“You don’t need to be perfect, just be better than you were yesterday.”

I believe in a classical approach to Pilates. I believe in balance and breath especially when dealing with twins in-home schooling on Zoom. I believe in community, in focus, in falling down and laughing on your way up. I believe every human is stronger, better and more capable than they give themselves credit for. Your Pilates practice reminds you of all of this; Movement. Balance. Breath and Strength. I invite you to join me in this ever evolving journey.

— XO Dana Smythe

With over 20 years of teaching experience, Dana is known by her peers for her infectious laugh with a love for movement.  Being a teacher of teachers, she brings her students and clients an unprecedented amount of clarity and dynamic energy. If you have shared the teaching floor with her, you might have heard some of these phrases before. “Don’t take it too seriously, just move” or “When are you going to start having fun, smile, you’re teaching!”

Throughout her extensive career, Dana has taught Pilates workshops and classes internationally and has integrated Pilates into some of the finest health facilities and spas around the world.  She’s also been featured in numerous videos, DVD’s, and publications, including the Today Show, ESPN and the infamous Pilates Body by Brooke Siler. She has taught at Pilates Style Conferences, Pilates Method Alliance Conferences, and Body, Mind, Spirit Conferences, to name a few. Her private celebrity clientele has included devotees such as Sting, Trudie Styler, Hugh Grant, Mary-Louise Parker and numerous professional athletes.

She received a BFA from the Conservatory of Dance at Purchase College and was a professional dancer with the Kevin Wynn Collection in New York City for over seven years. Due to her own dance related injuries, Dana began studying Pilates. As a result of the tremendous success she had in dealing with her own body, Dana began her Pilates certification training, which was completed in 1998.

Early in her career, she joined Power Pilates in NYC and completed her Pilates certification in 1998.  Shortly thereafter she was certified as a senior level teacher trainer as well as appointed program director for all of Power Pilates certification programs worldwide. Dana is also a certified holistic health coach from the Integrative Institute of Nutrition.

Dana currently lives in Bedford, NY with her husband, Kenny, twins Alec and Jocelyn, and Bailey their Goldendoodle.