We were lucky to catch up with Andrea Van Zile de Leon recently and have shared our conversation below.
Andrea, appreciate you joining us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?
From Finance to Fitness
I grew up in the smallest of small rural towns. From as early as I can remember, I was desperate to escape. There was only one town for me: New York City. The center of the world. Did I have any idea what I would do there? No. Had I ever been? No. But “The City” was the polar opposite to my village of origin and I could not wait to live there. It would be the definition of success.
At my earliest opportunity after college graduation, I moved to NYC. My first apartment there was in Astoria, Queens. A 6th floor walk-up, 600 sq ft apartment that I shared with a sorority sister from college. My first job was at Columbia University in their office of development where I helped write copy to donors for the medical school. I was paid less than today’s minimum wage, the commute to the upper westside from Queens was over an hour, and I quickly felt stuck.
That’s when it happened. I fell face-first into finance.
The interview was for a marketing position, but the next day I had an offer to join the team as an analyst. It was not the dream, but you can only live off Progresso Chicken Noodle Soup and Yellow Tail chardonnay for so long!
I would sit in that beige cell for 6 years. I lived for Fridays and dreaded Sundays, spending what little free time I had practicing my newfound passion: Pilates. By the time I was sitting on the trading desk with the rest of the hedge fund team, I had to be in my seat at 7am and I wasn’t allowed to leave for lunch. They would give us the option of 4 dreadfully unhealthy restaurants from which to order daily. So I sat. And sat and sat. Occasionally I would walk to the window, looking down at all the people freely going about their lives.
Slowly I realized that the only time I felt truly happy was when I was in the studio practicing Pilates. Movement was making me strong, but it also provided me a much-needed sense of community. I always left feeling better than when I walked in.
Then it happened. It was abrupt. I was as surprised as everyone else in the room. It’s like my deepest level of consciousness was sick of hearing me complain every day and had finally had it. On December 14th, 2012 I threw my badge across the table and walked out of finance forever.
Joining the comprehensive teacher training program with Core Pilates NYC was the smartest professional decision of my life. By the time I completed the program, I was not only teaching at a studio but soon the director of it. I no longer lived for Fridays or dreaded Sundays. If I was having a bad day, teaching made me feel better. I had a newfound sense of purpose that aligned perfectly with my passion. I no longer sat all day making rich people richer. I moved all day and taught others how to live a healthier life.
This major transition in my life changed me deeply and resulted in new opportunities I never imagined. Within a few years I received an offer I couldn’t refuse from VIDA Fitness… in Washington DC. I packed up my apartment, my 3 year old daughter, and left the city I had loved for so long.
It has been 8 years since we boarded that train to DC. I am now the Executive Director of VIDA Pilates, a company that I personally created, with 5 locations and 42 teachers. I’ve created a teacher training program to help others learn to teach this incredible method. I have taught everyone from pop stars like Charlie Puth to national news anchors like Jenna Lee. I’ve been featured on national news programs discussing the benefits of prenatal Pilates.
But at the end of the day, I am a Pilates teacher. I specialize in injuries and illnesses. My passion is to help my students “live their daily lives with relative ease.” As my daughter says with pride, “my mom makes people strong!”
It has been an incredible journey and certainly a risk well worth taking.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I am a 3rd generation classically trained Pilates teacher. I teach the authentic Pilates method which was originally called “contrology” by Joseph Pilates. Classical Pilates is very much about spinal health and mobility as well as overall strength. We help our students combat the effects of gravity over time and keep them taller and stronger- for longer!
I have created and run a classical Pilates teacher training program. My apprentices are 4th generation classical teachers and together we have built the #1 classical Pilates studio in the Washington DC metro area.
Any advice for managing a team?
I have a large team of teachers and they teach at 5 different locations across the DC metro area. It can be challenging for apprentices to enter my teacher training program, spend 6 months with me and my mentorship, only to start teaching and have so much less direct interaction.
Fitness is a tough business when it comes this dichotomy because all of my teachers are independent contractors, many have full time jobs in other fields, and some teach at other studios.
To keep morale high and encourage my teachers to remain engaged, I’ve created a “Weekly Workout”. During this time, teachers can ask to work on anything under the sun. Did they have a question about an exercise? We will deep-dive. Do they need help with a transition or flow? Let’s work on it. Did they have a difficult interaction with a student? Let’s learn from it. And sometimes, they just want a good old fashioned sweat session with the boss!
This weekly engagement is aimed at professional development and camaraderie. The authentic nature of the meetings keep teachers loyal, engaged, and eager to learn.
Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?
Classical Pilates is tough, because the method has remained the same for a hundred years. Becoming innovative and finding new ways to express this incredible method is extremely important.
The best way to succeed in my field- or any field- is to continue to be a student of your profession. I am always learning from my peers. I try to attend as many workshops held by other teachers as is possible. I am constantly reaching out to my peers and making connections with teachers and studio owners all over the world.
I also continually return to the fundamentals. In my field, that is anatomy. In another field, it might be basic marketing etc. I try to see it from a different perspective as well. For example, I will think about how altering the cueing for a movement or exercise might change how a student feels it in their body. What is my goal for their anatomy and how can I most efficiently communicate that? Then I update my teacher training manual as well so my teachers have that efficiency.
Personal growth is very important to me as well. I believe that we are always evolving. I want to continue to inspire and encourage so I have to be inspired and encouraged. I am constantly reading books and attending seminars on everything from breath-work to positive energy to meditation to executive workshops. I intentionally seek out mentors in my field and others to provide me with new perspectives.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.vidapilates.com
- Instagram: AVZPilates
- Facebook: VIDAPilatesDC
- Linkedin: Andrea (Van Zile) de Leon
