meet the crew
Meet Nicole
Co-Owner + Pilates Instructor
Nicole is originally from Massachusetts and has been a Fayetteville resident for more than 15 years. Broadened by a move to Europe, this is where she first gained a passion for Pilates.
After having her second child, Pilates helped her find herself again and become stronger both mentally and physically. Nicole completed her Pilates Mat Certification through Body Arts and Science International (BASI) in Dusseldorf, Germany.
After moving back to the Fayetteville area in 2018, she decided to further her Pilates education to become comprehensively trained on all apparatus. Nicole has a passion for Pilates and continued education. If she’s not teaching, she is a student. She also holds certifications through NASM, TRX, Pilates Suspension Method, Bosu CORE and Pilates for Injuries and Pathologies.
Nicole is thrilled to have the opportunity to help others learn the benefits of Pilates and watch them gain strength and a better sense of self at The Pilates District.
She does Pilates because she loves the way it makes her feel. She teaches Pilates because she enjoys making others feel good!
Meet Lauren
Co-Owner + Pilates Instructor
Lauren is a native of Pittsburgh, PA and discovered Pilates after returning to Fayetteville from the UK. Her journey into Pilates added a fresh, positive perspective on overall wellness and comprehensive fitness. Pilates offered fresh insights in to increasing flexibility, core strength, balance, and a healthy mind body connection like nothing before. She is excited to share her experiences and guide others through what Pilates has to offer.
Lauren has completed over 500 hours of certified comprehensive training in Pilates, including Reformer, Springboard, TRX, Mat, Ladder Barrel, Spine Corrector, Cadillac, Barre, and Chair.
Outside of the studio, Lauren’s interests include weight training, macro nutrition, and meal prepping for her clients. As a mom of three boys and being constantly on the move for years,
She is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh with a Bachelor’s degree in Sport Management.
Meet Aria
Pilates Instructor
Aria has been working in the fitness and movement industry in Fayetteville since 2007. She was first introduced to Pilates in her early career as a dancer and teacher in Utah.
She has completed and received certifications in Polestar Pilates Comprehensive Series, NC Pilates, Runity Fundamentals, and Core Barre. She is trained in and incorporates the TRX trainer, and AIS Stretching techniques into her teaching. She is a graduate of Southern Utah University with a Bachelor’s degree in Dance Education.
Aria is passionate about making Pilates accessible to all different types of movers. She has completed additional hours of training to deepen her knowledge and skill set to address diverse movers needs. Advance Assessment Tools for Pilates and Programming, Pilates Perspective on Pathologies for the Lower Extremities and Joint Replacement, Thoracic Mobility, and Rotational Movement. She applies all she has learned to her own Pilates practice and designs programs to meet the needs of clients. Come move with Aria and explore the possibilities that Pilates has to offer.
Meet Melissa
Pilates Instructor
Melissa is a Stott Pilates and Balanced Body certified Pilates instructor with over 15 years of teaching experience. Her intense passion for mindful movement over the years has kept her focused on anatomy and she specializes in working with clients who have current or past injuries. Melissa has completed over 100 hours of Pilates training in this aspect including workshops such as “Anatomy Trains” with Tom Myers, Polestar’s “Pathokinesiology of the Lumbar Spine” and “Open the Gait”, and Stott Pilates’ “Injuries and Special Populations.” In addition to Pilates, Melissa is also a certified 200 RYT (yoga teacher) and TRX trainer and uses these disciplines to side her in movement analysis and teaching.
Meet Sam
Pilates Instructor
Sam Walker is originally from Fayetteville, NC but lived in Washington, DC for a number of years. Sam has been practicing yoga since 2015 and traveled to Rishikesh, India in 2018 to complete her 200-hour yoga teacher training. She is completing her 300-hour teacher training in Southern Pines. Sam teaches a variety of styles including Vinyasa, Hatha, Yin, Restorative, Yoga Nidra, and conducts sound bath facilitation.
She moved back to Fayetteville in 2022 and began practicing Pilates. Sam started Pilates teacher training in 2023 and completed her full certification in July 2025. She has 500-hours of comprehensive training in Mat, Reformer, Ladder Barrel, Spine Corrector, Cadillac, and Chair.
Sam has her Masters in Public Health from The George Washington University and previously worked in HIV prevention for adolescent girls and young women.