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Meet the Black Pilates instructors and studio owners bringing diversity to Atlanta’s fitness scene

From free Pilates in the Park to group courses and one-on-one sessions, there are a number of Black-centered options in Atlanta
Pilates instructor Dr. Tanya Stephenson instructs attendees at the StretchATL studio in Buckhead on Thursday, February 27, 2025. 
(Miguel Martinez/ AJC)

Pilates instructor Dr. Tanya Stephenson instructs attendees at the StretchATL studio in Buckhead on Thursday, February 27, 2025. (Miguel Martinez/ AJC)
By Jewel Wicker - For the AJC
April 3, 2025

For many in Atlanta, April brings the promise of warm weather. It also ushers in the return of Pilates in the Park, a weekly fitness event that takes place in Grant Park with Khetanya Henderson at the helm.

Henderson says each weekly event attracts between 75 to 100 people, ranging in ages from 7 to 70. At the events, she leads the group through various movements, with the idea that if they come regularly they’ll learn enough to practice Pilates outside of class.

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Pilates instructor Dr. Tanya Stephenson instructs attendees at the StretchATL studio in Buckhead on Thursday, February 27, 2025. 
(Miguel Martinez/ AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez

Pilates instructor Dr. Tanya Stephenson instructs attendees at the StretchATL studio in Buckhead on Thursday, February 27, 2025. (Miguel Martinez/ AJC)

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I“ ot ot siht sgniht eht ”.elpoep .deen evah yppah evig lla m’I I

ExploreFeeling stiff but hate yoga? There’s a new way to stretch

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tI“ er’uoy uoy htiw s’tahw ew yaw saw tnaw ot ot ot ot ”,sevlesmeht eht hcet emoh-ta-yats ehs .dias yllaer yllaer .ycnangerp gnitovip fo fo wen ym .rehtom smom ,mom ydob-dnim em evol tol ekil si ni ni evig teg morf rof llif llef gnileef gnileef ,detelped puc noitcennoc nommoc reerac htrib gnimoceb kcab ybab dna dna gnoma retfa retfa a a a a a a a setaliP ylrebmeK enaeD retfA

woH“ flesruoy ?uoy uoy uoy tahw ssenllew saw emit ”.gniht taht taht ruop ,em ekam kool ?ekil otni rof seod od od kcab dna woH roF

KKRU's Khetanya Henderson hosts the free Pilates in the Park event every week, beginning in the spring.

Credit: Courtesy of Khetanya Henderson

KKRU's Khetanya Henderson hosts the free Pilates in the Park event every week, beginning in the spring.

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,sey ot ot eht eht eht oiduts ehs tes .evres renwo tuo don eman si lanoitnetni ytinummoc na ,dedda dnA

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htiw gnitfilpu ,gnidnatsrednu .dias no tem srotcurtsni t’nsah sucof neeb syawla ehT trebreH kcalB

etihW“ yhW‘ I‘ ruoy uoy saw dnatsrednu eht .taht ?ecaps ehs .dias elpoep elpoep nwo no fo deen ym ,ekil ,ekil ni ’.ereh ”’,ereh dnah od t’ndid tnuoc nac tnuoma er’uoY er’yehT I kcalB dnA

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I“ tnaw ot ot ot ot hguorht taht ffuts ehs tsuj evah og teg t’nod lla .dedda ”,setaliP

krow saw ot emit eht eht eht eht eht naht enecs enecs .ylsuoiverp ,evitcepsrep eno fo hcum devom erom ekil sih d’eh dah morf sklof decneirepxe esrevid detifeneb kcab dna ydaerla ydaerla nosnilmoT .nosnehpetS trebreH morF yB ,atnaltA

erehT“ erew naht stneduts .dias stnapicitrap erom tol ni eh dna a ”,ogacihC kcalB kcalB

sraey lliw ,yaw ot siht rieht eht ylno srotcurtsni esaercni ytivisulcni ni sih eh evah wollef .emoc dna fI


siht seirots ruo rehto fo rettelswen erom pihsrebmem rebmem ekil ni eerf rof .stifeneb dna a LTAU emoceB

no no dna ,X LTAU koTkiT .margatsnI wolloF ,koobecaF

About the Author

Jewel Wicker is a native Atlantan who has covered hip-hop in the city for publications such as GQ, Pitchfork and Vice.