Awen Pilates studio is tucked into Pine Tree Circle. On May 8, it turned 3. There were familiar faces, barefoot conversations in the parking lot after class, and the particular warmth of the space that has slowly become part of people’s weekly rhythm commemorated the occasion. And with this anniversary, a new owner took the studio’s helm.
For Alana Lawrence, that warmth was something she recognized long before she ever imagined owning the place.
“There are very few spaces that make you feel immediately at home, as though some part of you recognizes what lives there before you can explain why,” she says. “That was Awen for me. From the first time I walked through the doors, there was a familiarity that stayed with me—not just in the studio itself, but in the feeling of the people inside it. There is a warmth here, a depth, and a true sense of community that can be felt the moment you walk in.”
Since officially taking over ownership, the Topanga-based instructor has stepped into a role that is equal parts demanding and deeply personal.
That kind of hands-on presence is something the people around her have come to recognize as distinctly Alana. Amanda Weir, friend and founder of shop Abierto in Malibu, has watched her show up this way for years.
“She is observant, sensitive, and holds a perspective of—let’s get through this and come out stronger,” Weir says. “Her wisdom and intuition on the body and mind comes from both years of practice and from being a person who isn’t afraid to ask questions and learn.”
The road to ownership was not linear. Those close to Alana know she navigated this transition during a season that demanded a great deal—motherhood, personal reinvention, and the quiet, unglamorous work of rebuilding.
Her background blends Classical Pilates, yoga, holistic nutrition, and a deep interest in anatomy, alignment, and nervous system health. As a mother of three who has spent years immersed in movement and healing, she brings a particular understanding of what these spaces mean to people.
“We all need places that allow us to return to ourselves,” she says. “To feel stronger, steadier, more connected, and more supported.”
The studio she stepped into already had a strong identity. Founder Lacy Rae Harbor built Awen over three years with a clear intention: a space where anyone, regardless of where they are in their fitness journey, could feel genuinely at home. Harbor reflected, “Awen has always felt like it was meant to exist beyond me—something I was here to create and steward for a time, not something I was meant to hold onto forever.”
The arrival of her daughter brought a natural shift in focus, and with it, the question of who could carry the studio forward with the same care it was built with. She found that answer in Alana. “I trust her wholeheartedly to lead Awen into what’s next,” Harbor wrote
Alana doesn’t take that trust lightly. “I am deeply grateful to Lacy for her trust, and for the care, vision, and love she poured into creating something that has touched so many lives,” she says. “My intention is to honor the beautiful foundation she built while thoughtfully nurturing the next season of growth…”
That foundation runs deep, and the instructors at the studio are integral to its pulse. Instructor Kristiana Abbit captures the layered nature of the transition well: “I appreciate the Awen community for its slowed-down pace and community awareness. Lacy did an amazing job creating a space where everyone feels welcomed no matter what stage of their fitness journey. And so far I really love Alana’s effort in connecting the instructors to the community through socials — that was fun!”
“Being with Awen since its beginning three years ago, and watching it blossom into such a magical safe haven, has been an incredible honor,” says Instructor Samantha Bartow. “I say it often in class, but witnessing the power of collective strength in a shared space gives me goosebumps, and has had a profound impact on me—inside the classroom and out. I am full to the brim.”
That kind of testimony points to something Alana has thought a lot about—the particular role a place like this plays in people’s lives, especially now.
“I think people are craving connection right now,” she says. “Spaces where they can move their bodies, feel better, and genuinely exhale for a moment.”
Her vision for Awen’s next chapter includes expanded teacher training, wellness collaborations, community events, and a continued refinement of the studio’s already distinctive feel. Not a reinvention, more of a deepening. “Stepping into this next chapter feels deeply meaningful and incredibly exciting,” Alana says. “I could not feel more honored,and I am genuinely so excited for all that is ahead.”
