Mike Chalfin

Mike Chalfin is a Certified Pilates Instructor through Body Arts and Science International (BASI), where he completed the BASI Comprehensive Teacher Training Course. He has also studied personal training through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) at California Healing Arts College in Los Angeles. Mike later joined the BASI faculty, teaching foundational Pilates coursework both locally and internationally, including in Vancouver, British Columbia, and Seoul, South Korea.

A lifelong athlete, Mike grew up in Palos Verdes, California, and attended the University of Oregon, where he competed and lettered in wrestling as an NCAA Division I athlete. After earning his degree in Sociology and Business and retiring from competitive wrestling, Mike found himself dealing with a number of persistent injuries and physical limitations accumulated over years of training and competition.

His path to Pilates began in an unlikely place. While serving for two years as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Kyrgyz Republic, Mike came across a book on Pilates. With limited access to fitness equipment, he began teaching himself the fundamentals and discovered an approach to movement that resonated with his athletic background. After completing his Peace Corps service, he traveled through Nepal and India, spending several months studying yoga and meditation. Ultimately, he found himself most drawn to Pilates and its emphasis on strength, alignment, control, and whole-body movement.

Mike returned to California in 2010 and pursued his Pilates certification. He has been teaching ever since. Through his own experience as an athlete and instructor, Mike understands how thoughtful movement and progressive strengthening can help people build more resilient, capable bodies. His approach combines the precision of Pilates with an athlete’s appreciation for strength, movement quality, and long-term physical performance.

Outside the studio, Mike enjoys surfing, trail running, climbing, pickleball, and backpacking throughout the mountains of the Pacific Northwest with friends.