10/09/2026
Hello! I’m Jelena, and if you don’t know me, I am the founder of Smartbody Pilates Studio, together with my partner in life, Patrick Johnson • Alexander Technique Amsterdam.
I started the studio on this beautiful spot on Prinsengracht 20 years ago. It was Amsterdam’s first Pilates studio!
I have 2 boys, Owen, who is 19 and a student at UVA, and Milan, 16, a serious football player and high school student. They were both born and raised in Amsterdam and probably feel a bit more Dutch than American: ☺️
What does a studio owner do? The list is very long, but it includes teaching all kinds of clients, marketing, ordering things, practicing Pilates, grading final exams (Smartbody also has Teacher Training programs), travelling to workshops, organising retreats and planning the group class schedule.
I love Pilates and practice it at least 3 times a week. I study with a teacher in a faraway land (via zoom) and love that Pilates still challenges every cm of me! I also train my body in other modalities, like running, resistance training and swimming.
Basically, the studio was always my excuse to move as much as possible! 🤸🏻♂️
Do you have anything you’d like to ask me about??
Drop a comment below. 😉