Art and Pilates blend inside Tilcia Studios in Pacific Beach. Lizbeth Garcia and Pete Tillack own the studio that showcases the marriage of their talents. “When we met, it was our goal to have our own unique business,” Garcia said. Tilcia is a blend of not only their two last names, but also their two passions. The studio displays Tillack’s paintings and is a learning space in which Garcia and her instructors teach Pilates classes. “You are seeing beauty all around you,” Garcia said of the inside of the studio. Garcia considers her work an art form too, molding bodies into strong beings. “We try to keep the studio fresh with new work,” Garcia said. The studio opened in Pacific Beach two years ago. Before that, it was located in Bird Rock. “I have my favorites and I request them, but ultimately he decides,” Garcia said of Tillack choosing which paintings are hung in Tilcia. His paintings hang at several studios, Garcia said. She knows she must share his work. In 1993, Tillack was working in his native Australia as an electrician. After deciding that he wanted to start his own company, Tillack decided to go on one last vacation before delving into work. The trip did not go as planned. Instead, it lasted seven years. He traveled the world observing and learning from various cultures. He did not return to Australia to start his own business. In the early 2000s, Tillack was in San Diego working as an electrician, assembling trade show booths. The company he worked for began branching out into painting murals. “I was the background guy,” Tillack said. Painting had never been part of his prior repertoire. However, the more he painted, the more he discovered his enjoyment of it. “It clicked like a math problem,” Tillack said. He has been painting ever since. “I bought a $5 set of paints and a couple dollars’ worth of brushes,” Tillack said reflecting back on his start. Now his work is shown at many galleries and his live paintings have raised $100,000 for charity. “I base a lot of things on feelings,” Tillack said. Tillack and Garcia met at a mutual friend’s art show. They knew a studio that served both of their careers would be a good investment. “We both have a hand in each other’s business,” Tillack said. Garcia, an accomplished Pilates instructor, learned how to teach at the Rancho La Puerta Resort in Tecate, Mexico. She believes that Pacific Beach offers a good environment for teaching because it already imbibes a spirit of physical activity. Skateboarders, runners, surfers, walkers and bike riders can benefit from Pilates, Garcia said. In addition to offering Pilates classes to children and family touched by cancer at the Rady Children’s Hospital, Garcia offers a class called Pilates for Pink. She invites the community into the class and asks participants to share their story about cancer. The group honors all affected by the disease. This is followed with a one-hour circuit class led by several instructors. With so many people having been touched by cancer, Pilates is a good way to recover, Garcia said. The class is donation-based, raising money for breast cancer. “The focus for Pilates centers around the core,” Garcia said. Pilates works on strengthening your back and lengthening your body. “The core entails much more than six-pack abs,” she added. Garcia is a faculty member with Balanced Body University, which educates and trains Pilates instructors. She offers instructor training at the couple’s studio. Tilcia provides one week of free Pilates to anyone who wishes to try it. Tillack’s art is available for sale. The studio is located at 4645 Cass St. For more information, call (858) 490-0513 or visit www.tilciastudios.com.