Nicole TarroNicole

Pilates Teacher

Nicole’s journey with Pilates began in her youth as a dancer, where the method evolved into a vital tool for managing injuries, meeting performance demands, navigating two pregnancies, and handling the physical and mental challenges of daily life. This enduring relationship deepened her understanding of movement as both corrective and profoundly supportive, allowing her practice to adapt to her body’s changing needs over time.

With over 20 years of teaching experience, Nicole possesses a robust foundation in Pilates, movement science, and anatomy. She completed her Pilates training under Rael Isacowitz through BASI Pilates and Karen Clippinger at Cal State Long Beach, focusing on biomechanics, injury prevention, and dancer-specific training. Nicole later earned her Bachelor of Science in Dance Science and Choreography from San Francisco State University, where she taught and performed professionally. Her experience includes working with a diverse range of bodies, ages, and movement histories, further enriched by a 200-hour yoga teacher training at Yoga Tree in San Francisco.

Nicole’s teaching philosophy prioritizes care within the Pilates method. While inherently corrective, she believes Pilates is most effective when it aligns with the body’s current state. Her sessions emphasize accessibility, intelligent progression, and the restoration of healthy movement patterns, all while honoring the body’s existing capacity. The goal is to cultivate strength, stability, mobility, and functional awareness in a manner that is supportive, sustainable, and responsive.

Now based in Yucca Valley, Nicole is the founder of SOMA, where she teaches youth dance classes and develops movement-based programs. A California native and a homeschooling mother of two (Archer and Drew), she lives with her husband, Dan, and their dog, Ruby. Residing close to nature in the high desert profoundly influences both her personal life and her approach to movement, emphasizing balance, resilience, and long-term well-being.

Certifications

  • BASI Pilates Certification — 2001
  • PMA Certified Pilates Teacher — 2009
  • S. Dance Science & Choreography, San Francisco State University — 2011
  • 200-hour Yoga Teacher Certification, Yoga Tree, San Francisco — 2013