PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES TRUST NINA SMITH AND GRATZ

Working with professional athletes is a distinguished niche that calls for the best Pilates instructors and apparatus. Professional athletes' bodies are their livelihood. The physical and mental demands are high. Their achievements are unparalleled, their dedication inspiring, their setbacks humbling. Safety is paramount and trust is essential. Pros must have confidence that their instructor is highly credentialed, knows how to work with their bodies, and will deliver results. Elite athletes seek out Nina Smith, owner of Muse Pilates in Scottsdale, Arizona, and Gratz apparatus.  

Why Nina? 

My standards are the highest and unwavering. I have a thorough understanding of body mechanics and a trained eye that only comes with years of experience teaching athletes every day. I know sports dynamics and complexities, the Pilates nuances that maximize athletic potential, and the importance of communication. I have vast experience working with men and women of various heights, weights, imbalances, injuries and compensations. I consult with athletic trainers, complement daily training regimens, review plays and training videos, and am accessible and accommodating with scheduling. This collaboration, plus complete focus to detail, creates transformational physical results.  

To me, respect between instructor and pro is key. Pros trust me with their biggest asset - their bodies. I take this honor seriously. In my studio, they have privacy and confidentiality. Our professional relationship often spans years of their careers, and they share their vulnerabilities with me. Nothing leaves our session. Pros show up laser-focused and ready to work hard. We work at dawn, late at night, between games, when they are in town for a few hours, and even when they are exhausted. Through injuries and frustration, we persevere. I support my pro clients on the course, field, and courtside. I do not ask my clients for endorsements or disclose who I work with. 

Why Gratz?  

The engineering and quality craftsmanship, simplicity and safety, fit and feel, functionality and durability. I can confidently put a 300 lb. or 6'9" professional athlete on Gratz apparatus, and the Gratz connection amongst the Classical Pilates community helps my clients find proper studios as they travel. 

How did I begin training professional athletes? 

I am from Chicago, where I was a figure skater. A relative was part owner of the Bulls and White Sox, which gave me insight into the world of sports. Throughout my life and legal career in California and Arizona I developed relationships with NFL, MLB and NBA players that ignited my desire to focus my Pilates business on athletes. I began teaching pro athlete/celebrity couples in my studio, and my business catapulted from there via their referrals. 

Scottsdale is home to many ball players and is a golf hub that hosts the annual Open. My clientele includes NFL, MLB, LPGA/PGA, NBA, Hockey, Volleyball, Soccer and Tennis players, Triathletes, Bodybuilders and Swimmers, among others. I partner with athletic training facilities, coaches and doctors, offer offseason packages, host sports injury prevention workshops, and run a Pilates program for high school athletes. I also receive referrals from esteemed colleagues who teach pros. There is immense value in having a supportive Pilates community.   

What do sessions typically look like? 

First and foremost, we communicate about the body and mindset. Sessions differ based on need. If the pro is energetic and ready for a vigorous workout, we cover specific requests to boost sports performance. Pre-game warm up sessions involve more stretch and mobility work. My sessions complement athletic training. If it has already been a heavy lifting day, we focus more on recovery. Sometimes the pro needs hands-on feedback, stretch after travel, or a quieter session to decompress. If the pro sustained injury, we address that. I work with every type of injury, from sprains to ligament tears to broken bones. This includes knee and hip replacements, shoulder and elbow surgeries, and spinal fusions. I keep my clients moving safely pre and post-surgery, using their strengths and their stabilizing muscles, so that they can return quickly to full optimization. 

Workouts are sport and position specific, but avoiding injury is crucial for all athletes to perform optimally. They need sustained flexibility and mobility. Athletes can appreciate the precision and form required in Pilates, like in their sports. Many aspects of every sport can be enhanced with Pilates.  

With explosive sports like basketball, we focus on core strength and dynamic movement. We address hip, knee, and ankle alignment for dribbling; Upper body, back, and shoulder mobility for shooting; Coordination for passing; Footwork for blocking and stealing; and Foot articulation for landing softly when jumping and rebounding.  

Baseball players pitch and hit with their whole bodies, not just their arms. They work from their backs and abdominals. We work the core for stability, power, and rotational movement; Hips for base running speed and agility, and pitching/hitting rotation; Legs and hamstrings for hitting and throwing; Shoulders to increase throwing velocity and accuracy; and Grip for bat control and throwing ability. 

Workouts for football and soccer players involve more ankle and foot work, and a lot of flexibility, mobility, explosive movement, and stamina. We do core, spine, hip, back and shoulder stabilizer work, injury prevention, and recovery. Football players especially appreciate the flexibility that Pilates offers and the new challenges it provides.  

Golfer sessions target hip stability, mobility and rotation, thoracic opening and rotation, wrist and grip strength, addressing imbalances from repetitive asymmetric twist motion, posture and alignment.  

Volleyball players work stabilizing muscles and power. Hockey players and figure skaters do more lateral, balance, and range of motion work. Bodybuilders often need side body work and request fine-tuning for competitions. Swimmers need the weighted resistance of the springs. The list goes on, but the body awareness that Classical Pilates fundamentals provide is beneficial to all. I emphasize the importance of maintaining functional movements outside of the studio. 

Which apparatus best supports their specific needs? 

I use all the Gratz apparatus with my clients. Many of my pro athlete clients are 6'5" -  6'10," so I equipped my studio with the longer Gratz 89" Reformers for a more custom fit. The reformers help them find body awareness and flexibility. The Jump Boards teach foot articulation and soft landing so that ball players learn to jump higher with less impact on the body.  

We spend a lot of time on the Cadillac because of its versatility, especially for stretching and rotation. It teaches athletes to feel grounded and offers robust spring feedback. We use the Push Through Bar with assistive touch for deeper, supported stretches for recovery. The Roll Back Bar assists with articulation and core connection. The Arm Springs aid grip strength, and we use them to work balance and upper body strength. We use Leg Springs for strength and flexibility, and Foot Loops to stretch and hang. Mat work is done on the Cadillac for optimal spotting access. 

The Small Arm Chair helps my athletes connect the core to the arms. The lesser spring tension can be quite useful. We use the Wunda and High Chair for strength, balance, stamina, and targeted stretch. The Push Up Device is a great tool for challenges, especially since it takes pressure off the wrists. 

The Ladder Barrel is a favorite for extension and flexion of the spine and leg stretches. The Small Barrel and Spine Corrector stretch and open the upper body. I incorporate the Neck Stretcher to stretch and strengthen the neck to protect it from impact on the field and court.  

I use the Foot Corrector for feet, ankle, and toe issues. The feedback helps correct alignment and strengthen arches, and it improves connection to the foot bar and pedal. The Toe Exerciser teaches connection from the feet into the hips and abdominals.  

The professional athletes I work with on Gratz apparatus have marked improvements in their bodies and games.  

To book with Nina on Gratz: 

E-mail nina@musepilates.com 

Website musepilates.com 

Instagram @musepilatesscottsdale  

Copyright 2026 Nina Smith. All Rights Reserved.