Former meteorologist Kimi Evans switched from forecasting the weather to owning her own Pilates studios where she creates supportive environments prioritizing physical and mental well-being.
Evans left her career as a former San Diego on-air meteorologist to open Honor Pilates in 2024 in La Jolla at 7734 Girard Ave., Unit A, while adding another location in Kearny Mesa, along with an existing location she owned in Pacific Beach. Her San Diego locations offer a variety of Pilates classes from beginner to advanced, all designed to improve strength, flexibility, and posture. Her studios are equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, and the classes are led by a team of experienced instructors.
“We pride ourselves on offering a safe, supportive, and uplifting space where you can focus on becoming the best version of yourself,” reads the website at honorpilatesstudios.com. “Our power Pilates class is 40 minutes of a high-intensity, low-impact workout designed to challenge your core, build strength, and increase your endurance, all while keeping the impact gentle on your joints.”
“Fitness is so much more than just physical movement – it’s about finding balance, healing, and fostering a positive mindset,” said Evans. “At Honor Pilates, we are cultivating a space where people can connect with themselves, challenge their bodies, and support their mental well-being.”
Discussing her transition from weather to exercise, Evans noted it was something of a natural progression. “I’ve been doing this for 15 years with a studio in PB,” she said, adding, “I was doing that along with the meteorology. And then I retired from news and wanted to open more studios. So here we are.”
What turned you on to Pilates? “I had injuries and found Pilates to be very helpful, but it was also very expensive, about $80 for a private session,” noted Evans, thinking, “This is not sustainable. And then somebody introduced me to group Pilates, and I realized this is the future.”
Then, Evans thought, “If I become an instructor – maybe I’ll save a few bucks. Then my brain jumped to, ‘If I open my studio, it would be free for me.’ Little did I know that opening your studio and running your own business leaves you without free time to do those things.”
Ultimately, said Evans, “I realized more people need access to something like this where they can do it for a reasonable amount of money and not have it be upwards of $100 each time they come.”
Evans added it was also very helpful that the group concept of teaching Pilates was new and not widespread early on.
Why do people choose Pilates? Answered Evans: “It’s less impact on your joints, and it’s a lot of core work all the time. If your core is strong, then the rest of your body can be strong. Because of that, and because you can get strength training, it’s like weightlifting while also doing balancing work. The bottom line is that it’s more bang for the buck. And you’re doing it safely.”
But there’s another aspect of Pilates drawing people to the discipline outside mere physical exercise. “It’s community, what people look for, and it’s what we provide,” said Evans. “They could be exercising at home or pretty much anywhere. Why do they come here to us? It’s because we offer a sense of community. We do a variety of events, like singles parties, where we just bring a variety of people together. We’re also very well known for the training program I’ve been offering.”
Evans also praised the “wellness focus” in San Diego. “A lot of people are into whatever is benefiting their physical as well as their mental and emotional health,” she concluded. “A lot of people ‘get’ it. But they just don’t do something about it until it’s too late.”
For more information, visit honorpilatesstudios.com.
HONOR PILATES
Where: 7734 Girard Ave.
Contact: honorpilatesstudios.com.
PILATES PLUS PACIFIC BEACH
Where: 1015 Turquoise St.
Contact: 858-274-7772.
Pilates is a type of mind-body exercise developed in the early 20th century and named for German physical trainer Joseph Pilates. He said the inspiration for his workout came to him during World War I while he was being held in an internment camp. During his four years there, Pilates worked on his fellow internees, developing his system of exercises intended to strengthen the human mind and body. He believed that mental and physical health were interrelated. Pilates described his method as “a mind-body exercise that requires core stability, strength, and flexibility, and attention to muscle control, posture, and breathing.”
His Pilates method was accomplished using a variety of equipment called “apparatus.” Each apparatus was designed to help accelerate the process of stretching, strengthening, body alignment, and increased core strength started by mat work. Eventually, Pilates designed other apparatuses, including the Cadillac, Wunda Chair, High “Electric” Chair, Spine Corrector, Ladder Barrel, and Pedi-Pole. Pilates published two books related to his training method: “Your Health: A Corrective System of Exercising That Revolutionizes the Entire Field of Physical Education” (1934), and “Return to Life Through Contrology” (1945).
