Isabele Sanden

Unbreakable: Forged Through Fire, Fueled by Purpose

What inspired you to open your pilates studio?

Before opening my studio, my career was rooted in medicine. I worked with a division of Johnson & Johnson as an anti-infective and analgesic specialist, partnering with orthopedic surgeons, infectious disease physicians, hospitals, and primary care providers. My focus was helping patients recover from serious infections and manage pain—where healing was primarily approached through medication.

While that work was meaningful, my life shifted when my third child was born. I stepped away from my career to focus on raising my children—something I deeply valued. During that chapter, I was also navigating an abusive marriage. When my youngest turned four, I found the courage to leave and begin rebuilding my life as a single mother of three.

Not long after, I was invited to a Pilates class at a small studio in Seattle—and that moment changed everything.

The experience was transformative. The movement was precise and elegant, the breath calming, and the reformer both supportive and challenging. For the first time, I felt exercise not just as physical effort, but as something deeply restorative. But the impact went far beyond the physical. Pilates helped me rebuild confidence, calm, and resilience during one of the hardest seasons of my life.

In my previous career, I had helped people heal through medicine. In that moment, I realized there was another powerful path to healing—one rooted in movement, breath, and connection. I knew almost immediately that I wanted to dedicate my life to helping others experience that same transformation.

That single class led me to become a Pilates instructor and, in 2018, open my own studio—an intentional space where people can reconnect with their bodies, rediscover their strength, and find calm. Today, it’s more than a studio. It’s a place where people come to restore, recalibrate, and recharge—and often leave with something even more meaningful: confidence, clarity, and a deeper connection to themselves. Because when people feel strong in their bodies, they move through life differently.

You’ve walked through some incredibly difficult chapters—what has those experiences taught you about strength and resilience?

My strength has been shaped through some of the most difficult seasons of my life. I’ve faced an abusive marriage, fought breast cancer during the uncertainty of COVID, undergone back surgery, and spent years navigating the courts to protect my children. Those experiences tested me in every possible way.

In those moments, doubt and exhaustion are very real. What carried me forward was clarity of purpose—my children. When your purpose becomes protecting and guiding something more precious than yourself, you discover a level of courage you didn’t know you had.

I was raised in the Quaker tradition, which teaches that there is an “inner light” within each of us. Instead of searching outward, we’re encouraged to turn inward—to listen for that quiet, guiding wisdom. When life feels overwhelming, that’s where I return. I pause, breathe, and listen. From that place, I find clarity, perspective, and the strength to keep moving forward. What I’ve learned is this: strength isn’t something you either have or don’t have. It’s something you uncover—again and again—when you choose courage, purpose, and trust in yourself.

If you were handed a million dollars tomorrow to invest in your business, how would it change the way you work—if at all?

In the ways that matter most, it wouldn’t change anything. It wouldn’t change how I teach, my commitment to my clients, or the mission behind my studio: to create a space where people can reconnect with their bodies, calm their minds, and rediscover their strength.

Recently, a client shared something I’ll never forget. She lives with sensory sensitivities and finds most fitness environments overwhelming—the noise, the energy, the pace. She told me that when she walks into the studio, everything shifts. It feels calm. Safe. Like she can finally turn inward instead of bracing against the outside world. Then she said, “This place feels like a sanctuary.” That moment reinforced everything I’m doing with this business.

If I had those resources, I wouldn’t change the mission—I would expand it. I would create a permanent, intentionally designed space that feels like an oasis from the noise of everyday life. A place where every detail supports calm, movement, and connection. Because Pilates is more than a workout. It’s where people come home to themselves.

What mindset keeps you grounded through the ups and downs?

When life becomes uncertain or overwhelming, I don’t look outward for answers—I turn inward. I pause, breathe, and listen for that quiet voice that offers clarity and direction. There is an inner light within each of us.

I also often reflect on Footprints in the Sand. The idea that in life’s hardest moments—when it feels like you’re walking alone—you were actually being carried. Looking back, I can see that clearly now. The moments I thought I was simply surviving were the moments I was being guided forward.

For me, staying grounded means remembering that we are never truly alone—and that strength, clarity, and support are always available when we slow down enough to reconnect with ourselves.

Who has shaped your definition of leadership—and what did you learn from them?

There have been many. Some were teachers who shaped my early confidence and curiosity. Others were professional mentors who modeled integrity and thoughtful leadership. I’ve also been deeply inspired by women like Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey, and Rachel Maddow—women who use their voices, intellect, and platforms to elevate others.

What they all share is a commitment to lifting people up. They lead not by standing above others, but by helping others see what’s possible. That, to me, is true leadership.

What’s a ritual that keeps you focused and feeling like yourself?

I believe in small daily rituals. During my divorce, someone told me: You cannot truly take care of others unless you take care of yourself. Over time, I’ve come to understand just how true that is.

For me, it starts with something simple—a quiet cup of coffee before the day begins. I take a few moments for myself, care for my skin, and do a gentle lymphatic massage. It’s a small act, but it grounds me. It reminds me to begin the day with intention and self-respect.

My grandmother had her own version. She used to say, “I never walk out the door without my lipstick.” Not out of vanity—but as a way of honoring herself.

I see these rituals as acts of self-love. Because when we start the day feeling grounded and cared for, we carry that energy into everything—and everyone—around us.

Isabele Sanden is the founder and CEO of Breathe Pilates Studio, an elite boutique pilates, yoga, and barre space in Lakewood, Colorado. A third-generation Fletcher Pilates instructor and certified exercise oncology specialist, she blends science, movement, and intention to create deeply transformative wellness experiences. As a breast cancer survivor herself, she is especially passionate about supporting individuals navigating cancer—helping them build strength, resilience, and a sense of control through movement.

Reprints of Boss Babes Magazine featuring Isabele Sanden on the cover are available through our on-demand print vendor.