. I was truly starting from ground zero.
After eight weeks of recovery the third time around, I slowly made my way back to reformer Pilates — something I had done on and off for about 10 years. At first, it was very humbling because I couldn’t even sit up on my own without help. But within a few weeks of consistently showing up for myself on the reformer, I started noticing changes. I was doing things I physically couldn’t do just weeks prior. My strength was coming back. My confidence was coming back. My body felt capable again. This wasn’t just exercise – this was rebuilding and healing. The reformer helped me regain not just physical strength, but mental strength too. And I knew I wanted to share that with other people.
I began my reformer training through Balanced Body at Body Awareness Studio in Sandy Springs and eventually became certified with them. I fell in love with the method even more deeply. The instructors were incredible, and the community of people I trained with was so supportive — it was powerful to be surrounded by others who believed in the transformative power of movement.
At the time, I was teaching a few Reformer Pilates classes a week and managing a studio in Ellijay — all while still working my corporate job as a sales rep.
Meanwhile, my husband and I had been talking about moving to Jasper to make our commutes as sales reps into the city a little easier. After looking around Jasper for a new place to live, I realized there was no Pilates studio! I started looking at available spaces, just exploring the possibility. One day, one of my girlfriends happened to walk by a space on Main Street in downtown Jasper and texted me the phone number on the listing in the window.
And from there… it all started rolling. That’s when Align & Shine Pilates Studio was born and I could start turning my passion into my career.
This studio is more than a business to me. It represents strength after setback. Rebuilding after loss. Choosing growth after adversity.
If reformer Pilates could help me rebuild from ground zero, I believe it can help anyone feel stronger, more confident, and more connected to their body.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
In the beginning, I was building the studio while still working my corporate sales job. Only two close coworkers knew what I was doing — I couldn’t risk losing my job before I was ready. At the same time, my husband and I were selling our home in Ellijay and moving to Jasper. I was teaching multiple classes a day, building the business, packing a house, and driving to Atlanta some days each week. It was one of the most exhausting times of my life!
After opening, classes filled quickly — with only 5 reformers, I often had waitlists. I kept adding more classes to try to accommodate everyone, and after a few weeks, I hit burnout. I realized I wasn’t feeling like my best self and something had to change.
I started bringing on additional instructors, and now there are three other reformer teachers at the studio. It not only allows me to offer more classes, but it allows me to have a more sustainable schedule while giving clients the opportunity to experience different teaching styles.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Align and Shine Pilates Studio?
My studio was built from a deeply personal place. It wasn’t built just to offer workouts, but to help people of all ages feel strong and confident in their own bodies. Align & Shine is a boutique reformer Pilates studio in downtown Jasper with intentionally small class sizes (5 reformers). This means every client gets hands-on guidance, detailed cueing, and a personalized experience, whether they are brand new or intermediate/advanced. It’s a welcoming environment and I try to always meet clients where they are in their practice. I offer Beginner and All Levels classes, and recently I have been able to offer Sculpt and Barre classes on the weekends with the help of another instructor I worked with in Ellijay!
I offer private and duo sessions as well for the people that want a more personalized experience.
This studio is also about community. It’s been so amazing to see students get to know each other, and I have enjoyed getting to know them so much.
What’s next?
I’m excited to share that I just signed a lease on another space in the building! This allows me to grow by offering private and duo sessions while group classes are being taught in the main studio. That means more flexibility for busy schedules, more one-on-one training opportunities, and the ability to accommodate a few more students when classes are consistently full. For me, this expansion is about serving our community well and creating more access to strong, intentional movement here in Jasper.
Pricing:
- Drop In Reformer Pilates Class – $30
- 5 Pack Reformer Package – $140
- Reformer Pilates Membership – $225/Month
- Private Session $75/Duo Session $95
- Sculpt & Barre Drop In – $20
Contact Info:
- Website: https://alignandshinejasper.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alignandshinejasper
- Facebook: Align and Shine Pilates Studio
Image Credits
Twin Rivers Photography
