Leslie Oakley

About Me

Leslie is passionate about teaching Pilates and sharing the benefits of mindful movement with her community. She has been leading mat Pilates classes for adults and children for four years, drawing on comprehensive training in the Polestar method created by Dr. Brent Anderson. Leslie’s classes focus on evidence-based movement principles that enhance flexibility, strength, and balance. She currently teaches a weekly Zoom mat class from her home, as well as in-person reformer classes at the Southwind Farm Retreat Center. Leslie is also certified in the Petit Pilates method, a playful approach developed in France that brings fun, creative movement and foundational motor skills to children of all ages. With experience as a stay-at-home mom and homeschooling her eight children for over a decade, Leslie uses a nurturing and supportive style in her teaching. She adapts Pilates exercises to challenge each student appropriately, encouraging everyone to move beyond their comfort zone and enjoy lifelong movement. Her teaching philosophy is simple: movement should be fun. Leslie aims to inspire others to rediscover flexibility, strength, and balance that may have faded with age, showing every student that movement can be joyful and restorative. Outside the studio, Leslie treasures time spent hiking with her family, road biking with her husband, and crafting gourmet meals including homemade bread. She is also active in her community as the women’s ministry leader for her church in Pittsboro. Leslie offers mat classes on Wednesdays from 5:00–5:50 P.M. and is excited to extend her love of Pilates to new students each week.​