We’re looking forward to introducing you to Yameli Rivas. Check out our conversation below.
Yameli, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
The first 90 minutes of my day are dedicated to preparing myself for teaching because I teach classes from Monday to Sunday, both online and in person, starting at 8 a.m. Those first moments are essential for me to find calm, get ready, and organize the flow of my sessions for the day. I like to take a few minutes to meditate and enjoy a cappuccino in peace, often reviewing class sequences or creating content for my work. My mornings are all about setting the tone for the day, ensuring that I approach each session with clarity, energy, and intention
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Yameli, and I started my professional life as a contemporary dancer. After suffering a severe lumbar spine injury, I discovered Pilates—a practice that not only allowed me to continue, in some way, with my artistic career but also opened an entirely new professional path that I am now deeply passionate about. Pilates brought healing not just to me, but to so many others I’ve had the privilege to work with.
I’ve been living in Miami for nine years; I’m originally from Venezuela. Here, I created Studio Yam—a name that, coincidentally, reflects both my own name and the mantra Yam, which is chanted to heal Anahata, the heart chakra. This felt like a perfect alignment, as my approach to Pilates focuses on healing body, mind, and soul, always from the heart.
My mission is to inspire and support women, especially those navigating menopause, injuries, or lifestyle-related challenges, offering low-impact training that is gentle yet powerfully effective. Today, I not only teach but also train instructors who share this vision, and I am excited to keep growing this project to reach and positively impact even more lives.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before the world told me who I had to be, I was deeply in love with movement—dance, choreography, and the pure joy of expressing myself through the body. I was always connected to art, literature, poetry, and film, but dance was my greatest passion. That connection to movement is still alive in me today, which is why I fell in love with Pilates—it gives me that same sense of creativity and flow. Beyond moving myself, I’ve always had a passion for teaching and witnessing how others benefit from what I share, whether it’s teaching someone to dance, guiding them into a profession through movement, or helping them heal through Pilates. Movement has always been my language and my way of connecting with others.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
I believe it taught me persistence. When you love something deeply, even if success doesn’t come as quickly as you want, you can’t just give up. It becomes less about who arrives first and more about endurance. That lesson of resilience has always kept me going and committed to what I do.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes, the public version of me is generally authentic, though I’d say in real life I’m a bit more playful and sarcastic. When I start talking about work, it’s like I enter a focused state of concentration—serious and fully dedicated—because what I do is very important to me.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace in the early mornings, when I wake up to absolute silence and the world is still dark. It’s my moment to fully recharge and gather strength to keep moving forward. Those quiet moments are filled with deep reflection, inspiration, and motivation to face the day ahead.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.studio-yam.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/studio_yam?igsh=MTlqYjNteDJpbGhteA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
