Finding Me

By Tara Gordon

Three weeks before my picture-perfect New York City wedding, I walked away. I quit my corporate job, sold my apartment, and booked a one-way ticket to Tel Aviv. On paper, it looked reckless. In reality, it was the first time I’d ever truly chosen myself.

I grew up in the 80s and 90s with every privilege you could ask for—good schools, the right sports, the right camps, a neatly mapped-out path. But privilege came with strings and expectations. I followed the plan, yet I never really fit in.

In my 20s, I was a corporate recruiter and I co-founded a nonprofit I believed in with all my heart. The mission mattered, but the work rarely played to my strengths. 

My father and brother thrived in business; my mother quietly powered our family from behind the scenes. I admired all of them, but I wanted something entirely my own—where I could be both the visionary and the engine.

It wasn’t until those months abroad, wandering and thinking, that I realized there’s a difference between going through life and truly living it. When I came home, I decided—almost on a whim—to get certified as a Pilates instructor. I thought it would be a side gig while I wrote a book. Instead, it became my calling.

Teaching Pilates awakened a confidence I hadn’t felt before. 

I discovered my gift for helping people reconnect with their bodies and their strength. The work was tangible, immediate, and deeply fulfilling. After several years of teaching, I opened my first studio, 212 Pilates, in New York City.

Today, 212 Pilates is a thriving, spine-safe community where we keep group reformer classes small and offer accessible options for clients with back pain, osteoporosis, or pre/postnatal needs—without requiring them to disclose personal health details. We’ve expanded into a beautiful, larger space, built a loyal client base, and created a place where people feel truly seen.

Now, I get to guide new instructors through a certification program that didn’t exist when I started—mentoring them on a path that changed my life. 

What began as a “maybe” has grown into a career, a community, and a legacy.

My journey taught me this: the most powerful chapters often start when you step off the path you thought you were meant to follow.

Connect With Tara

Instagram: @_taragordon @212pilatesstudio 

TikTok: tara_gordon 212pilates