Carli Clesmere 
Kyra Balan is making moves as one of Jersey City’s newest business owners. As the founder of Cornerstone Pilates, a newly opened studio located at 344 Communipaw Avenue, Kyra is bringing a fresh, intentional approach to movement and wellness to the local community. We had the chance to connect with her to learn more about her journey, what inspired the launch of Cornerstone Pilates, and the vision she’s building from the ground up. Read on to learn more about Kyra and her new Pilates studio.
Meet Kyra Balan of Cornerstone Pilates
Jersey City local Kyra Balan, often called KB, has always been drawn to movement, wellness, and creating spaces where people feel both strong and supported. Now, she is channeling that passion into her own business as the founder of Cornerstone Pilates, a boutique reformer studio in the Communipaw and Bergen-Lafayette neighborhood. For Kyra, the studio is rooted in something much deeper than a typical business idea. “Cornerstone Pilates is truly a seed that God placed on my heart, and it’s been incredible to see it grow into something real for the community,” she shared.
At the core of Cornerstone Pilates is the philosophy “Move with grace, build with strength,” a mindset that shapes both the experience inside the studio and Kyra’s approach to everyday life. A Jersey City resident, Kyra lives locally with her husband and their doodle, and says being part of the community has made this journey even more meaningful.
Read More: 18 Unique Workout Classes to Try in Hoboken + Jersey City
What continues to drive Kyra is the impact she sees in her clients. “Pilates has a beautiful way of meeting people exactly where they are,” she explained. “It’s incredibly rewarding to watch someone leave class feeling stronger, more grounded, and proud of what their body can do.” For Kyra, the work goes far beyond physical fitness. She hopes to encourage others to stay consistent and take care of themselves in a way that builds confidence over time. “Movement isn’t just about physical strength. It’s about building resilience, patience, and confidence that carries into every area of life.” With Cornerstone Pilates, Kyra is focused on creating a space where both movement and community can grow together.
View this post on Instagram
About Cornerstone Pilates in Jersey City
Cornerstone Pilates reflects its mission in its name. A cornerstone is the foundation that supports everything that follows, and Kyra built her studio with that idea in mind. The approach is simple: movement builds strength through support, purpose, and joy.
The reformer studio is warm + inviting, combining expert instruction with mindful movement in a space that feels both peaceful and empowering. At its core, Cornerstone Pilates is a place where clients can feel grounded, confident, and at home in their bodies. Every class at Cornerstone Pilates ties back to the philosophy of moving with grace and building with strength, creating a foundation that supports you both on and off the reformer.
View this post on Instagram
The studio offers four class styles designed for all levels:
- Foundational Movement & Alignment: An introduction to Pilates + the reformer, focusing on breath, alignment, and controlled movement.
- Flow: A seamless, rhythmic class that connects movement + breath for a smooth, continuous reformer experience.
- Sculpt: A strength-focused class designed to challenge + refine, with an emphasis on coordination and control.
- Jumpboard Fusion: An energizing class that incorporates the jumpboard for low-impact cardio, with 10 to 15 minutes of rhythmic jumping to build endurance, coordination, and power while targeting the legs, glutes, and core.
Kyra shared with the HG team that the studio will offer free community classes and monthly events to make Pilates more accessible and bring people together. The goal is to create a space where clients can move their bodies and also stay after class to connect. Events include mini bouquet giveaways, Pilates + Plans journaling sessions, and Stretch + Sips with Sobrietea, where guests can enjoy mocktails after class.
See More: A Guide to Local Real Housewives of New Jersey Landmarks
As of now, the studio is running classes daily, with morning and evening time slots available, making it easy to fit in a session before work or unwind with a post-work flow. All in all, Cornerstone Pilates is shaping up to be an exciting addition to the Bergen-Lafayette community.
Follow @thehobokengirl on Instagram + TikTok for the latest Hoboken and Jersey City updates, sign up for our weekly newsletter here that shares everything you missed each week, and check out our events calendar, which has over 100+ events weekly to peruse.
