heather atkins

What I love most is when people surprise themselves with their abilities!
I’ll present an exercise that sometimes folks feel is not possible for them, then when they actually find they can do it, it’s so powerful! I get to witness their confidence and personhood expand in real time.

Training & Professional Highlights:
I was a clinical social worker for 13 years. I’ve always had a passion for connecting to people and community and I bring this with me into pilates. Starting pilates can feel daunting or folks may feel like they don’t belong. I’m on a mission to break the harmful narratives about the exclusivity of pilates - because pilates is truly for everybody!

my goal:
is to make people feel welcome, capable, and right where they belong.

Outside the studio:
My biggest passion is dance! I’ve danced my whole life and have either deeply studied or taken classes in at least 10 different forms of dance. Two highlights in the past few years: In 2023, I had the honor of performing in ADF Footprints choreographed by @pfdancecompany. I started teaching dance and doing burlesque in 2024 and have been co-producing an amateur burlesque show in Durham for the past year.

personal:
I also have a dog who I love to an unhealthy degree named Luca (aka Luca bear, baby bear)