We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Alison Johnson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Alison below.

Alison , appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to start by getting your thoughts on what you are seeing as some the biggest trends emerging in your industry

The Pilates industry has been part of the “boutique fitness” world for decades. Pilates was traditionally taught and practiced in intimate settings through one-on-one-sessions, small groups sessions and students working out independently under the observation of an instructor. Over the past 20 years, well known boutique fitness studios like Pure Barre and Soul Cycle have gained traction in the niche fitness industry and have changed the expectations of the consumer.
They standardized their operations, services/classes, created more competitive pricing structures and prioritized volume. This business structure has crossed over into the Pilates industry and studios have shifted their strategies to appeal to a more diverse market with broader price points. Pilates studios have begun to add more people to group classes (15-20 people) and offer memberships based on attendance frequency. Because this business model is only sustainable with higher attendance numbers, the approach to teaching Pilates has shifted. Teaching for the masses requires an overly simplified and watered down delivery of the traditional Pilates method in order to accommodate a wide range of levels, all at once. It also means that it’s impossible to keep a watchful eye on every attendee which ultimately compromises individual form, progress and safety. I’m thankful the name “Pilates” is becoming more well known and there is now a greater sense of curiosity in untapped markets. However, the “Pilates” that is becoming more popular is a far deviation from the traditional method Joseph Pilates created. Classical Pilates is incredibly nuanced and taught to accommodate the individual practitioner. It is a logical system that is about so much more than “feeling the burn” or “toning your abs”. It’s impossible to translate the subtleties of Pilates into group sessions with 15-20 people on reformers.
Traditional Pilates has been around for a long time and I hope potential Pilates people will do their research and be discerning about where they practice.

Alison , 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 was introduced to Pilates at Stephens College while pursuing my BFA in Dance.
I fell in love with Pilates because of the incredible way my body felt after my sessions. It was as if I had been given an internal massage. I remember walking away from my session feeling muscles and stretches I had never felt before. I was intrigued by the Pilates method and wanted Pilates to be a permanent part of my life.
Once I graduated from college, I moved to NYC in 1997 and completed my Classical Pilates certification with Romana Kryzanowska and Bob Liekens in 1998.

Shortly after my certification I began working at a larger Pilates studio in downtown Manhattan. That is where I met my previous business partner of 19 years. She and I shared similar teaching philosophies and wanted to create a more intimate setting where we could work with our shared clients.

We opened the Pilates Room NYC in 2002 and worked towards building relationships with our clients that would last. Our studio thrived for many years until the Pandemic in 2020. We managed to keep the doors open, but both decided it would be best for one of us to take over the business. That person was me, and fortunately my previous business partner has stayed on as an instructor.

Practicing Pilates has meant different things at different times in my life. As a dancer, Pilates was exactly what I needed to become stronger and more in tune with with my body. As someone with an injury, Pilates helped me rehabilitate my ankle and body after a compound fracture from dancing which required surgery and hardware. As a growing young adult, Pilates felt familiar from my dancing days and allowed me to explore what my body could do outside of being a dancer. As a mother, Pilates felt REALLY good while I pregnant and helped me recover from 2 c-sections. Pilates kept me sane throughout my kids’ young lives and gave me peace when I was overwhelmed. As a wife (I met my husband teaching Pilates) Pilates helps me stay balanced (emotionally and physically) so I feel confident and engaged in our relationship. As a middle aged woman, 48, Pilates is keeping me flexible, strong and helps keep my aches and pains at bay. As a business owner, I NEED Pilates to stay fit so I can get through my long work days. As a dog owner, I NEED Pilates after endless walks…

As a Pilates teacher, I tailor the Pilates method to suit my clients’ needs. I help my clients recover from injuries, ease pain, build strength, feel better physically, become more flexible, have better posture, work on balance, become more athletic, vary their fitness regimens and patiently have them move through illnesses and recovery. I help them experience their bodies and movement in a mindful way while building strength, flexibility, and becoming more physically adaptable to help prevent injuries. As a result, my clients become more confident in the way they approach physical activities. They get stronger and their quality of life improves

As a Pilates studio owner, I am grateful for the community The Pilates Room NYC has created. I feel proud that I’ve cultivated a work life and environment that I love being part of everyday. I love the challenge of stepping into new territory and figuring out how to keep my business growing.

Our studio is home to some of the most experienced and accomplished instructors in the Pilates industry. Our teachers work independently and rent space from TPR NYC, which has kept them motivated and fully invested in their teaching. This was not our initial business model when we began, but It happened organically and we have maintained this structure.
Unlike most other Pilates studios, we have all been teaching 20+ years. We know exactly what to do when our clients come to us with different issues, moods and requests. We are capable of pivoting to create ways to make the most of every session; whatever that may be for our clients. It could be a good laugh, a deep stretch, or a structured, rhythmic, flowing session with deep breaths. It could also be a series of intense booty exercises, a shoulder rub or adding a heavy dumbbell. Honestly, we can usually figure it out without having to be told.
We are in the Pilates business for the long haul and appreciate the integrity of the traditional Pilates work. We realize that meaningful progress happens over time through consistency and acceptance of our capabilities in the moment. We recognize that we are all human, we have good days and bad days and accept the fluctuating nature of our bodies, moods and sense of motivation. All we ask, is for people to show up so we can focus on all of the things we CAN do.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I had to pivot and change the direction of TPR NYC when I decided to take over as the sole owner. Part of my decision to take over the business was financially motivated. My need to contribute more to my family became more important. My children were older and more independent which made it easier to shift my energy. I considered changing careers altogether, but knew I hadn’t made an effort to leverage what was already established. I knew that if a could get through some extremely difficult times (personally) I could certainly find my way out of the post pandemic despair. I hired a business advisor and we began developing a strategy that would help inform my future decisions as I worked toward my vision. Honestly, creating my “homemade” website with the help of a friend through Squarespace to replace our previously outdated site really helped! I began offering small group sessions and started using an online scheduling platform that was linked to my website. Within a year, my business started gaining traction and I had enough money to hire professionals to rebrand, create a bigger digital presence and renovate the studio.
My business is growing and I’m really proud of what I’ve accomplished. I have gathered a team of people that I respect and trust to help me move forward with decisions and styles that align with my vision. I’ve also worked REALLY hard and have put in a lot of hours to be where I am today and I’m still working.
I have realized that it is not enough to do what you love and exist day to day or month to month. You must build an engine for your business that encompasses a growth strategy to be able to KEEP doing what you love. I see owning my own business as an opportunity to create what I need and value and to provide a place of work that feels like a second home.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I have had to unlearn (and still unlearning, btw) deferring to other people to take the lead. Taking over the business and making all of the decisions was challenging. I chose not to consult anyone else other than my chosen team when it came to rebranding, renovating and coming up with a plan that suited my best interests. My team guided me and helped me develop a concrete plan to carry out my vision. We cannot possibly do everything alone! My advice is to find people you trust that have your best interest at heart. Keep asking yourself, “does this represent who I am and what I value?”

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thepilatesroomnyc.com
• Instagram: @thepilatesroomnyc
• Facebook: thepilatesroomnyc

Image Credits

Cowbird Creative LLC