We were lucky to catch up with Colette Delangre recently and have shared our conversation below.
Colette, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?
Making Pilates accessible for anyone! I want everyone to feel included in my studio. I strive to make every class challenging but also doable for those who may need some adjustments. I am starting to work with more and more clients with health conditions or impairments.
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 started my teaching career in NYC coaching kids fitness & working at a Pilates studio in the Financial District. When the owner of the studio I was working at decided to sell her business I was ecstatic to jump on this opportunity to own my own Pilates studio. One year after taking of the business the Pandemic happened and I tried to survive by teaching online classes to my already existing clientele. As a result of the pandemic I lost 80% of my clientele, IfI was to reopen her doors in NYC I would be opening with almost no clients. I made a bold decision and relocated my whole studio to Downtown St. Petersburg, FL.
I reopened my doors in a whole new state Sept 1 2020. Now being open for 2 years now I am excited to say I have survived and have a thriving clientele.
My new obstacle now is to find a new location to expand my services and offer not just reformer Pilates and add Warm/hot Mat Pilates and Warm/hot yoga.
Where do you think you get most of your clients from?
Referrals, I give the best experience ever. I make sure every client is heard and seen in any setting at the studio. I offer Pilates for anyone who is willing to try it. It doesn’t matter where you are in your fitness journey we are here to support you. People love coming in and feeling like they are not just another client they are someone we care about when they walk in the door. If you give and offer your best foot forward in every client they will talk about you and how their experience was with you. I have built my clientele with the love of the community around me. They supported the vision I had with building a safe space for everyone to try such an intimidating atmosphere such as Pilates.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
When I first opened my doors I was the only one working and teaching all of the classes. I offered free classes for an entire month of Sept for everyone. I worked from 7am to 8pm almost every day without paying myself for the first year I was open. It was so hard to find good staff and still hard to this day. 2 years later I now have 7 instructors working at the studio.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.therarebodystudio.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rarebodystudio/
- Facebook: rarebodystudio
Image Credits
Photographer Benjamin Chateauvert