Pilates Instructor Alexa Kanj Finds Strength and Balance in San Diego Country Estates
Alexa Kanj, SDCEA resident and owner of Align Pilates and Wellness, is empowering residents of all ages to build strength, balance and mental well-being through mindful Pilates practice and community connection.
Pilates instructor Alexa Kanj, who lives in San Diego Country Estates, is helping community members of all ages build strength, improve balance, and enhance mental well-being through mindful movement both in the studio and beyond.
“My family has been living in the estates for the last six years now,” says Alexa Kanj, owner of Align Pilates and Wellness in Ramona. “My Mom and her husband found a beautiful gem right off Calistoga that has a great view of the valley.”
Kanj has practiced Pilates for 12 years and has been teaching for eight. She first tried the discipline at age 14 and later deepened her studies in college, where she earned a Minor in Pilates alongside her Bachelor of Arts degree in Kinesiology.
“Once I experienced my first Pilates class and learned the principles behind it, I felt it embodied what I believe in finding alignment within the mind and body,” Kanj said. “After feeling the benefits myself, I knew I had found my passion.”
Pilates is a low-impact form of exercise that focuses on strengthening the body’s deep stabilizing muscles, particularly the core. Through controlled, precise movements performed on a mat or specialized equipment such as a Reformer, participants improve posture, balance, flexibility, and functional strength.
Unlike high-intensity fitness programs that emphasize calorie burn, Pilates centers on alignment, muscular balance, and injury prevention. It also incorporates intentional breathing techniques that strengthen the mind-body connection and help reduce stress.
“The mind-body connection is foundational in Pilates,” Kanj explained. “It requires moving with focus and control rather than going through the motions. That awareness strengthens not just your body, but your coordination and nervous system regulation as well.”
Kanj said Pilates can benefit nearly every age group. Children and teens can develop coordination and body awareness during critical growth years. Busy parents can benefit from short sessions at home or 45-minute studio classes. Aging adults often see improvements in posture, balance, and mobility — skills that naturally decline over time.
After just one month of consistent practice, many participants report fewer aches and pains, improved alignment, and a clearer, calmer mindset, she said.
“It’s a feel-good exercise,” Kanj said. “Every class is different, so it stays interesting. And it gives people a small part of their day to focus entirely on themselves.”
Outside the studio, Kanj also enjoys golfing at San Vicente Golf Resort. She began playing about three years ago after joining clinics with women from her studio and has since developed a passion for the sport. She regularly participates in events such as Nine and Wine and Twilight rounds during the summer.
Kanj notes that golf and Pilates complement one another.
“Both require attention to technique and body awareness,” she said. “They challenge your spinal rotation, core strength, balance, and mobility. There’s always room for improvement in both.”
Through her teaching and involvement in the community, Kanj continues to promote wellness and connection in Ramona by helping residents build strength, confidence and balance both on the mat and in daily life.
