Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Abby Suskin. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Abby, appreciate you joining us today. Owning a business isn’t always glamorous and so most business owners we’ve connected with have shared that on tough days they sometimes wonder what it would have been like to have just had a regular job instead of all the responsibility of running a business. Have you ever felt that way?

My jobs have always been outside the box. Aside from a summer internship I had at a non-profit where I made cold calls for donations every day, I’ve always worked with real-time people interactions over computer-interactions. In retrospect I realize I was already acting as a business owner in my first career as a freelance performing artist. I was a professional circus performer for those 10 years, and while I didn’t realize it at the time, I was promoting my skillset and applying for jobs as a business of one, even then. Flash forward a few years to the COVID-19 lockdown… I had long retired from performing and was stranded hundreds of miles away from the Pilates studio I had been working at with no ability to teach or connect to folks unless it was virtually. When I realized how much satisfaction I was getting from teaching virtual classes, I realized I already had half the tools ready to turn the bones of my freelance performer business into a virtual Pilates studio. I updated my website, email address, and social media to reflect my new direction, and before I knew it, business was booming!

4 years later, I haven’t looked back. I still work more hours in front of a computer than I ever did before, now that I’m also in charge of marketing, social media content, filming classes etc…but I wouldn’t trade it for flexibility ever. I love knowing that me and my business are nimble and can adjust to anything that comes our way. The only time I ever wish I had a regular job is dealing with healthcare, but that’s really a US issue in my opinion.

Abby, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m a former circus performer turned Pilates instructor with over 20 years of professional movement experience. I started performing as a wire walker at 12 years old and I haven’t stopped moving since.
I discovered Pilates while studying at Northwestern University and used it as a cross-training tool for the rest of my performing career. I completed my Pilates teacher training in 2014 after retiring from performing, and spent the 3 years prior to the pandemic as the head of programming and instructor training at a fancy NYC Reformer studio, but when the COVID-19 lockdown hit, I was released by that team and felt called to go out on my own. I initially started teaching as a way to raise money for NYC public hospitals at the beginning of the pandemic. 4 years and $26k raised later, I’m so glad I took the leap.

I created Pilates With Abs, a Pilates-based method focused on mindful movements, designed to activate the deepest muscles of your core for a healthy burn that’s also fun.

I bring my intuition and intellect to every class, cultivating a vibrant and inclusive experience for all. By teaching online, my classes are accessible to the masses and offer high quality content, at a more inclusive price range, and I love being able to teach folks from all over the world, even if they don’t have access to a reformer or experienced instructor near them.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

From the get-go I asked myself one consistent question question when it came to social media…to make one or two handles? I already had a personal instagram handle with lots of soft-network connections, and I had been treating that as a page that was 80% me and 20% Pilates. I made the choice to stick with one handle as one brand and shift the ratio to be more Pilates with still a healthy dash of me. Why? I am my brand and my brand is me. I practice what I preach and I feel comfortable integrating the two. I think this has served me well, as most of my initial growth online came through friends of friends or people who followed me for a while, who had never been able to take my Pilates classes because we’re not in the same city. Now, I not only teach them, but I teach their husbands, mom, aunts, etc…you name it!

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

A. I’ve always been kind and I know likeability is one of my greatest strengths. And not in a put-on way. I just genuinely like people and love connecting with others, and I’ve brought that into my work and personal life for as long as I can remember. That means, my general reach is high and my reputation of being a quality, genuine and kind works for me without me having to prove it. People feel it in my classes, and off the mat, as well. I also make a point to share a lot of educational points with my social followers. This helps me showcase my experience and credibility, without having to “prove” that I’m an expert. I like to add value to my clients lives and empower them to take ownership of what’s best for them through educating them on their own body’s needs.

Contact Info:

• Website: [email protected]
• Instagram: @abbysuskin
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abby-suskin-15bb0a8b/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@pilateswithabs
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@pilateswithabs

Image Credits
Calen Rose Photography