Nourishing Integrative Classical Experience
We offer new client orientation packages for either group classes OR private appointments
Nice Pilates: Your Path through the System
Nourishing: Root Your Practice
Integrative: Grow Your Vocabulary
Integrative: Grow Your Vocabulary
You'll learn the foundational classical exercises on the reformer, mat and other apparatus, with an emphasis on equipment safety and setup. Everyone starts here.*
Master the fundamentals.
*We require 10 Nourishing Level Classes to move into Integrative or Level Up: Nourishing to Integrative. This ensures that we can spend time in Integrative level classes introducing new information.
Questions? Email manager@nicepilates.studio.
Integrative: Grow Your Vocabulary
Integrative: Grow Your Vocabulary
Integrative: Grow Your Vocabulary
You’ll build your Pilates vocabulary as you begin to explore intermediate exercises, expanding upon the foundational work from Nourishing.
To join Integrative classes, you should be confidently working through the foundational exercises and setting up equipment independently upon hearing the name of the exercise.*
*We require 10 Integrative Level Classes to move into Classical or Level Up: Integrative to Classical.
Not sure if you’re ready? Chat with your teacher after your next Nourishing class or email manager@nicepilates.studio.
Classical: Your Practice in Bloom
Integrative: Grow Your Vocabulary
Experience: For Group Fitness Lovers
Classical is a self-paced session that begins with the advanced classical mat sequence, followed by work on additional apparatus.
This class is for those who regularly practice Pilates at NICE and are versed in the order and names of exercises in the classical mat series. Curious? Take our On-Demand Return to Life Mat workout to get familiar with the sequence.
YOU SHOULD NOT BE MEETING YOUR TEACHER FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THEIR CLASSICAL CLASS.
For more information, reach out to manager@nicepilates.studio.
Experience: For Group Fitness Lovers
Experience: For Group Fitness Lovers
Experience: For Group Fitness Lovers
Experience starts with a sweaty, fitness-driven warm-up, then moves into a strong Intermediate Pilates session with a focus on strength, stretch, and control. You'll work with intermediate and advanced level exercises, so mastery of the foundational content—including exercise names and equipment setup—is required. *
**We require 10 Nourishing Level Classes to move into Integrative, Experience or Level Up: Nourishing to Integrative. This ensures that we can spend time in these classes introducing new information.
If you're unsure whether Experience is a good fit, ask your instructor after your next Nourishing class or email manager@nicepilates.studio.
Level-Up
Experience: For Group Fitness Lovers
Specialty Offerings
Level Up: Nourishing to Integrative
Build Confidence. Bridge the Gap.
This workshop style class is designed for clients who’ve been consistently attending Nourishing classes and are ready to take the next step toward Integrative.
You’ll continue to refine foundational exercises while introducing the intermediate exercises that are taught in Integrative. We’ll spend extra time reviewing equipment setup and discussing these exercises in a supportive, educational environment—so you’ll feel confident walking into your first Integrative class.
Level Up: Integrative to Classical
Deepen Your Practice. Prepare for Classical.
This workshop style class is designed for clients who are confident in Integrative and ready to explore the structure and flow of the advanced classical mat sequence.
Specialty Offerings
Experience: For Group Fitness Lovers
Specialty Offerings
Need Extra Care?
Slow the Pace
with
Gentle Pilates
A slow paced, biomechanical approach to the classical system, with modifications for osteoporosis, arthritis, injuries, or other special conditions. Includes resistance exercises with hand weights and bands, plus balance exercises for fall prevention.
Pre-Natal Pilates
Taking special care of
mothers-to-be
is our Pilates super-power.
Keep yourself strong, long and
moving through all three (or four!) trimesters.
Always Get A Spot In Your Favorite Class…
Monthly Membership Subscription
We offer a limited quantity of monthly memberships because we want everyone to get into their classes. Get 10 visits for $330/mo! Unused visits roll over 1 month before expi, so you won’t stress when life gets in the way of your routine. Subscribers benefit from being allowed to book into one future billing cycle.
Pilates is more than a reformer…
Use the Whole Studio
Joseph Pilates lived from 1883-1967. He created exercises and apparatuses that today we call Pilates. Classical Pilates adheres to his method and pedagogy passed down from a handful of teachers who worked with him. We teach Classical Pilates on classical equipment. We use all the equipment, offering endless variety.
About Us
Cassandra Palo, Owner
Cassandra began teaching Pilates in 2006 (Power Pilates 600 hr cert). She relies on consistent, continuing education to stay inspired and has cultivated a deeply intuitive and biomechanically solid knowledge base. She believes in Joe's messages that "above all (we should) learn to breathe correctly," we "are the architect of our own happiness," and that "movement heals." Cassandra created NICE out of a deep desire to educate, inspire, and give back to her community.
Deborah Kahan, Instructor
Deborah is a classically trained instructor with an M.S. in Dance Education. She was certified in 2003 through Power Pilates. As a former professional dancer, choreographer and dance instructor, Deborah brings with her a wealth of experience and understanding of how bodies work. Always curious, Deborah continues to learn and likes to explore different healing modalities and exercise therapies and how they fit in with Classical Pilates; she is excited to share her knowledge and passion of Pilates with you!
Elizabeth Blackwell, Instructor
Liz first discovered her passion for Pilates after coming off the road from years of touring as a professional musician. She immersed herself in her Pilates, practicing to correct her body and rehabilitate from travel and performance fatigue and chronic injuries.
Liz trained with Real Pilates, a classical training certification program under Alycea Ungaro, headquartered in NYC. She is dedicated to encouraging clients to leave classes feeling stronger, inspired and excited. She is often accompanied by her trusted service animal, Theo, also a Pilates aficionado.
Diana Guerci, Instructor
Diana is a classically trained Pilates teacher based in San Francisco, certified in 2017 through The Pilates Workshop, a host school of The Pilates Center and part of the longstanding Romana Kryzanowska lineage. She brings over eight years of teaching experience and a lifelong movement background to her work — having spent her early years as a ballet dancer and later teaching yoga before fully stepping into the classical Pilates system. Diana weaves her diverse movement background into a clear, grounded, and deeply supportive approach. She’s committed to meeting each person exactly where they are, creating space for them to feel seen, capable, and at home in their bodies. Her teaching gently guides clients through the Pilates method in a way that feels empowering, intuitive, and sustainable.
Amie Miller, Instructor
Amie, a San Francisco native, began studying Pilates in college and became a teacher in 2000 under the mentorship of Master Trainer Carol Appel in the classical tradition. Amie has taught Pilates in many settings, locally and internationally. She integrates over 20 years of movement experience and continuing education into her teaching to meet clients where they are and guide them through the system to achieve "universal development of body and mind". Amie holds an MS in health and wellness management and works with organizations and individuals to thrive in the seven dimensions of wellness - physical, social, emotional, occupational, intellectual, environmental, and spiritual.
Rachael Gray, Instructor
Rachael discovered Classical Pilates after a spine injury left her in chronic pain and often unable to walk. When traditional physical therapy fell short, Pilates helped her heal her hypermobile body and reclaim the joy in her life.Passionate about sharing this transformative work, she completed her teacher training with Dorothee VandeWalle in 2017 and continues to deepen her knowledge, currently training with Darien Gold. She cares deeply about making Pilates a welcoming space and positive experience for people of all genders, body types, and backgrounds. She also specializes in back and hip pain, hypermobility, and is known for using unique visual cues that help clients truly connect with the work. Outside the studio, Rachael enjoys learning glassblowing, sewing costumes, performing around the Bay Area, or curling up with snacks, sci-fi, and her two delightfully clueless cats.
NICE
Nourishing adjective
giving the body what is necessary for health and growth
Integrative adjective
serving or intending to unify separate things.
Classical adjective
(typically of a form of art) regarded as representing an exemplary standard; traditional and long-established in form or style.
Experience noun
(the process of getting) knowledge or skill from doing, seeing, or feeling things
Cassandra was one of the few bright spots of my pregnancy. She was patient and kind and exceptionally therapeutic. There is an obvious difference in my physical and mental wellbeing when I miss my weekly sessions. She is an effective, inspiring and refreshing instructor.
Margaret W.
