The Pilates Table brings inclusive pilates to Cincinnati

CINCINNATI, Ohio — As National Black Business Month celebrates its 21st year, one local entrepreneur is bringing new energy to Cincinnati’s wellness scene and helping reshape the face of Pilates.

In Ohio, Black-owned businesses make up just over 13% of the state’s small business scene according to the SBA’s 2025 Small Business Profile. 

Amber Goin is the owner of The Pilates Table, a newly opened, Black-owned reformer Pilates studio and the first of its kind in the city. For Goin, the decision to open the boutique studio was rooted in a desire for representation and inclusion.

“I never really saw anybody that looked like me,” Goin said. “When I did, a lot of times they would kind of look at me like, ‘Oh, are you the instructor?’”

The Pilates Table features six reformers and offers small-group instruction, allowing Goin to give clients individual attention while focusing on the foundational elements of Pilates, including breath work and core strength.

“It’s a boutique-style studio. I’m actually able to go around and truly cater to people,” she said.

Reformer Pilates is often seen as a high-end fitness offering, but Goin said her goal is to make the practice more accessible, especially to communities that have been historically underrepresented in wellness spaces.

Her studio now joins the growing wave of Black-owned businesses fueling the region’s economy. Black-owned businesses in Southwest Ohio generate roughly $2.8 billion in annual economic impact, according to a joint study by the University of Cincinnati Economics Center and the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky African American Chamber of Commerce.

Eric Kearney, president of the chamber, said the growth is encouraging, but many Black entrepreneurs still face steep challenges.

“There was a period of time where Black entrepreneurs were unable to receive the type of help that they needed,” Kearney said. “That’s changing, but access to capital is still a major hurdle.”

According to the National Urban League, only 32% of Black-owned businesses are approved for financing, compared to 56% of white-owned businesses. Kearney said that’s why the chamber now offers more than 120 programs, including on-site business counselors.

“They’ll walk you through that journey,” he said. “By that I mean they’ll help you get your paperwork together so that you can take advantage of, perhaps, a grant application or a loan application.”

As The Pilates Table continues to gain traction, particularly through social media, Goin said she’s focused on building more than a business. She wants to create a space where every client feels seen.

“I’ve gotten a lot of people that have come in and they just said, ‘Thank you. Thank you for opening up a space that you truly care about each client,’” she said.

Resources for Black-Owned Businesses in Ohio:

• Cincinnati Minority Business Assistance Center – Technical assistance, certifications, mentoring
• Central Ohio African American Chamber of Commerce (Columbus) – Mentoring, capital access, Kiva loans
• Urban League UBIZ (Cleveland) – Accelerators, revolving loans, business counseling
• Dayton Minority Business Assistance Center – Loan packaging, bonding support, certifications