We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Christopher Roberts a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Christopher, looking forward to hearing all of your stories 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.
I had been teaching yoga and Pilates full time for other studios and gyms. I was doing a lot driving around and really Getty burned out fast.
I decided to start saving money to buy my own Pilates equipment in order to open my studio. I thought I would work part time on my own business and part time for others..
It was a big risk to go out on my own, to be responsible for making my studio successful. Soon I was doing so well that I was able to move full time into my own business.
I believed I could be successful and I was.
Christopher, 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 came into teaching through my own personal practice. When I started my yoga and Pilates practices, I was struggling with an eating disorder. I was punishing my body with intense exercise because I wanted to be thin. It was a very unhealthy time.
When I started these practices they helped me connect to my body in healthier ways. I learned that movement should be a way to celebrate our bodies, not punish them. It was a very healing period. I realized I want to share these with others in order to facilitate healing for them, so I entered teaching training.
Now my teaching comes from a place of healing. If you want to get shredded or fit into a size 2, I’m NOT your teacher.
In my Pilates and Yoga teaching, I work with many clients who struggle with persistent aches and pains, have spinal issues such as scoliosis, are dealing with chronic pain such as sciatica, are in rehabilitation for past injuries or recovering from surgeries such as knee and hip replacements.
My clients range from the young to the elderly. I also have extensive experience working with clients who are breast cancer survivors, rehabbing from injuries or dealing with chronic conditions such as cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, diabetes and more.
My goal for the next year is to move my teaching into a virtual space instead of being in a studio. I currently have free yoga and Pilates videos on YouTube and I will be launching live virtual classes through zoom where you can workout with me from the comfort of your own home.
My goal in going to a virtual space is to reach a greater community of women who maybe feel intimidated to go to a gym or studio. Who will feel yoga and Pilates are accessible if they can practice from their own homes.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
In the beginning of my career as a movement teacher (in addition to yoga and Pilates, I taught spin, trx, and barre) I would take it very personal if someone didn’t like my classes or never came back.
I finally learned that I can not be the teacher for everyone. You can not make everyone happy all the time. Once I learned that it allowed me to step into who I am. I was able to just be my most authentic self. When you are free to do that, people see that and are drawn to you.
Once I let go of trying to be the perfect teacher for every single person, my business expanded and I found the people I wanted to work with.
Remember that you are just not looking for people who need you, you also need to find the ideal people that you want to work with.
How did you build your audience on social media?
This is very similar to what I had to unlearn. Online you have to be your most authentic self. People want to know the real you so they can connect to you.
Share the bad with the good. Let go of trying to be perfect online. Get ugly, share what is really going on, and let them in.
Also you need to show your followers how you can help them. It’s not as impactful for me to just show a video of me working out as it is for me to show them how yoga and Pilates can heal them.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://fabflamingofitness.com/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/the.christopher.dior?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/c/FabFlamingoFitness
- Other: My yoga and Pilates accounts under Fab Flamingo Fitness YouTube: https://youtube.com/channel/UC1G9wENU7ZSMV3SCypb2ISA Instagram: https://instagram.com/fabflamingofitness?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=