How her fitness mission in the Navy turned into another mission in Miami
Wellness is a way of life for Wynwood-based Pilates instructor Shay Williams. The Navy veteran vividly remembers the moment that she found her purpose: when she taught her first Pilates class.
“I realized that this was something that I knew I wanted to do,” said Williams, 34. “I had gotten certified only a week or so prior to that, so I didn’t waste any time.”
For her first class in the winter of 2024, Williams held a free event at a South Beach clothing store. She bought a $150 charcuterie board and wine for the seven guests. Her husband, Mason Hinkle, shot video.
Now, some of her classes draw 300 people.
Williams was deeply involved in sports as a kid growing up in Dallas. She played basketball and volleyball, and was also a cheerleader. After graduating from high school in 2009, she moved to Fort Lauderdale to attend Nova Southeastern University.
About a semester into her freshman year, Williams knew that she had to pick a different path than studying pre-med.
“I felt like I wasn’t doing my purpose immediately, and I really wanted to, which is why I joined the military,” she said.
A fit life in the Navy
Williams’ mother drove to Nova Southeastern’s Davie campus from Dallas to pick her up, and Williams visited a Navy recruiter when she got back to her hometown.
On her Navy ship, Williams was one of the instructors responsible for making sure that everyone aboard was physically fit for duty. There were fitness tests twice a year, and Williams was focused on making sure her fellow sailors passed them.
During her four years in the Navy, Williams saw places around the world that she never envisioned as a girl growing up in Dallas’ Oak Cliff section. She was aboard her ship for up to seven months at times, and traveled to South America, Africa and Europe.
“Dublin, Ireland, was a great place to go,” she said. “Belize was beautiful.”
While seeing the world was a joyful experience for Williams, it would soon run its course. She left the Navy in 2014. She transitioned into a career in health care and continued her wellness journey. In December 2022, she moved with Hinkle to Miami Beach.
Williams lived two blocks from Ocean Drive and enjoyed being around other active people. Some of the people that William met were yoga instructors, and that motivated her to have wellness events.
South Beach beginnings
She often rollerbladed through South Beach or met other people while doing yoga outside. Some days, she met new people while walking her dog.
On any given day, Williams relished being able to exercise outside around other people and prioritizing wellness. When she and her husband moved back to South Florida, she didn’t have any friends. But her new wellness community changed that.
Johanna Thompson — a Pilates instructor known as “Jungle Johanna” who has 117,000 Instagram followers — drove Williams to get certified as a Pilates instructor in January 2024.
“She’s a fellow brown girl,” Williams said.
Thompson told her: “We need more of us. And you bring something so different.”
“That motivated me,” Williams said.
And that’s when Pilates — the workout that builds strength and flexibility through specialized movements — changed her life.
Leader of the class
At the urging of Thompson and other friends, Williams led her first class at a South Beach clothing store. After the class, she began running other Pilates events across Miami.
Almost two years later, what started as a side hustle no longer requires funding via her day job as a healthcare business consultant.
“I’ve been blessed enough to just really meet a lot of great people and word of mouth is amazing,” she said.
Opening opportunities for others
Making sure Pilates is accessible to people of all financial backgrounds is important to Williams. She takes pride in being able to balance her pop-up events, workshops and events at retreats with free programming.
Williams wants to see other Black women in Pilates classes. She hopes expensive classes don’t block anyone from leading healthy lives, so she often offers free or $10 classes.
“When I was younger, I knew that I wanted to do something bigger than me,” she said. “I knew that something was helping others, and it is very important to me.”
Williams plans to build on her success and continue leading more Pilates classes throughout South Florida and organizing more events. She hopes others can find the joy in health and wellness that has become a vital part of her lifestyle.
“Pilates is about freedom to be who you want to be,” she said, “and do what you want to do.”
This story was originally published November 10, 2025 at 2:52 PM.
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