Opening day of In Balance Pilates Studio in Wilmington, NC.

...and today she’s 17. In Balance Pilates Studio began with one reformer. Each piece of equipment thereafter was purchased with cash as I made it. If you’re thinking of starting a studio please know it’s ok to start small. It’s actually BETTER. It can be done without debt AND some good old fashioned hard work.

I’m not going to pretend it’s easy. Even 17 years later we have slow months, clients quit, and unexpected things happen (Hurricane Florence 🤦🏻‍♀️). Don’t let IG trick you into thinking that every studio owner is killing it and that starting with 12 reformers is necessary or realistic. Like EVERYTHING on IG, you don’t have the full story. ⁣

Here’s one thing I have learned over the past 17 years and even more so in this past year...teach Pilates and (if you are inclined to do so) start a studio because you LOVE Pilates. ⁣

Don’t do it to get rich... you’ll be disappointed. Don’t do it because you think you know better than the studio owner you currently work for... you’ll understand immediately why she’s grumpy some days. Don’t do it because being a studio owner looks glamorous...it’s more hard work, late nights and early mornings than you can imagine.

Do it because you love when a client has an “aha moment.” Do it for the joy your client feels when she does her first unassisted roll up. Do it for the joy you feel when a client walks in the door talking about how she “did Pilates” while riding her bike over the weekend.

I have had the absolute privilege and honor of traveling the country teaching teachers over the past 3 years. The biggest thing I’ve learned during that time is how much I love to get up everyday and walk through the doors of In Balance Pilates Studio. I love In Balance more than words can express and I love sharing my days with Kristen Boyer Gruodis Carrie Broyhill Michelle House Heather Till .

Thanks Wilmington, NC for keeping us around so long. We’re always here for you when you need us. 😘

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