Robin Long is a Pilates instructor, Nutrition Therapy practitioner, and author known for her down-to-earth approach to fitness and self-care. Long is also the founder and CEO of Lindywell, a highly rated global wellness app with over 450 workouts that emphasize realistic, busy-life health routines.
Robin began her journey as a Pilates instructor after graduating from Westmont. After she had moved around California and ended up back in Santa Barbara, she wanted to find a way to take her teaching online so she could keep her clients. She started recording Pilates workouts on her phone and sending them via email.
Her early online program evolved into a blog called “The Balanced Life.” That blog turned into a membership-style website, where women could follow her wellness approach. Over time, the membership model became more robust, leading to the development of the Lindywell app.
Sharing about her own struggle with body image and anxiety, and challenging the hardcore fitness industry, motivated Long to create something different. Rather than shaming people for missing workouts or doing them wrong, Lindywell encourages sustainable habits and kindness toward your body. "If you struggle or miss a day, choose grace over guilt and remember that you're playing the long game," Long says. "You can always start fresh and adapt. Perfection isn't required to make progress."
Long designed Lindywell’s workouts for busy women, especially those who don’t have hours to exercise. Many classes are short (4-45 minutes) and don’t require equipment.
Long's mission isn’t just to help you look good; she wants to change how women relate to their bodies and fitness. Lindywell was built for real life, for women who have jobs, families, and limited time, but still want strength and joy.
With breathwork exercises, recipes, and mindset mantras, Long’s book, Well to the Core, reminds me of other wellness books I’ve read. Cameron Diaz’s The Body Book and Gisele Bündchen’s Lessons: My Path to a Meaningful Life. But here’s the main difference: those books were written by famous women who aren’t accessible; they’re aspirational. Long, your local Pilates instructor and mother of four, built a business following her passion. She values authenticity, balance, and community, and these qualities shape Lindywell's culture. She’s not a famous actress or model. She’s you and me.
But now that she’s a wellness CEO with Super Mom vibes. How does she do it all? She plans hard, practices realistic wellness, sets firm boundaries, and continues to build a company that reflects her values as a parent. Long’s whole approach is rooted in sustainability—for her body, her business, and her family.
One sustainable habit Long recommends for 2026 is a daily 15-minute workout. "After more than a decade of teaching this approach through the Lindywell app (and seeing thousands of women transform through it), I can say with confidence that it works," she says. "Committing to just 15 minutes helps you build the habit, but even more importantly, it shifts your identity. You start to see yourself as someone who moves her body and cares for her well-being every day."
Lindywell donates a portion of every membership to Girls on the Run and Pencils of Promise, nonprofits that support, empower, and educate women and girls worldwide. Join the movement at lindywell.com.
Here are three Pilates moves from Long you can do now for a quick boost:
Toe Taps
Lie on your back with your knees in tabletop position (at 90 degrees). Draw your belly toward your spine to engage your core and keep your collarbone open. As you inhale, hinge at the hip crease to tap your foot to the mat, while keeping your core engaged. Exhale and return to the starting position. Repeat 10 times, alternating legs.
The Hundred
Inhale to prepare, and as you exhale, curl your head, neck, and chest off the mat and extend your legs at a 45-degree angle. Draw your belly button toward your spine to engage your core, then pump your arms up and down in a small but intentional motion. Hold the position as you pump your arms for 100 counts, inhaling for 5 counts and exhaling for 5 counts. This is a classic Pilates exercise known for strengthening the core.
Seated Spine Twist
Sit tall with your legs extended in front of you. Feel free to add a slight bend to the knee if needed. Interlace your hands behind your head, relax your shoulders, and engage your core. Inhale to prepare, and as you exhale, rotate in your mid spine, keeping your elbows open. Inhale as you return to center and exhale as you twist to the left. Repeat 10 times and remember to sit tall and engage your core.