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

Chelsea, appreciate you joining us today. Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.

The biggest risk I have ever taken? Easy answer. Opening a Hot Pilates studio. When I had the idea to open my own space, I didn’t want to tell anyone, I didn’t want to admit that I had this dream, because there was a part of me that didn’t believe I could do it. And then in a moment of delusion, I signed a lease and dove headfirst into the ocean.
Opening a studio has been the HARDEST yet most rewarding thing I have ever done.

When I opened my studio – HAVN Hot Pilates – I did so as a solo, self-funded woman on a mission to change the way fitness studios operate. I wanted to create a space with an AMAZING product and method (the HAVN method that I created, which combines Pilates and Strength training in a heated room), in an atmosphere that felt like coming home. It was (and still is) a lofty idea, but I felt like if anyone could do it, I could. I have the drive, the work ethic, and the experience to support the idea. So I thought, “LET’S GO FOR IT!”

And truth be told it has been HARD. When I say hard, I mean, think of ANYTHING, and I guarantee I did it wrong the first time, and I had to re-do it – probably more than once – and I mean EVERYTHING – from the flooring, to the heat, to the name of the studio, I had to re-do EVERYTHING. I made every mistake (and continue to make mistakes a year in) and had to learn how to be ok with being wrong and how to pivot fast.

Now that I am a year in, I can say that I am very happy I took the leap and had ultimate belief in self to open my studio and pursue my dream.

But don’t get me wrong, it hasn’t gotten easier. The problems still arise, the days are still long, and the lessons are still there, but the ability to say “I built this” and have an impact on the lives of so many people that come to the studio is truly priceless. So even though it is hard, even though there have been many tears and continuous sleepless nights, I would do it again! Blood, sweat, tears, and all!

Chelsea, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I started in the fitness industry in 2012, where I got my 200-hour RYT, and it was from that moment that my love for fitness instruction began.
I was an athlete my whole life, but when I was sidelined by an injury (tore my ACL and meniscus) I needed to find a new outlet – so in stepped teaching fitness.

Once I found my love for teaching yoga, I wanted to expand and teach other modalities, so I started teaching indoor cycling and HIIT-style classes, later adding reformer Pilates, then mat Pilates to my repertoire of teaching.

I am Denver-based, but have taught all over Denver, Nashville, and even overseas in Switzerland.

After over a decade of teaching fitness, I settled into my true love, Pilates and Strength training, which is how the HAVN method came about. Once I started creating and executing my own method, I couldn’t help but share it with others. I started posting a bit to social media while I was building a creating an entire manual and brick-and-mortar studio. After about 8-months of creation, HAVN Hot Pilates launched and opened!

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

When I first opened my Pilates studio, it was STUDIO100 Hot Pilates, and now my studio is called HAVN Hot Pilates. Yup, I had to completely rebrand and change the name of my studio just 3 months in.

I came up with the name STUDIO100 to play off the classic Pilates 100 exercise, but it wasn’t until I filed for a trademark on the name that problems popped up.

My lawyer called me and said, “Chelsea, we have a bit of a problem.” And I said, “Hit me with it.” That’s when she explained that someone filed for a trademark on my name just 1 month before me…and immediately my heart SANK! She told me that I could keep the name, but if I want to grow and protect my brand, I should think about a name change.

So after about a month of panic, crying, and brainstorming, I looked in the mirror and it came to me, HAVN. I will change my studio name to HAVN Hot Pilates. I immediately started creating a new website, new logo, new brand, EVERYTHING! And then, took the leap and changed everything. I was SCARED OUT OF MY MIND! I thought, this will tank my business, people will not be able to find me, this will be so expensive, but I knew I had to do it, so I jumped and changed.

To my surprise, everything transitioned and landed as smoothly as one could hope for, and I haven’t looked back since. So here we are, 1 year in, HAVN Hot Pilates.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Hard work, a love/belief in my product, and consistency. I know it is cliche, but true hard work, grit, and resilience are what have brought me to where I am today.

I show up day in and day out, no matter how I feel, or what is happening in my life, I am at the studio, I am engaging, and I am present. And I won’t lie, it’s hard, it’s exhausting, and it’s true grit, but that is what it takes.

People want to know they can count on you, people want to know that you believe in what you are doing, and people want to see that you care. Once you have that trust, the word gets out and people start bringing their friends, family, coworkers, everyone…from there, it’s off to the races.

I wish there were a magic pill or solution to success, but there isn’t. It is time, hard work, and dedication. Period.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://havnhotpilates.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chelsea.ann.stewart/