What if we didn’t look at exercise as a chore or a stepping stone to getting a summer-ready body (whatever that means) but instead as an investment in ourselves, our health, and our well-being?
Marchella Leone-Laskin treats Pilates as exactly that at her newly opened Pilates studio, The Brokerage Pilates.
Just like a financial brokerage helps you invest your money in the stock market, Marchella started Brokerage Pilates to help people invest in themselves.
Whether coming to class gives you time to rest, boosts your energy, or brings you a break from the monotony of working from home, Marchella wants her studio to be a place clients can give themselves what they need during the 50 minutes they spend in class.
“I’m going to be honest, one of the first things I liked about Pilates when I first started was that I could lie down for most of it,” she said, laughing. “If you want to come to class and just lay down for 50 minutes, that’s cool with me,” she joked. “It’s all about what’s best for you and what you need.”
That being said, Marchella has stuck with Pilates over the years because she sees the returns on her investment in the workout.
“It gives you skills that carry over into other parts of your life. Like, it sounds dumb, but pilates makes carrying your groceries easier,” Marchella said. Her focus is not on how the workout can make you look but on what it can do for your health in the long haul. “You might not get the most ripped, but I know that when I have children, my core will be so strong. When I’m older and need to keep mobility and flexibility, I know this will carry me through that.”
She also sees it as an investment that anyone can make: “I love that you do it whether you are young or old, and you can do it if you’re postpartum or prenatal or recovering from an injury. I just love that you can use it in all the different seasons of your life,” she said. “I love that you can come to class with your mom and your grandma. Like, what other workout lets you do that?”
It’s also that accessibility and communal nature of the workout that prompted Marchella to move from just participating in Pilates to opening her own studio.
When she moved to Nashville in August 2024, the first place Marchella looked to build community in her new city was pilates classes—and she wasn’t finding it.
“I didn’t see a lot of diversity in the people attending the classes I was in, from race to age to gender to body type,” Marchella said.
So, over the past two years, she realized what she needed to do to create that community she longed for. And thus, the idea for The Brokerage Pilates was born. “I wanted to break down the barriers so people can come into the studio and enjoy group fitness,” she said.
Located in a historical building in the heart of Nashville’s Marathon Village, clients can feel the warmth and connection Marchella is obsessed with from the second they walk through the doors. Brokerage is a small studio, hosting only about 8 clients per class, and the walls and ceiling are made of exposed brick and natural wood beams. When you step off the reformers, your feet land on plush vintage rugs, and you can check your form in stunning antique-inspired mirrors.
Beyond the beautiful, homey aesthetics in the studio, Marchella and her five other instructors make an effort to have a moment of connection with every client that joins their classes. Whether it’s the warm smiles and friendly conversation that greet clients as they walk in or the handwritten thank-you notes they receive just for attending class, she is obsessed with the little details that help build community from the inside out with her business.
Marchella said, “We try to chit-chat with every single person. Have you done Pilates before? Do you have any injuries? What are you looking to get out of class today? What do you need? We want to know!”
With every class at The Brokerage, Marchella and her instructors aim to give clients a true contemporary pilates workout with moves that are proven to work–and that clients will feel the next day.
Experience The Brokerage Pilates for yourself. With just 8 spots per class, sessions fill quickly — and once you’re in, you’ll understand why.
Join The Brokerage for their Grand Opening on May 3 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and get a first look at the space, meet the team, and experience the community firsthand.
Can’t make it? Start with your first class for $10 and discover what it feels like to invest in your strength, your energy, and yourself. Available for a limited time.
Book your class at thebrokeragepilates.com
I love that you can use [pilates] in all the different seasons of your life.