Welcome to your new fitness home
Brooklyn’s neighborhood Pilates + Barre Studio since 2014
Pilates Heights opened in 2014 with a clear goal: to create a space where the Brooklyn Heights community could move with purpose and feel the benefits immediately.
From the start, we’ve believed that movement is one of the most reliable tools you have. You take a Pilates or Barre class, you feel better — physically and mentally, and instantly. Whether you’re healing from an injury, working out for the first time, or just need to get out of your head, our classes will help you feel more in control of your body and more connected to yourself.
While we’re a multi-modality studio, everything speaks the same language. Mat Pilates, Reformer Pilates, Pilates Strength, and Barre all work together to build strength, improve mobility, and promote an overall sense of well-being. Our delightfully challenging classes are guided by instructors who know how to push you while keeping you engaged and, most importantly, having fun.
Pilates Heights is proud to be part of this community. We’ve grown alongside it. And we’re still here for the same reason we started: to give people access to movement that empowers, strengthens, and creates real change.
Meet Our Founder
Kristine Storie was born and raised right here in Brooklyn
She knows the rhythm of the neighborhood, the pace of the people, and the value of having something local you can count on.
As a certified Pilates instructor, she already understood the power of movement. But while working in corporate finance in D.C., she discovered Barre and immediately saw how well it paired with Pilates. Together, they created a complete movement experience. And that idea became the foundation for Pilates Heights!
When Kristine returned to Brooklyn Heights in 2012, boutique fitness hadn’t yet made its way over the Brooklyn Bridge. The closest Barre class was a train ride away! On February 1, 2014, she brought her vision to light – opening the first studio of its kind in the area, combining Pilates and Barre under one roof in the heart of her hometown.
More than a decade later, that vision is still at the core of the studio. Kristine is proud to have created an authentic space that offers movement you can trust. Classes that challenge you in the right way. Programming that supports long-term health, not short-term trends. And an experience that leaves you feeling better than when you walked in.
Meet the Pilates Heights Team
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Maria Gardner
Director of Studio Operations & Instructor
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With over a decade of dedication to our studio, Maria is the heartbeat of our daily operations. Her journey began at the front desk, where she developed a passion for Pilates and our movement community. Her natural leadership and deep understanding of studio life led her to the role of Studio Director, where she ensures every client feels supported from the moment they walk through the door. Most recently, Maria reached a major milestone by completing her Pilates Teacher Training certification through the prestigious and world renowned BASI program. Her transition from management to the teaching floor allows her to combine her extensive knowledge of the business with a technical, movement-based expertise.
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Narissa Herndon
Head Instructor
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Working out with Narissa is more than just a class, it’s a full-on experience. Narissa is a powerhouse instructor with a super-sized personality and top-notch teaching skills. Her fitness career began as a Pilates instructor in her hometown city of Las Vegas. Narissa moved to NYC in 2016, and joined the Pilates Heights teaching team in 2018, when she added Barre to her teaching resume. A tough but fair instructor, Narissa believes fitness should be fun, and that it can be life-changing. She highly values the bond that can be formed with the client, in a fun, supportive and high-energy environment.
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Nicole Calabrese
Head Instructor
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The brilliant and kind-hearted Nicole is originally from Rochester, NY, but has called NYC home since 2009. She has an extensive background in dance, and since 2015 has been teaching fitness classes at Pilates Heights. Nicole is a comprehensively certified Pilates instructor through the prestigious BASI program, and is also certified in Barre. Affectionately nicknamed the “velvet hammer”, Nicole’s classes are challenging but doable. She is truly skilled at teaching to all levels with her thoughtful suggestions on how to make movements easier or harder, giving clients agency over their own bodies.
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Natalia Brown
Instructor
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Natalia is originally from Poland, but she’s called NYC home since 2006 which makes her equal part New Yorker. A lifelong dancer and athlete, Natalia pursued teaching fitness as an outlet to share her enthusiasm and passion for movement with others. She is a BASI-trained Pilates Mat instructor and is also certified in Barre. Natalia teaches a powerful, action-packed class that will have you sweating and moving constantly. When she’s not teaching, Natalia has her hands full with her young twins Ethan & Dahlia.
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Lili Tewes
Instructor
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Lili is originally from Hamburg, Germany and has an impressive and extensive background in dance, both as a performer and master instructor. Lili graduated from the Martha Graham School, where she danced principal roles in several of Graham's ballets. Lili began taking Barre and Pilates classes as a way to stay strong while dancing professionally and teaching workshops across the globe. Lili’s classes are focused on finding joy and empowerment through movement and its transformational benefits for both body and mind. Fun fact: Lili has a secret life as a professional Hula dancer.
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Amber Nalle
Instructor
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Amber is a former professional ballerina turned powerhouse fitness instructor. She holds numerous certifications including Master Barre Trainer through Xtend Barre, BASI Pilates Mat, and TRX. Amber teaches a delightfully challenging, positively exhilarating class that will have you sweating, smiling and moving constantly.
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Tree Thompson
Instructor
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Tree found Pilates on a whim and was immediately fascinated by her new sense of body awareness, which carried into her pole dance and contortion practices. She decided to get certified so she could help others feel more connected to their bodies. Tree aims to create a grounding space where clients feel challenged, curious, and empowered to make the right choices for their bodies. Tree is originally from Kansas and has called Brooklyn home since 2019.
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Rachel Gill
Instructor
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Rachel is a life-long mover with an extensive background in dance and wellness. She holds a Pilates certification from The Space Pilates, a BFA in Dance from SUNY Purchase, and has nearly 10 years’ experience as a professional dancer in NYC. Rachel’s teaching style blends precision with playfulness, emphasizing a deep understanding of “why” an exercise is being performed, to help her clients move with intention and ease.
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April Frazier
Instructor
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April’s classes are inclusive, fun, sweaty, playful, self-empowering and community-centered. Her journey into fitness was sparked by her commitment to equity when she began teaching in schools, youth detention centers, and shelters. She is a certified NASM personal trainer and is also certified in Yoga, Barre, Pilates and IntenSati (combining positive affirmations with physical movement). Outside of teaching, April is a foster mother, where she practices the power of play.
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Chana Wilmowsky
Instructor
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Chana is a New Jersey native turned Brooklynite and busy mom of 3. She worked at the front desk for 5 years before taking the plunge to become an instructor. Chana initially discovered Pilates at an after school program in 8th grade. She fell in love with the way it made her body feel and wanted to share that experience with others. Chana is Mat certified through Pilates on Fifth and completed Barre training in 2024. Her classes are vibrant and energetic, but also controlled and focused. In her spare time, Chana enjoys spending time with family and friends, as well as cooking, reading, and interior design.
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Christina Macchiarola
Instructor
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Christina discovered her love of movement and dance at a young age while growing up in New Jersey. After moving to NYC for college and then to pursue a career in marketing, fitness remained a constant in her life. Christina is Pilates Mat-certified through Equinox and is a longtime Pilates Heights client (over 1,300 classes and counting)! Christina's classes are ergonomically-oriented, modification-friendly, and, above all, a good time. She brings an exuberant energy to the studio and her goal is that every client leaves class feeling their best.
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Leah Suskind
Instructor
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Leah is a native of Randolph, NJ and a recent graduate of NYU Tisch School of the Arts with a BFA in Dance. She is currently a company member with Jon Lehrer Dance Company in NYC. Leah has attended programs at Jacob’s Pillow, Orsolina 28, the Juilliard School, and with companies such as Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, the Rockettes, and the Martha Graham Company, and has had her own choreography featured in dance festivals. Leah is excited to bring her love of dance and movement to the floor as a fitness instructor.
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Darren McArthur
Instructor
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Originally from Ohio, Darren earned his BFA in Dance from Point Park University in Pittsburgh, PA. His extensive performing career includes dancing internationally on cruise ships, in regional theater productions, and on national tours. A dedicated artist and teacher, Darren is thrilled to now bring his passion for movement to Pilates Heights as a Barre instructor, sharing his expertise and love for dance in every class.
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Kelly Heuer
Instructor
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Kelly is a lifelong dancer with a foundation in classical ballet and a passion for smart, no-nonsense movement. Her classes blend musicality and dance-inspired flow with functional training rooted in anatomy and physiology. A Brooklyn-based mom of two, Kelly believes great training should feel challenging, supportive, and grounded in how bodies actually work.
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Maheen Quraishi
Instructor
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Maheen discovered Pilates during the pandemic and immediately fell in love with its balance of strength, mindfulness, and movement. What began as a personal practice quickly grew into a passion for sharing Pilates with other people, and she’s been teaching ever since. As a Pakistani Muslim instructor, Maheen is dedicated to creating an inclusive space where people of all backgrounds feel welcome. Her goal is to help clients not only build strength and flexibility, but also discover confidence and joy through movement.
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Izzy Wang
Instructor
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Izzy is passionate about functional movement and helping clients move and feel better in their daily lives. She grew up studying music and dance in Orange County, CA, then moved to NYC for college and to pursue a career in media and advertising. Izzy holds a certification in mat Pilates and is currently completing her comprehensive certification at The Space. Her classes emphasize form and flow, while also being energizing and challenging. Outside of the studio, Izzy works full-time as a graphic designer.
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Khali Sykes
Instructor
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Khali is a Texas-born multifaceted artist. Her passion for movement was cultivated from her upbringing as a competitive dancer and theater performer. Khali works to create an atmosphere of both play and vigor in every space she leads, whether it be in the pilates studio or in the rehearsal room. When she is not in the studio, she works as the assistant director for MJ The Musical, and is an award-winning actress and choreographer. Khali received her pilates certifications through East River Pilates. She is so proud to be a part of the incredible Pilates Heights community.
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Ami Patel
Instructor
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Ami takes a thoughtful, science-based approach to Pilates, helping clients of all levels improve strength, agility, and movement quality. Certified through Stott Pilates, she began her teaching journey in London and now calls Brooklyn home. Ami’s classes emphasize form and control with simple, effective cues. The result is a challenging yet approachable workout that keeps her clients motivated and excited to move.