Folks We Love with Meghan Pickrell Ulloa, Kinesiologist and Pilates Movement Specialist
Tell us a little bit about your journey and how you’ve come to arrive here.
I spent my adolensece immersed in dance. Upon graduating with a degree in dance I wanted to use all of my insights and explorations in a practical way. I moved to San Fransisco and quickly began an apprenticeship with my current mentor, Carole Amend. I have been teaching pilates for 16 years and own Mind & Motion, Pilates and Beyond in Los Angeles. I love helping people move and understand their movement patterns. I have studied other healing modalities as well and have my master’s degree in kinesiology.
I met my husband through… my mother! (if you can believe that) and we have a beautiful 3-year old daughter, Henrietta.
Who’s in your family? Ages? Names?
My husband Carlos 49, Melina (my step-daughter) 22, Henrietta 3, and me 38.
How did you choose your kids names?
I liked that Henrietta is formal and classic but also has so many nicknames: Etta, Hattie, Henny and Henri so she can find her way with it.
Location?
Los Angeles
Occupation?
Kinesiologist/ Pilates Movement Specialist
What’s on your manifest board?
Shadow work! I’m in the thick of learning to express and love all sides of myself, even the dark ones. I think knowing and loving yourself is the first step in manifesting your true destiny.
Tell us some of your most loved ways to spend the day with your clan?
We have a family ritual: on Sunday evenings we bike over to Osteria La Buca, a local restaurant, for dinner. It’s about a 25 minute ride. We ride through such a beautiful part of Los Angeles and then get ride off our meal afterward. I also attend the farmer’s market with my daughter weekly- she loves getting a croissant. We also travel yearly to Germany to visit with Melina who lives there full time.
What are some silly/fun things that the kids do or say?
When Henri tells a story there’s always a point where she says, “…and suddenly…!” I must confess she loves talking about poo.
When you were a teenager what did you dream of? Do things look different?
I dreamt of becoming a ballerina! Things do look different but not in a disappointing way. The life of a ballerina is tough and I’m not sure I could sacrifice everything for my art. Finding a life’s work isn’t just about finding something that you enjoy doing but also about how that vocation shapes your time and life style. I love that my studio is just across the street from our home. I like finding balance between work and my family and I’m afforded that with my practice.
What are some things you really believe in?
I believe in the body’s ability to heal. I believe in the power of the mind. I believe there is something greater than ourselves at play.
Where do your passions lie?
Teaching and creating. Part of teaching is showing people that they have the power to shift their thinking and stress levels. I love teaching people about the body and how it moves. I also love story-telling and spent the latter part of my twenties in NYC studying and pursing acting. If I could create the perfect profession for myself it would involve a workshop with movement, story-telling and healing. Ooh, now that’s on my manifest board.
Has your relationship with your other half changed since having kids?
Yes. I think relationship is about change in general since part of growing is changing. Change is inevitable. Part of that change in the past three years has been opening our hearts and minds to another curious individual. We’ve definitely had to communicate more and it has brought us closer.
What are some of your favorite life lessons you’ve grown to love? (even if learning them at the time was hard)
There are no “for sures” in life. I actually think growing up is a process of unknowing… of letting go of our absolutions. When you’re in a scientific practice you believe in a right and wrong way. That rings true for me less and less. For a long time I thought, “this is the way to do pilates,” and treated it as an absolute. However, I don’t believe that anymore. We need to take into account physics: gravity and principles of mechanics. But we equally need to take into account that we are complex beings with nervous systems and an emotional history. Also everyone is in their process and it just be honored. But, trust me, at 20 I knew everything. 😉
What do you wish you could’ve told yourself when you were a teenager?
Trust the process
What do you find most challenging about being somebody’s parent?
That I am flawed and that my flaws will affect my daughter.
What do you want your kids to learn about the world?
I want Henri to be able to call upon the feeling and support of unconditional love, whether it be in nature, church or just sitting with herself. At any moment I want her to know that she has value and is loved.
What are 4 things you can’t live without as a parent?
Imagination time with my daughter, a cleaning lady, 8 hours of sleep, and chocolate
