About Layla Khashoggi

Primary Teacher Training: Madeline Black Pilates

Primary Certification: Madeline Black Pilates

Layla has been dedicated to Pilates since her first introduction to the method in 1987 - at that time driving a four-hour round trip to find a trainer for single sessions when none existed in Santa Barbara. Finally, Pilates instructors began to teach in the area, and in the late 1990's Layla was fortunate to discover Kristin Turner, now co-owner of La Playa Pilates. Layla has been strongly influenced by Kristin, a gifted instructor and insatiable learner herself, who has been a teacher, mentor and friend. With well over 1,000 hours of study together, Layla owes much of her Pilates perspective to Kristin.

Pilates plays a significant and central role for Layla, most importantly as it relates to optimum function in everyday life. She feels strongly that Pilates is much more than an exercise method that takes place in a studio, but rather a perspective one gains and employs in movement and mental focus throughout life. In short, Pilates is a way of being.

Layla continues to study Pilates from as many leading teachers as possible. She embraces the differences between styles, and enjoys analyzing the reasoning behind the original exercises and their variations. She has been especially impacted by workshops or private study with Rael Isacowitz, Madeline Black, Jean Sullivan, Peter Fiasca, Elizabeth Larkam, Sheri Berkowitz, Kristi Cooper White, and Jillian Hessel, among others.

In seeking an ever-deeper understanding of the human form and function, Layla completed a full body human dissection in 2009. She feels it to be one of the most influential experiences she has had which further drives her practice and pursuit of Pilates. In addition to her Pilates practice Layla satisfies her insatiable quest to find answers to health and wellness related questions by putting together articles, facts and fun information in a weekly blog called LK's Grab Bag.