We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Shannon Barbaro a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Shannon, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

The Story Behind Pilates Lab & My Mission

Pilates Lab was born out of my own personal journey with pain, movement, and healing. As a child athlete and former figure skater, I developed chronic pain from years of high-impact training. Later, in my fast-paced tech career, I suffered from tech-neck, poor posture, and the physical toll of long hours at a desk. I tried everything to relieve the discomfort, but the only thing that truly worked for functional movement, strengthening, and long-term relief was Pilates.

Adding Pilates into my life was life-changing—not just for pain relief, but for postural correction, strength, mobility, and overall well-being. I realized that this was something everyone could benefit from, especially in modern life, where poor posture and chronic tension are so common.

After working in tech and taking a break to raise my kids, I knew I wanted to build something of my own—something aligned with my passions and future goals. I had always envisioned owning a small business, but I wanted it to be meaningful, innovative, and deeply rooted in science-backed wellness.

While visiting New York, I started using red and near-infrared light therapy for neck pain, inflammation, and autoimmune management. The results were incredible, and I knew this was the missing piece in the wellness space. When I opened my studio, I didn’t want it to be just another Pilates studio—I wanted it to be a modern, science-backed approach to movement, healing, and longevity.

To me, Pilates is the original form of biohacking.
If you break down the definition of biohacking, it’s anything that improves a living organism’s life—and Pilates does exactly that. It combines:

Strength training
Functional movement
Postural alignment
Pain relief and longevity

But I knew movement alone wasn’t enough. That’s why Pilates Lab pairs evidence-based Pilates with cutting-edge recovery modalities to create a trifecta of full-body wellness:

TheraLight 360 Full-Body Red & Near-Infrared Light Therapy – FDA-approved technology that supports cellular repair, reduces inflammation, and enhances recovery.

NuCalm Neuroacoustic Therapy – A science-backed system that reduces stress, improves sleep, and promotes deep relaxation.

Power Plate Training – A powerful vibration platform that builds muscle, increases bone density, and improves circulation.

This modern Pilates Biohacking approach means my clients don’t have to run around town to different specialists—they can get everything they need in one place. Whether it’s pain management, strength building, stress reduction, or overall health optimization, Pilates Lab is about providing the tools for long-term wellness and vitality.

That’s why this mission is so meaningful to me. It’s about giving people the opportunity to feel their best, move with freedom, and take charge of their health in a way that is effective, sustainable, and backed by science.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m passionate about helping people move better, feel stronger, and take control of their health at every stage of life. My journey in wellness has been driven by a deep desire to bridge the gap between movement, science, and longevity—which is why I’m currently completing a specialized wellness and training certification for perimenopause and menopause.

This certification allows me to better serve women 40+, helping them navigate changes in metabolism, bone density, muscle mass, and overall well-being with evidence-based strength training and functional movement. Too often, women in this phase feel dismissed by traditional fitness and healthcare spaces, but at Pilates Lab, we take a science-backed, whole-body approach to wellness.

Pilates Lab is different from any other Pilates studio because we focus on evidence-based movement rooted in traditional Pilates but updated for modern postural and societal issues. We layer on whole-body red light therapy and sound meditation for full pro-aging in both mind and body.

We are proud to be the only location north of LA offering TheraLight 360+ and NuCalm sessions—two powerful recovery tools that elevate our approach to wellness. TheraLight 360+ is the strongest photobiomodulation bed on the market, designed to reduce inflammation and pain, improve circulation, and support cellular repair and healing.

At Pilates Lab, we’re not just about movement—we’re about helping people optimize their bodies, feel their best, and age with strength, resilience, and vitality.

Can you talk to us about how you funded your business?

Funding Pilates Lab: How I Made It Happen

Starting a business in Southern California—where rents are at an all-time high and securing a business loan as a new owner is nearly impossible. Business loans not only come with high interest rates, but without an established credit history, banks simply weren’t willing to take the risk on me.

So, I had to get creative. I ended up investing much of my savings into Pilates Lab and relied on business credit cards with introductory 0% APR to finance the Pilates equipment—which is incredibly expensive.

I also took on many of the design and build-out responsibilities myself to cut costs. I acted as my own interior designer and my husband (huge shoutout to him!) put together all the equipment, hung mirrors, and handled countless projects that would have cost thousands if outsourced.

At first, the idea of emptying my savings and going into debt in my early 40s felt overwhelming and maybe even reckless—but then I realized, I’d regret not going for it even more. I had to shift my mindset to see debt not as a burden, but as a tool to build something bigger.

I find a lot of inspiration and relief from listening to podcasts like “How I Built This,” because it reminds me that the average age of successful founders and CEOs is in their 40s. This is the perfect time to pivot, take a big risk, and bet on myself.

We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.

Finding My First Pilates Teacher & Building an Amazing Team

One of the biggest challenges I anticipated before opening Pilates Lab was staffing—specifically, finding highly skilled and experienced Pilates teachers in Ventura. From working at other studios, I knew that talented Pilates professionals were hard to come by in this area.

I took a huge leap of faith opening the studio without knowing exactly who would join my team. What started as a team of one—with me teaching nearly every class—quickly grew into a strong, talented crew that shares my passion for evidence-based movement and wellness.

It really came down to trust—trusting that if I created a special, one-of-a-kind space, the right teachers would find their way to Pilates Lab and want to be part of it.

Funny story on how I met my first hire, Abbey! I was getting a spray tan (shout out to Kelsey at Sugar Beach House) and mentioned that I was opening a Pilates studio but struggling to find instructors to join my team. She immediately told me about another spray tan client who was a certified Pilates teacher with an incredible personality.

I connected with Abbey right away and we met for coffee. Instantly, we clicked. We shared the same vision and excitement for the kind of Pilates experience we wanted to bring to Ventura—one that was challenging, science-backed, and welcoming to all.

From that one conversation, the team started to grow. It’s been amazing to see how the right people continue to come into my life—drawn by the unique space, mission, and community Pilates Lab has built.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.pilateslabventura.com
• Instagram: @pilateslabventura
• Facebook: Pilates Lab Ventura

Image Credits

@wisebynicole