We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Andrea Brody a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Andrea, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. 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?

For many years I balanced two careers: Graphic Designer and Pilates instructor. I worked 80% of the time as a graphic designer, but longed for it to be the other way around or better yet full time Pilates instructor. One day I thought why not try? I actively pursued my Pilates career. I knew I had to make changes to make space for Pilates, so I turned down design projects from big clients. I knew if I took on those projects it would consume all my time. This was scary because I let go of financial security while growing my Pilates business but it’s part of the process. I didn’t know how things would work out, but it felt right. I soon had a full schedule with a waitlist. I love graphic design and still have art in my life and now I can do those things without the back and shoulder pain I was experiencing from sitting at a desk all day designing projects. I’ve made space for art and Pilates. I still take art classes and can enjoy artistic expression without the outcome being a paycheck. I wish I’d chosen Pilates as a career sooner. I’m mentally stimulated and excited about work. It doesn’t feel like work going to work. I love the people I meet and relationships I build with my clients.

Andrea, 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 Private Pilates Instructor. I help people get stronger and alleviate stress in their bodies and minds with Pilates so they can live balanced lives. I know how challenging it is to find balance because I used to work full time in corporate graphic design. I developed low back pain from stress and sitting at a desk all day. I found Pilates was the solution to my chronic pain. Not only did I have less pain but I gained strength and reduced tension. I fell in love with this form of stress relieving exercise and decided to make it my career.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

Listening. Watching. Observing. I take cues from what my clients tell me and their body tells me so I can better fill their needs. Some Pilates exercises are really challenging and need a progression. I break the exercise down so they build the strength and flexibility they need to go deeper into the exercise. As they get stronger, my clients feel the exercise gets easier and I can give them genuine positive reinforcement as they progress into a more challenging version of the exercise. I combine my listening and observation skills with very detailed oriented instruction. My clients often tell me that I don’t miss a thing or let them cheat! I believe it’s important to keep clients moving safely and to progress them in a way that is right for their body. I love working with people that are committed to making lasting changes for their health. Consistent Pilates changes your body so it moves and feels better. It’s easier to stay motivated when you can feel and see the change.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

In my previous work as a graphic designer, everything had to align. I’ve been trained to look for details. Although that’s a benefit as a Pilates instructor, I realized that everything doesn’t have to align and be perfect all the time. Everyone’s body doesn’t feel the same every day. You might be tired, your back might hurt, you have to listen to your body that day and do what feels right for you. I used to push myself even when I had back pain as a graphic designer and do challenging Pilates workouts, even though a lighter Pilates workout would have relieved my back pain. Now I’ve learned to move in a way that works for my body and I no longer make myself do something that isn’t right for me in that moment. This is how I work with my clients as well. We work privately together so each session is custom tailored to their specific needs and abilities. And even though Pilates is challenging, it’s really fun! I want all my clients to have the best experience, enjoy themselves and grow to love Pilates as much as I do. They’ve also learned how to listen to and trust their bodies so they have less pain and live a more balanced life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://brightlybalanced.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brightly.balanced/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreabrody12/