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

Brenda, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Being a business owner can be really hard sometimes. It’s rewarding, but most business owners we’ve spoken sometimes think about what it would have been like to have had a regular job instead. Have you ever wondered that yourself? Maybe you can talk to us about a time when you felt this way?

I’ve had many regular jobs in my life, and I’ve had jobs I thought I liked but were physically, mentally, and emotionally draining. When I set out to open up my own Pilates studio I knew it was going to be hard and that I would struggle at times but even though those things are true, I’m happier than I’ve ever been. As a part of my Pilates studio, community is really important to me, almost more important than the Pilates we teach. Yes, we teach Pilates and move bodies for a living but what we really sell here is community. On a pretty regular basis I question my choices as a business owner (i.e. did I pick the right location? Is my pricing right? Will my business allow me to thrive both personally and financially?) The last time these voices crept in, like literally the second they came to me, I received a text from a client. It was a long text, something that really should have been an email cuz it was so long. She talked about how the studio has changed her life. It gives her a place to go where she can be herself. It gives her something to look forward to. And it’s the only thing in her life she doesn’t compromise on. This space that I’ve created has caused someone to feel like that! What a beautiful achievement! It’s important to remember your why, especially as a business owner, getting a text like that, making people feel like that, is my why. And I’m humbled by the honor of getting to be that place/that person. This is the stuff that makes all the late nights, all the financial struggles, all the painful processes, all the jumping through hoops, worth it.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’ll say it again because it’s worth repeating. I’m most proud of the community we’ve built here. We have such a loyal clientele base. Ride or dies as I call them. Some come from more than 20 miles away, some live right down the road but they are a mighty bunch who not only carve out time for themselves to workout but they support each other. Let me give you an example. My clientele base is menopausal women between the ages of 50 and 65. Many of them find us because they feel that Menopause has not only wrecked their bodies but also their confidence (and in many cases the confidence is the piece that prevents them from thriving). As classes turn over and clients pass each other in the lobby on their way out while others are on their way in, they get to talking. They recommend doctors, therapists, physical therapists to each other. You name it, they are recommending it. They ask how the family is doing, how the kid did in their soccer game last Saturday, things like that. In larger studios I think this intimate one on one time and sense of community becomes lost on people. But here, they invest the time because they truly care about one another. And as the shepherd of the community I choose to focus on the person rather than the dollars they pay me every month. That means that when a client can’t make it to class because their child care fell through, I allow them to cancel without a fee. When a client has a cold or woke up in the morning with a bad migraine, I tell them to take the day, I don’t charge them for the late fee, and then later in the day and check in on them to make sure they are feeling better. I know that there are some studios who maintain a personal experience with their clients but none like the way we do, at least not in this area, and I’m so proud of that.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I started out my career in LA as a Line Producer for the Entertainment industry. I spent a lot of time and money honing in my craft. After 17 years the industry went into the double strike of 2023 and although I managed to still find work during that year, once 2024 hit it completely dried up. In late February, after having not brought in any income for several months, I had to make a choice. Keep trying to stay in an industry that was clearly shifting or do something else. After a ton of hail marys and late nights crying into my pillow I decided to take the leap. I always knew I wanted to own my own business but I never knew what it would be. Pilates had always been my side hustle so when I was at this cross road I decided to go all in on Pilates. It was (and still is) so scary! I’m becoming established but not yet super well known so sometimes business is slow. I’m less than a year in, so the business isn’t super profitable yet and going from a six figure income to much less than that was one of the hardest shifts I’ve ever had to make. You get used to a certain lifestyle, am I right? What’s craziest about the whole thing is, I’m the happiest I’ve ever been. I get to make a positive change in people’s lives on the daily! I provide a space for people to go and reduce stress, take care of their bodies, and connect with like minded people. What a privilege!

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

It’s important for me to allow my staff to be themselves. Yes, we have guidelines and processes that everyone needs to adhere to. But I hired them because I believe they make a great addition to the studio. I want their personality to shine, I want them to be quirky and fun, and tell stories, and make light of how hard the workouts can be. It fosters the sense of community we are building here. I think when a staff member feels like they can be themselves and like they have the space to grow within the company, it’s a wonderful synergy for us, them, and the clients.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.misfitpilates.com/
• Instagram: misfitpilates805
• Facebook: Misfit Pilates
• Linkedin: MIsfit Pilates
• Youtube: Misfit Pilates
• Yelp: Misfit Pilates
• Other: Class Schedule: https://www.misfitpilates.com/schedule

Image Credits

Daniel Kenji Levin