Today we’d like to introduce you to Morgan.
Hi Morgan, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My story begins with a love of fitness and a search for the ultimate type of exercise that I would do without dreading it. I was never super athletic and didn’t have the chance to participate in team sports as my mom was a single mother of 4 who wasn’t able to drive us around to all the things. Therefore, exercise was never a passion of mine until I got older and had my two kids. I wanted to do something for me that made me feel more confident and just mentally and physically lighter. Something that felt like a time out from the world and a break from the daily grind.
I loved running and HIIT workouts but eventually those felt like just part of the grind and almost like a punishment, not a reward. I was running daily and developed plantar fasciitis in my left foot and it was just too painful to continue doing these types of workouts so about 4 years ago I started doing Pilates. I loved it! It made me feel strong, graceful and beautiful. Because of the intentionality of the workout you have to get out of your head and into your body focusing on form and breathing. This was what I was looking for… EMBODIMENT. So often I feel like we are just heads full of thoughts and stresses and worries and anxiety walking around. All of those things are stored in the body and we do not take the time to acknowledge how our body is responding to these stresses. When exercise stopped being a workout for my body and became a state of equanimity for my mind it changed everything. Pilates took me there.
I was working as a Marketing Director in the corporate world and always talking about how I wanted my own business, but really never knew what it would be. I just kept plodding along working, mom-ing and doing Pilates until one day my husband suggested I open my own studio.
Totally terrified of the idea of standing in front of people and teaching them to workout had all my imposter senses tingling. I felt like omg I could never be good at that. But the universe had different plans. My job at the time just wasn’t doing it for me anymore and it seemed like a good time to make my exit. A studio space opened up that was perfect for a little boutique studio right in the center of Sienna, where I live. I was able to get my certification through STOTT Pilates just in time to open and all the pieces just kept falling into place. I kept waiting for a sign to tell me this wouldn’t work or how ridiculous I was for having this dream, but nope it was meant to be.
The only thing holding me back at this point was my fear of failure or fear, judgement and rejection. I have an amazing therapist I’ve been seeing for 3 years now who asked me why I wanted to open this studio. The answer was, I want people to be able to come to a safe place where they feel seen, validated and learn to love themselves. I want people to develop a better relationship to self and self care through movement. I wanted them to have a place to leave their baggage at the door for 50mins and just take a mental pause from adulting.
Slowly I started taking on clients who very generously recommended me to friends and family and the business started to grow. I was teaching all classes and privates non-stop so about 3 months in some of the anxiety and fear around teaching started to dissipate. The more I learned about the body and the more I learned about modifications the more confident I became. I also started to practice the self love and invest in my own worthiness so I was able to foster that for my clients. 2 years later and I am still learning and plan to never stop.
I started with 2 machines and now have 5. We are moving to a new space this year where the plan is to have 6-8 machines.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has and it hasn’t. Getting the business started was pretty smooth and things all fell into place surprisingly well, but in the beginning my fear and anxiety of getting it wrong or not knowing enough was crippling. This is the imposter syndrome which still creeps up from time to time as I definitely don’t know close to everything and that’s ok. There is to ETA on education or learning to be ok in your own skin. I was also afraid of being accepted since I wasn’t an athlete or a dancer. Like who is this chick to be teaching Pilates?
The struggles come go and change shape. As the business has grown it was not having enough machines, so I added 3 to the 2 I originally had. Now the space is maxed out.
Then it was the burnout I was feeling from teaching every single class, so I hired someone to help me out. She has been wonderful and it feels like I have breathing room now.
Then it was the trends of the fitness industry. There are slow times and there are busy times and in the beginning I took the slow times so personally. I would think is it me? Am I not doing a good job or are they going somewhere else… ugh insecurity in putting yourself out there as a business owner, right? The truth is it always picks back up.
Right now the struggle is knowing how fast to grow or to let it happen organically.
I’ve learned so much about myself from my clients and from the struggles in owning a small business. It’s such a mirror of our own issues and insecurities, but also I realized things I am good at that I never thought I’d be good at before starting this. I’m good with people because I genuinely want to know about them. I’m creative in my choreography and I know my anatomy.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a STOTT Pilates certified instructor and I also have a BS in Dietetics for Texas Tech University.
At REFORMED Pilates we specialize in a method that will challenge you but also support where you’re at in your fitness journey. Every class is a little different but we always circle back to previous exercises and build upon those. I want our clients to feel challenged and like the money they just spent on class was worth it, but I don’t want it to be impossible where they feel defeated. It’s all about balance.
Because we have a smaller boutique studio with 5 machines, we are able to be more hands on and create modifications for clients who need them.
We offer classes from beginner to advanced and all things in between. In addition to beginner and intermediate flow classes (The Reformation is the fan fave), we offer a jump board class which is great for low impact cardio, a strength and conditioning class, and an Advanced classical Pilates format. All on the reformer of course 🙂
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters most to me is being well. I want to be spiritually, mentally and physcially well. I find such a sense of freedom and serenity in that. If I can be well, I can help others tap into that. If I can be well, I can be a healthy example to my kids of what working hard and taking care of yourself looks like.
Pricing:
- Intro offer – 2 classes for $45
- 30 min private session – $50
- 4 class package – $140
- 8 class package – $240
- Unlimited Membership – $330
Contact Info:
- Website: https://reformedsienna.com
- Instagram: @reformedsienna
- Facebook: @reformedpilatessienna
