Hillary Davidson

Zoe sat down with Hillary Davidson, Newport woman and founder of Thrive Pilates, to talk about a life of travel, a fresh vision of wellness, and the seaside city we call Home.

At a glance

H: My journey toward Pilates started with hotel restaurant management, which parlayed into being a yacht chef. Working on yachts, and having access to fresh local foods, is what began my interest in food and healthy lifestyle.

When my husband and I settled in Newport and had children, I became land-based and started seeking out different fitness modalities. I tried bootcamps and got my personal trainer certification. Then, I had the opportunity to teach barre. 

“I found Pilates… it was a gentler form of fitness and I actually felt better than ever before.”

Through barre, I found Pilates. I found it was a gentler form of fitness and I actually felt better than ever before. It was easier on my joints. I was more flexible. That set me down my current track.

Let’s start with your upbringing.

H: I grew up in Connecticut, but we spent all our summers on Block Island. Then my family moved there year round for the second, third, and fourth grade, so I’m sort of half Connecticut and half Block Island.

My father was a pilot for American Airlines. We had a very cool upbringing. I am the youngest of four children, and on every school vacation, my parents would tell us to pack our bags for “somewhere warm” or “somewhere cold.” It was when air travel was special: we would get dressed up. Wherever the six of us could get on a plane, that’s where we went. We only knew if it would be warm or cold!

“I was never going to have a mainstream life or job.”

So that’s how I grew up. That’s what gave me my love for the sea, and island life. I was never going to have a mainstream life or job. There was always that sense of adventure. I’m the type who, when I see an airplane in the sky, thinks “where are they going!”

On Serendipity

When I was about 20 or 21, my father was flying with American Airlines to New Zealand, but they were planning to stop the route. Well, my father loved that country, and he said to me and my siblings, “I really want you to come to New Zealand!”

I was at that age: I didn’t have a lot of money... I was still in school... but all my siblings were going except me. I knew I had to go, but I kept trying to convince them to change the plan to visit Australia, saying, “we’re going all the way down there, can’t we stop into Australia? I don’t know anything about New Zealand.” And my family insisted, “No we’re going to New Zealand. And we’re going bungee jumping.”

We flew to New Zealand -- and we did go bungee jumping -- but it turned out that Queenstown, New Zealand is the most beautiful place on Earth. I remember arriving early for our flight home and standing outside, just soaking it in, and thinking, “Shame I’ll never be back here. Why would I ever be back in Queenstown, New Zealand?” And then I met Simon, [my husband, born and raised in New Zealand], three weeks later in the states.

What drew you to Newport?

H: The yachting community, originally. Simon and I had spent a lot of time here. We lived in a rental house here for a year while we were building a boat for work, and we started to delve into the community a bit.

We left with the new boat and spent that winter in the Caribbean. Then I got pregnant with Trevor, so we thought, “where is home base going to be?” And Newport just made sense.

Newport is such a great community for the yachting industry since there are so many people who understand the lifestyle. If we lived in Idaho, the people would ask, “your husband does what?” It is almost like the military: you have other women and a community that has your back, who all understand why you are here.

All three of my children were born at Newport hospital. I have the yachting connections. I have all the schools, and so many different networks in Newport. I have a history here now.

What do you like to do in Newport?

H: My favorite go-to is Fort Adams or the Cliff Walk, off season. I much prefer the second half: when you hit Ruggles and turn right toward Baileys. That’s my favorite.

And Sachuest. I love the Harbor. I love Gooseberry Beach: it has a special place in my heart. Ida Lewis Yacht Club. When we first came to town, we had friends who are a little older than us in the marine industry, and they said, “You want to be members of Ida Lewis: it is very unpretentious and it’s a great sailing club.” That’s been a huge part of our community here. The kids all grew up sailing there.

On Special Occasions

H: Clarke Cooke House is our go-to for any celebration: birthdays, anniversaries, Christenings, our special Christmas Eve. That’s our spot. I love the smells, the stuff on the walls -- it’s special for the sailing community. My birthday is August 15th when Sky Bar is open, so we’ll sit upstairs. In the winter, I love to be by the fire. They really take care of locals. 

Let’s talk about Thrive. How have you created a community that merges wellness and Pilates?

H: I always thought of myself as being healthy. I always ate well. I always exercised. In my world, that made me healthy. Then, I had a severe attack of vertigo and it was a real eye-opener. It was a life changer. I found the Institute of Integrative Nutrition (IIN) eventually and it made me look at my health through a broader lens.

The element that I found was missing in my holistic puzzle was stress management. I would say ‘yes’ to everything. I was always busy. I was always juggling five million things.

“The element that I found was missing in my holistic puzzle was stress management.”

I was in IIN at the time, and Pilates was happening just because I liked it. I wasn’t sure how they were going to work together. I was just trying to figure out where I was going.

I’m very pragmatic, and it’s not that I’m not spiritual, but I love how functional and tangible Pilates is. For me, the movement is a form of meditation. Meanwhile, I had all this knowledge from IIN that helped me understand and look at fitness in a different way. Pilates became that missing piece.

It was so enlightening to me. I wanted to share that with other people.

What are some choices you made about the studio to help define it?

H: I did make some conscious decisions. There are no mirrors. I found people in Barre class spend way too much time looking at themselves in the mirrors. And I’m not saying there isn’t a place for mirrors in Pilates: you sometimes need to see what you’re doing. But I didn’t want that to be a focal point.

I didn’t want a fixed clock on the wall because I want everyone to be present.

I didn’t want that feeling when you walk in and no one talks to each other. I try to introduce people when they come in so they feel welcome. Today, we had someone new from Philadelphia, so immediately I tried to spark a conversation about it so everyone would throw in what they know about the city, and right away she would feel included. I don’t think there are a lot of places anymore where people can find that sense of community. It was so evident through COVID when people weren’t getting out and they needed it.

“ When your fitness causes you stress, and your cortisol levels are up all the time, it is counterproductive.”

Everywhere I travel I go to studios. I went to so many studios that were small and packed with equipment. There was nothing zen-ful about them. They were chaotic and looked intimidating, almost like torcher chambers.

The environment sends a message. I want to convey that you can be really fit and not beat up your body. When your fitness causes you stress, and your cortisol levels are up all the time, it is counterproductive. A lot of times, you’re simply burning more calories so you’re eating more, and it becomes a vicious cycle. Here, I don’t ever want it to be stressful.

That being said, it’s not a stretching class.

How has the business evolved since you started it?

H: What I felt was missing in Pilates was the cardio. The rowing machine, I believe, is the best form of cardio: It’s easy on the joints. It encourages good posture. It’s hard.

The class was split in two and we would do intervals. There were eight machines: four reformers, four rowers. So 30 minutes, you would spend on rowers and mat work, and the other half on the reformer.

“It’s about practice, not perfection.”

But I had a few total reformer classes on the schedule, and those were always full. So we gravitated away from the rowers organically over time.

Have there been any other elements to Thrive’s evolution, or have you been pretty true to the founding ideas?

H: The camps -- we’re going through a bit of a transition. At the beginning, I made a policy that attendees had first rights to the next camp. To this day, they fill up fast and there is not a lot of turnover. I’m trying to figure out how to keep the people who have been very true to me… and offer them to more people.

We’ve been experimenting with camp themes since the start, but it’s always a combination of Pilates and a personal health exploration. The personal health part is about being mindful and looking at your overall wellness through a larger lens. The goal is to teach people that eating healthy is not complicated and you should not deprive yourself of anything you love; that you can form habits, but they don’t need to be rigid; that it’s about practice, not perfection.

Let’s talk about your daily rituals. Do you have anything you do everyday?

H: I have a smoothie every day. I don’t drink coffee so I am kind of, maybe, addicted to my smoothie. It is the one thing I miss when I travel. Generally, I put a banana, kefir (because I believe kefir definitely improves my gut. It works for me, not for everybody.), spinach or green kale, blueberries, usually a nut butter, hemp seed or chia for extra protein to sustain me, and coconut oil for brain health.

My mother had Alzheimer’s. It is a motivator in my life to stay healthy and keep my brain healthy. I don’t take a lot of supplements. My smoothie is my vitamin. If I have a day that is not as healthy as other days, I know I have already provided my body with all those nutrients.

I also love my animals. They are very calming. I like to create serenity in my home. I like flowers. I like candles. I like dim lights. My house is my den. Tea is also a ritual for me. I’m not a tea drinker who has it from a paper cup. I like to sit and enjoy my cup of tea if I’m reading. A day doesn’t go by without one.

I do Pilates most days, since for planning classes, I actually do the class. In order to cue, I need to know what you’re feeling. You never do a workout that I haven’t done myself. For cardio, I do the Peloton at home or the rowing machine.

On Cooking

H: I’m a big Trader Joes fan. I really trust the sources that they use, and it’s affordable and it’s a nice experience. They have a lot of good cleaning products. I even use a lot of their health and beauty products. So yes, I drive up there once a week. I’ve been doing that for years because I was feeding three kids. Even the girls in the studio know that I go all the time, so if they need something sometimes they tell me.

I tried to instill in my kids, and I think I have, eating healthy. I’ve always tried to stress that food is nourishment for the body. It is not about weight. It is fueling our body. They enjoy cooking now, and they enjoy that we sit down and have meals together. Meals have always been a big part of our family life.

On happiness and health

H: I’m very particular about my quotes. I don’t randomly pick them. It takes me a long time to find and I keep the ones I like to share. There is one Josef Pilates quote that I feel so passionately about: He said everyone in the world should be doing this method, and the world would be happier and healthier.

“Everyone in the world should be doing this method, and the world would be happier and healthier.” —Josef Pilates

It is so true. I firmly believe that Pilates makes you happy. For many reasons. That’s not hoak-y. It makes you stand taller, so you can breathe better.

Josef Pilates was a pioneer and his practices are so relevant today. He believed you should take a full breath in, and a full breath out, to avoid accumulating junk at the bottom of your lungs. He taught people to develop the muscles to keep the spine strong and tall. He also looked at body awareness, at food, at lifestyle. He even used to teach people how to take a shower. It was a true holistic approach.

Zoe: He was looking at the full picture.

H: 100%.

I would like to thank Hillary for her friendship and mentorship, also for welcoming me and Mo into her home for the weekend, sharing some of her story, and spending hours with me chatting about life & wellness. - Zoe

Interview by Zoe Simanski. Photos by Maurisa Mackey. Edited by Mersina Simanski.