Inspiring Conversations with Kari Gregg of Out of Town Pilates

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kari Gregg

Hi Kari, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I grew up as a dancer in Greenwood, IN. I loved to move. Movement is my passion and it’s there when I need it most. On the worst of days as well as the best. Growing up dancing, playing sports and being active outdoors gave me a great foundation for where I am today.
I went on to dance and live in big cities: Chicago, Boston, New York City and all across the world as a dancer for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and as a Radio City Rockette.
The more people I met and dance jobs I took on, this gift of movement became precious. At any moment, this career, my body, could potentially be injured and everything I’ve worked for my entire life could suddenly be taken away in an instant. I needed to take care of myself for rehearsals as well as performances. I realized I needed another movement modality to keep my body and mind healthy day in and day out to sustain up to 4 shows a day or 18 shows a week like I did as a Rockette for 10 years.

I found Pilates and it gave me life. I realized how precious this modality was and my new passion was born. To educate and train fellow colleagues, young dancers, athletes, non-athletes, and anyone 5 – 85 years old with a passion for moving. Pilates allows me to continue to do what I love for myself but also the privilege of providing a safe and effective movement modality to others. This method, developed by Joseph Pilates in the early 1900s, is the key to aging gracefully and is seeing a surge of popularity today.

This is my story and it continues to move.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The life of a professional dancer is never a smooth road. There never felt like a moment where I had it “all figured out” and lived with the fact that nothing could be planned ahead of time. I learned to be flexible and always ready to be able to move. I learned to live with the unexpected. As hard as that can be for a type A personality, the rocky parts definitely kept me humble and I tried to not let rejection get to me. There’s always another opportunity to be had, and as cheesy as this may sound, things do end up happening as they should in the end. A good business strategy for a soon to be business owner.
I’d be lying if I said I never had any regrets. Plenty of missed opportunities, like choosing a job for the money and security rather than for passion. Making those decisions are extremely difficult in the moment. If I could go back, I’d definitely take the passion project rather than security. If you are passionate and hard working, things will work out in the end, so why not take the risk and see how it goes?

Being a Pilates instructor and now, a small business owner is not a secure job. It doesn’t make you millions either. Some other struggles in being your own boss is you make the rules, for you, and for the clientele. Making your own hours is great, but also sticking to those hours is even harder. I often find it hard to say no. Many Pilates teachers get burnt out. As a new instructor, we run and drive all over the place to please our clientele, trying to not miss out on an opportunity to teach. Sometimes saying no and creating boundaries is hard, but trusting that you WILL be able to pay your rent in the end and your next new client is just around the corner is the risk you take. It does all work out in the end.

Every day is a new day as a small business owner and that’s what makes it exciting!

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Out of Town Pilates?
I moved to Nashville from NYC in 2019, after retiring from the 2018 Rockette holiday season. I was looking for a fresh start and wanted an exciting new place to begin teaching Pilates full time. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect. I had a strong base of clientele before the entire world shut down. I kept my business online, knowing at some point I would need to find a space and started buying my own Pilates equipment slowly but surely.

Years went by… and then, my friend Katrina Rinne, moved to Nashville. We had so much in common, a dance background, many Pilates certifications and trainings under our belt and Pilates equipment piling up in our homes…. We decided to start looking for the perfect space.

2K Pilates (Kat & Kari) was born and we happened upon the perfect space to start our studio in Berry Hill in December 2024. Our mission and reasoning behind starting 2K Pilates is to provide a place to feel centered, connected and attuned to one’s body in a safe, supportive and healing environment. We have carefully curated a boutique studio with the highest quality equipment, in a bright airy space that invites students to leave the outside world at the door to devote an hour of their day to the greatest medicine of all…MOVEMENT.

I specialize in small groups and one-on-one instruction so each client receives individualized attention. I want people to move better, move freely and have fun in the process. I am positive and a sort of cheerleader for each client. I get excited for them when they do something right! Sure, do I try to be a little hard on them every now and again and maybe crack some jokes to lighten the mood. You gotta get my humor… But we all have a laugh in the end. I try to make it light and fun, but also remind them that this is a serious method and I have high expectations for each and every one of them.

What sets my teaching apart from other studio or gym settings is I get to form strong relationships and know each and every face and name when they walk in the door. A community built on trust, motivation, rules and a little sweat while having fun. The services I provide may start in the studio, but all of my clients leave with my voice in their head during their everyday activities- reminding them to practice correct posture, keep a strong core and tall spine while at home, at work, or during play. It becomes a way of life- exactly as Joseph Pilates intended it to be.

So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
Visit me on the new website! https://2kpilates.com/. From there, you can get an idea the space and also view more of what I do on my own website: www.outoftownpilates.com.

We are a meeting place for both clients who join together for small, intimate group classes as well as for teachers looking for a clean, quiet and beautiful space to rent and build a thriving business. We will also be hosting our own teachers from around the world and bringing some of the best continuing education in the Pilates industry to the Nashville area!

My hope for our new studio space (which is a mix of both Classical and Contemporary Pilates equipment) will soon be a hub for new and upcoming Pilates instructors wanting to start their own businesses. I’ve been given the opportunity twice now in Nashville from 2 very dear mentors, and I hope to pass it on to the next future Pilates instructors. Please stop by and view the space. I’d love to meet you and chat about how we can move better, together.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://outoftownpilates.com/