EDUCATION, MENTORSHIP, INSTRUCTORS
Balanced Body Education in Tacoma led by Principal Educator Angelie Melzer
Click on the course, hyper-link above, to learn more.
Learn more about Angelie by clicking on her full name above.
Pilates Tacoma Mentorship-Program led by Alease Frieson
Members of our 12 month in-house mentorship-program, gain 'community in practice' and access to both - our private 'hq' and 'group' studio(s) for personal-practice, observation and teaching hours, 1:1 private sessions, and mentoring with Alease.
Learn the somatic approach to teaching that sets us apart. Attend mat, apparatus, and Pilates prop focused workshops. Practice the original Pilates repertoire and learn to teach on both classical and contemporary Pilates equipment, over the course of a year, as a member of our in-depth program.
Registration is now open for 2026!
To apply email mentorship@pilatestacoma.com
"I’ve had nagging discomfort in my mid and lower back for months and tried many other ways to relieve it and within my first 3 sessions with Alease… it has vanished. She is very intentional and observant (and obviously knowledgeable!) and this is helping me to relearn more functional movement patterns… I mean even breathing!"
- 2025 GOOGLE review
Comprehensive Pilates Teacher
Studio operator / owner since 2014
Pilates Lineage Alease Frieson > Meli-Tashi Happy > Tara Stepenberg > Eve Gentry > Joseph Pilates
Currently Mentored by Balanced Body Edu. Principal Educator / Master Trainer Angelie Melzer
Pilates Tacoma founder 2018
Tacoma Movement Center founder 2025
Neuro Studio Level 1 Teacher specializing in Pilates for neuro-muscular conditions such as, Myopathy, POTS, Parkinson's disease, Fibromyalgia, Occipital Neralagia
GYROTONIC® Trainer certified January 2021 booking at Tacoma Movement Center
"Alease truly stands out in her expertise and ability to cater to individual student needs. Every session, she assesses my short-term and long-term movement goals. This attention to detail ensures that everyone she works with feels supported and challenged. Alease excels in creating a customized experience that empowers students to achieve their personal goals. Whether you’re a complete novice or a seasoned mover, you’ll find a home here that nurtures your growth and celebrates your progress. Plus, the space is well-maintained and super cute, with plenty of space and equipment. Highly recommend!"
- Dr. Jacob's GOOGLE review
Alease's journey into Somatics and comprehensive Pilates practice began in 2011 when she first met Meli-Tashi Happy. In 2014, she co-founded Integrated Pilates Tacoma with Meli. After years of mentorship and apprentice-teaching hours, she completed Meli's comprehensive, 600-hour, Somatic-Pilates teacher training in 2016. By 2018, she independently established a small studio downtown Tacoma where she continued to practice and hone her approach. There, she quietly and successfully built a business off of referrals from clients and medical professionals.
Alease has predominantly worked with private clients for over twelve years. For three years, Alease served as faculty at a local ballet school where she offered Pilates as a dance-conditioning to academy dancers and a Creative Movement class to four- to six-year-olds. Alease enjoys creating effective cross-training experiences for athletes of all ages.
In 2020, Alease expanded her movement vocabulary by enrolling in the inaugural Beyond Elements GYROTONIC® scholarship program founded by Justine Bernard, PT, DPT. She became a certified GYROTONIC® Trainer in January 2021 and has taken a GYROTONIC® course every year since - continuing to deepen her understanding of the pedagogy and repertoire through practice.
Alease's approach to teaching Pilates, Somatics and the GYROTONIC® Expansion system is rooted in her commitment to community wellness and healing through embodiment-practices.
INSTRUCTORS
"I have been training with Julie at Tacoma Pilates since the beginning of 2025 and the results have exceeded my expectations. Julie is an expert instructor who provides clear, hands-on guidance, tailors each session to your body limitations, and progresses workouts thoughtfully so you always feel challenged but never overwhelmed.
The studio is bright, clean, and calming with well-maintained reformers and other Pilates equipment. Private sessions with Julie’s attentive coaching create a focused, supportive atmosphere where form and alignment are prioritized. Julie offers helpful, personalized modifications for injuries, and virtual sessions if needed.
Since starting here I’ve gained core strength, improved posture, and noticed reduced lower-back tension and hip discomfort. Booking and communication are seamless, and the pricing feels fair for the level of instruction. I highly recommend Julie and this studio to anyone in Tacoma looking for knowledgeable, patient, and results-driven Pilates instruction."
- M.M google review
Pilates instructor 14 yrs Pilates Tacoma Mentorship-program Member since 2024, founding collective member
Learn more about Jofia here
Pilates instructor 2 yrs Pilates Tacoma Mentorship-program Member since 2024, founding collective member