Meet Allie Guillerm Tichenor

Today we’re excited to be connecting with Allie Guillerm Tichenor again. If you haven’t already, we suggest you check out our prior conversation with them here.

Allie, thanks for joining us again. Just to level set a bit for folks who may have missed our last interview together, can you briefly introduce yourself?
I’m the owner/CEO of Pilates Punx, a woman-owned business in Los Angeles.
Pilates Punx is a Pilates Studio offering private and group sessions for the community. We strive to be a welcoming studio that makes anyone and everyone feel comfortable – taking any intimidation out of boutique fitness. Our mission is to help clients alleviate pain and gain strength through proper Pilates instruction, with an emphasis on the how and the why. We cater to the “other,” the counter-culture, the folks who don’t feel like they fit in at the average studio. We are a music-driven studio with a deep connection to rock, punk, and metal music.

Pilates Punx initially started as a business that I ran out of my home and visiting clients’ homes. In September 2019 I opened the first brick-and-mortar studio and hired additional instructors to work alongside of me. The journey from instructor running all over town to studio owner felt long, but looking back it didn’t take me all that long to make it happen.

I fell in love with teaching Pilates when I was in my certification program. I didn’t think I’d make a career of it, I didn’t even think that I’d be teaching – I just loved practicing Pilates. But when I realized the connections I could make with people and the way I felt when I taught a really good class, I went for it.

Of course, the timing was rough – after being open for 6 months we had to close for 15 due to COVID. I did everything I could to make it through, which involved a lot of mat Pilates and virtual teaching, filming videos, and locking myself in the studio to do so. Thankfully we made it through when a lot of other studios didn’t and I was able to grow.

In September of 2022, I launched a Comprehensive Pilates Certification program. I have the honor of teaching my students how to teach Pilates, how to deepen their practice, and everything that I have learned along the way. Each time that I have added to my business I fall back in love with another aspect of teaching.

The thing that sets us apart is the commitment to Pilates as a practice being the only thing that we do – and setting that alongside a better soundtrack 😉 I think that a lot of places try to incorporate trends or hybrid classes that are Pilates + something else (or not Pilates at all) And then there are the studios that cater to the masses instead of trying to find their unique client’s needs. We are a space for people to come who just want a workout – they don’t need a selfie mirror, they don’t want to be considered a “Pilates Girlie” – they just want to alleviate pain or work out or feel good in their body – without any judgment or need to look a certain way. And of course, we welcome those who consider themselves a “Pilates Girlie” too, because we’re here for everyone.

Alright, so our main goal today is to give our audience an update on what you have been up to since our last conversation. We’d love to hear how things are going and what you are most looking forward to or excited about these days.
Since I was last interviewed I launched the Pilates Punx Certification Program which is a 475-hour Comprehensive Classical Pilates Certification. We just launched our 6th run of the program and I have been so proud of the students I have taken through it so far.
I also opened a 2nd location in Studio City in April of 2023, so that we can offer our services to clients in the SFV, as well as people who want to come from West Hollywood as they can drive up Laurel Canyon.

On a personal note, I had my first baby in December of 2023, so I have been navigating life as a new mom. Being a mother is one of the greatest things, but it is no joke. Hours of the day will fly by as I’m trying to get to work because my daughter’s needs come first. Sometimes it takes me hours to get out the door because it’s a diaper, feed, another diaper, nap…another diaper… and now we can go. But it has helped me finally learn how to hire help and delegate instead of thinking I can do everything myself. Having a baby pushed me to have a studio manager and it’s one of the best things I have ever done for the business.

I would love to expand my path, eventually, maybe another space for the business, but I think the balancing act of family and work has slowed me down a bit. At least for the time being.

We also want to give folks a chance to get to know you a bit better so we’ve prepared a fun lightning round of questions. Ready?

Favorite Movie: I don’t really play favorites… The Princess Bride or Clue were favorites growing up – I can’t really watch anything over and over and over again as an adult

Favorite Book: Fahrenheit 451 or Nine Stories

Favorite TV Show: 30 Rock

Favorite Band or Artist: The Clash, Ramones, IDLES, The Bronx, The Misfits, The Pixies

Sweet or Savory: I have a terrible sweet tooth. If it’s not chocolate, don’t bother

Mountains or Beach: Beach, but I burn too easily so I don’t go often

Favorite Sport (to watch): Sports? Gross.

Favorite Sport (to play): Some consider bowling to be a sport. I don’t. But if you do, I will say bowling.

Did you play sports growing up (if so which ones): I played basketball 1 year in 4th grade but it was a joke – we all got #23. I played softball in 6th grade for 1 year. I played tennis somewhat often in elementary and middle school at summer school. In High School I was on the tennis team one season and the swim team 3 seasons. I was never good.

As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up: When I was like 6 years old I desperately wanted to work on a fishing boat. When I was a teen I wanted to own my own coffee shop/music venue that was an all-ages place.

French Fries or Onion Rings: Seriously? Not a contest. Fries.

Chuck Rhodes or Bobby Axelrod: Can I say fuck? Who the fuck are either of those people?

Favorite Cartoon growing up: David the Gnome, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Gummy Bears, Chip n Dale Rescue Rangers, Tale Spin…

Favorite Childhood movie: Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast, Grease, plus the ones mentioned above

Favorite Breakfast Food: I’m unfortunately allergic to all things the comprise a decent breakfast, but I’m a pancakes for dinner lover.

When you look back on your life, what are three things you expect to be proud of?
I hope that I can say that I changed people’s lives. Whether it’s through helping them with their Pilates practice as an instructor, being a good boss to instructors who work for me, or a mentor who certifies instructors – I’d like to have had a positive impact on people’s lives in a way that they remember me beyond our time together. I think that having this goal will get me to a place where I can look back and be proud of the work I did.

I think that I am doing a good job as a mom, starting out, and I hope that I can look back and be proud of how I raised my daughter. I want to give her the best life and share the lessons I’ve learned, the best parts of my childhood, and do better for her for some of the things I feel like I missed out on. I want to raise her in a way that she still wants to spend time with me when she’s older.

And lastly, I expect to be proud of the fact that I took chances. I never stayed in a place where I was complacent because going after what I wanted felt too risky. I spent a lot of time playing it safe when I was too scared when I was younger. I pushed myself to study abroad when I was in college, I moved to New York for work, I moved back to Massachusetts when I was unhappy, I pushed myself to make a cross-country move before I turned 30, and I opened my own business when I was 35. I plan to continue to do things that take a little nerve so that I can always look back without regret and be proud of what I have accomplished.

Website: https://www.pilatespunx.com

Instagram: @PilatesPunxLA and @PilatesPunxStudio

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PilatesPunxStudio

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/pilates-punx-los-angeles-2 and https://www.yelp.com/biz/pilates-punx-los-angeles

Youtube: https://youtube.com/PilatesPunx

Image Credits
Emily Nigro,
Mary Soracco