Today we’d like to introduce you to Isabel Resch.
Hi Isabel, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I didn’t realize I was losing a part of myself until I stopped moving.
After years of staying active, I fell out of my 5 a.m. gym routine. #COVID. Michigan’s long winters made it easy to stay in bed instead of bundling up to work out, and without a specific goal to chase, that discipline slowly faded. Movement had always been a part of my life, even if, for much of it, it came from navigating life in a larger body and trying to stay healthy.
Everything shifted in April 2024 when I came across an ad for a $10 community reformer Pilates class for an instructor in training. The studio was right around the corner from my work, so I figured I’d give it a try. I was immediately humbled and completely hooked. I knew I had to go back and get better.
Within a month or two, I upgraded from drop-in classes to an unlimited membership. Over the next eight months, Pilates became part of my daily life, and I lost nearly 40 pounds. After more than 150 classes, I realized this was more than just a workout, I wanted to teach. I wanted to share this practice and show other women, especially those who look like me, that you don’t have to fit a certain mold to be strong, capable, or even to teach Pilates.
When I first applied to my studio’s instructor training program, I didn’t get in due to limited spots. Instead of stopping there, I found another program, signed up, and unknowingly took my first step toward building what would become Casa Pilates.
On Valentine’s Day 2025, during a snowstorm, I convinced my husband to go with me to a market at Vámonos in Mexicantown. I knew they hosted events and fitness classes, and I wanted to take a chance and ask about renting their space. That night, I met Denisse, and she said yes. On Tuesday, March 4th, I taught my very first Pilates class.
From there, I started offering weekly $15 community classes. I invested in STAKT mats and weights and showed up week after week, providing everything people needed to move. When the weather warmed up, I began hosting free Pilates in the Park classes. At our first one, over 100 people showed up. You could barely hear me or the music, but none of that mattered. We showed up, moved together, and most importantly had fun. That’s when I realized I had found what I’d been missing: a true sense of community through accessible movement.
I built Casa Pilates to show women (especially women who look like me) that you don’t have to wait to feel ready or fit a certain mold to belong in fitness.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I often like to say I’ve been lucky and blessed throughout this journey. However, lately, I’m learning to acknowledge the amount of work, sacrifice, and persistence it’s taken to build this community.
If I’m being honest, my initial Pilates certification didn’t give me everything I needed. I had to invest a lot of extra time and money into additional trainings, self-practice, and taking another 150+ classes at studios across Michigan and even while traveling. Looking back, I wish I had a mentor to guide me toward the right programs and resources early on.
At the same time, I was (and still am) balancing a full-time job as an engineer and pursuing my MBA at Wayne State. Pilates had to fit around that schedule. What started as one Tuesday evening class grew into early morning sessions at 6 a.m. and eventually multiple evening classes throughout the week. I was constantly transporting mats and weights in my car, unloading and setting up for every single class.
Then in July 2025, I took a huge leap and signed a lease for a 6,000-square-foot building in Downriver where I grew up. From August through October, every spare moment went into renovating the space, alongside my husband, mom, and sisters.
Even now, the studio isn’t perfect, and that’s okay. What makes it special is the community behind it. People have shown up, supported the vision, and grown with me as we continue to build and evolve Casa Pilates together.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Casa Pilates?
Casa Pilates was inspired by my Mexican roots (Resch is my married name lol) and the warmth, inclusivity, and sense of home that’s such a big part of our culture. “Casa” represents more than just a space. It’s about creating an environment where everyone feels welcomed, supported, and comfortable showing up exactly as they are.
Today, we offer a range of classes including reformer Pilates, mat classes (both heated and non-heated), private Cadillac sessions and a dance class here and there. I’ve also built a team of incredible instructors, each with their own unique teaching style, but all sharing the same commitment to kindness, encouragement, and community.
What truly sets Casa Pilates apart is our focus on accessibility and belonging. From affordable class options to community events like Pilates in the Park, everything we do is centered around making movement approachable and inclusive.
Above all, I’m most proud of the community we’ve built. A space where people feel seen, supported, and empowered through movement.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Something that might surprise people is how much I love planning. Whether it’s engineering projects, vacations, or community events, I genuinely enjoy piecing everything together and bringing ideas to life as well as getting other small businesses involved.
I was also part of the Allen Park Festivities Commission for 10 years, where we organized the Allen Park Street Fair. That experience really shaped my love for creating community-centered events, which is something I still carry into Casa Pilates today.
Pricing:
- 1 Week Unlimited: $49
- Homebody Unlimited Everything: $220
- Casa Resident 8 Classes: $160
- Casa Guest 4 Classes: $85
- Mat Unlimited: $175
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.casapilatesstudio.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/casapilates.mi
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Casa-Pilates-61573619969407/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@casapilates.mi
