Engage your core
KAYLA PRINCIPATO • Mnd Bod Pilates
WORK • Tuesday Routine
KAYLA PRINCIPATO • pilates instructor • Mnd Bod Pilates
Neighborhood you work in: Wall Street
Neighborhood you live in: Williamsburg
It’s Tuesday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
I run Mnd Bod Pilates out of WSA on the 23rd floor, and I love getting in early before the day starts. First thing, I burn a little palo santo, spray down the mats with (a French brand I’ve been trying) Ofa Karri, and light a few candles. There’s always music playing, usually something soft and grounding, to ensure I’m feeling centered and ready for the day. I teach and train every day, so I’m always in person, moving, adjusting, and keeping the energy high.
What’s on the agenda for today?
My day is a mix of private Reformer sessions and group classes at Mnd Bod inside Water Lounge. I run a full schedule of classes designed to build strength through deep stabilizing core work, so whether it’s a private session or a group mat class, we’re focusing on control, breath, and connection. It’s a full day of movement, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
I’m heading to The Snail in Williamsburg with friends. The chef is from 4 Charles, so I know it’s going to be good. We’ll probably share a few dishes, and a dirty martini is always my order if I’m in the mood to drink.
How about a little leisure or culture this week?
I’m planning to check out Justine Koons’ Salon 94 exhibition. It’s a series of sculptures that explore form, fluidity, and the tension between structure and softness — very in line with how I think about movement. I love seeing work that plays with the human body in an abstract way.
What’s a recent big-ticket purchase you love?
I recently locked in a château in France for my Pilates, meditation, and restorative stretching retreat this June. I’m co-hosting with one of my best friends (who’s also an instructor), and making it official with the deposit made it feel real. Can’t wait to bring Mnd Bod to such a dreamy setting.
What NYC store or service do you love to recommend?
I’ve recently been loving Ricari Studios for lymphatic drainage — it’s the best reset, especially when I’m in back-to-back classes all day. I love The Sculptress, a London-based face sculptor. Sometimes she does pop-ups in NYC, and I’m always sure to book a treatment with her while she’s here.