We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Danielle Farrah. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Danielle below.
Danielle, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.
The Story of Lalita Method
In my 20s, I was on a hamster wheel of body obsession.
I was constantly chasing the “thing” that would finally make me feel good in my body—and more importantly, in my mind. I counted calories, tried every workout trend, obsessed over nutrition, and still felt like I was never enough.
I would spend my entire paycheck and precious PTO days on solo wellness trips, hoping each one would be the reset I needed. I thought, maybe this retreat, this product, this studio will finally make me feel aligned, whole, at peace.
But the truth was, I wasn’t looking for another quick fix. I was looking for a way of living that actually supported me.
On those trips, I started to notice something:
When wellness felt like a lifestyle, not just a one-hour class or a fad diet, everything shifted.
When I had an entire schedule that supported my mind and body, from the moment I woke up to the moment I went to bed, I felt different.
And it wasn’t just one thing that worked—it was a blend of experiences:
Movement in many forms—strength, flow, breathwork.
Bodywork like massages, acupuncture, and recovery treatments.
Science-backed insights like lab work and nutrition education.
Nature—walking through gardens, breathing fresh air, reconnecting with the earth.
Food—not restrictive, but nourishing, exploring cooking methods and recipes.
And most importantly—being around other people who loved it too.
That was one of the biggest lessons: community heals.
When I was around like-minded people—laughing, moving, enjoying life, connecting with nature—I realized I wasn’t “working on myself” anymore. I was just living well.
I was having fun, feeling good, and all the while… aligning with myself and my health goals naturally.
That’s when the seed for Lalita Method was planted.
I didn’t want to create another studio where you rush in, take a class, and rush out. I wanted to create a modern wellness house—a space that blended the best of everything I had discovered:
Movement that is intentional, fluid, and aligned.
Recovery that supports the body and nervous system.
Science and mindfulness woven together.
A community of people who are on the same path.
I named it Lalita Method after Lalita Tripura Sundari, the goddess of play, beauty, and divine feminine energy. She represents the balance of strength and softness—the same balance I wanted to create for my clients.
Today, Lalita Method is more than just a fitness class. It’s an immersive wellness lifestyle, designed to help you feel good in your body and mind—not through obsession or restriction, but through joy, connection, and alignment.
It’s the place I wish I had found in my 20s. And now, it exists for anyone who’s ready to step off the hamster wheel and into something deeper.
Danielle, 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’m Danielle, the founder of Lalita Method, a modern wellness house here in beautiful Old Town Alexandria. I’m 40 years old, originally from Potomac, Maryland, and I’ve been an athlete my entire life. Movement has always been a part of who I am.
I studied business at Georgetown University and earned my Master’s in Health Promotion Management from American University, which really deepened my understanding of the science behind wellness. Professionally, I spent over 15 years in the healthcare technology start-up world, building solutions that supported health from a systems perspective. But I always felt a pull toward something more human, more personal.
Along the way, I also became certified in Reformer Pilates through Breathe Education in Australia—where I studied abroad during college and fell in love with the Sydney beach lifestyle. That chapter of my life deeply shaped how I view wellness: not just as a workout or a task to check off, but as an experience and a way of living.
That philosophy inspired Lalita Method.
I wanted to create a space that’s more than a Pilates studio—a sanctuary where movement, recovery, community, and even science-backed wellness tools come together seamlessly. Inside our studio, you’ll find:
Signature Reformer Pilates classes that blend precision with fluidity
Recovery modalities to support the body and nervous system
Curated events and workshops to deepen your connection with yourself and others
But what really sets us apart is the Lalita Apothecary, our retail section. It’s not just a boutique—it’s an extension of the lifestyle we build inside our walls. Here, members can grab-and-go supplements, wellness tools, nourishing eats, and exclusive local partnership perks that carry this elevated feeling into their everyday lives. We intentionally offer things you can’t find anywhere else—because wellness shouldn’t stop when you leave the studio.
The notion of elevation is at the core of everything we do. From the way our space feels—warm, luxurious, welcoming—to the products we carry and the partnerships we form, it’s all about lifting our clients out of the ordinary and into something better.
I’m incredibly proud that in just our first year of business, we were voted Best Pilates Studio in DC for 2025 by DC Magazine. That recognition means so much because it came from our community—the very people we’re here to serve.
What I want potential clients and followers to know is this: The Lalita Method isn’t just about a class, it’s about a feeling. It’s about reconnecting with your body in a way that feels joyful, intuitive, and sustainable. It’s about creating a lifestyle that supports you—not one that adds more stress to your day.
Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.
Lalita Method was a dream I carried with me for over 10 years before it became reality.
I have a full-time career in the healthcare technology start-up world, and even throughout the entire process of creating Lalita Method, I never stepped away from that role.
For years, it was a cycle of one step forward, two steps back. I’d get excited and start exploring possibilities… and then I’d pull back out of fear. What if it doesn’t work? What if I fail? That voice was loud for a long time.
The turning point came one day on a walk with one of my best friends. She stopped me mid-conversation and said plainly, “It’s time. You’re doing it.”
Something in me shifted. It felt like both a challenge and permission. I knew she was right—if I didn’t go all in now, I never would.
From there, I took the first big step: finding support. I hired a business coach, Amy Mewborn from Studio in a Box, and she was an absolute angel. Together, we navigated everything:
Getting a loan from the Small Business Association (SBA)
Building a solid business plan and financial model
Completing all the endless SBA forms
Working with brokers and LOIs for commercial space
Signing contracts and managing the construction process (we literally took our space down to the studs!)
Designing a space that reflected the elevated, luxurious-yet-welcoming feeling I wanted clients to experience
But I didn’t do this alone—and I could never have done it alone.
I’m incredibly lucky to have the support of my family and friends, both of which play a huge role in my life. My parents have always made me feel special and capable. Knowing that no matter what, they were behind me gave me the confidence to take risks and trust myself. My circle of friends were the ones who believed in me, encouraged me when doubt crept in, and reminded me that this dream was worth chasing.
It was a massive undertaking, and there were plenty of moments of doubt and overwhelm. But through it all, I had a deep, unshakable knowing that this was going to work.
I make decisions from my gut. I belive that the the biggest regret would be to not try to not do it. nothing is scarier to me than regreat.
Key milestones along the way included:
Securing SBA financing—a moment that made everything feel real
Finding the perfect location inside the luxury AKA Hotel in Old Town Alexandria
Watching the construction unfold—from empty walls to a stunning wellness space
Hiring and training an incredible team aligned with our mission
And ultimately, opening our doors and being voted Best Pilates Studio in DC for 2025 by DC Magazine in our very first year of business
What’s important to know is that Lalita Method was never an impulsive idea. It was a decade-long dream that took time, patience, mentorship, and a lot of courage to bring to life.
Even now, I still work full-time while running the studio. It’s a reflection of the reality that sometimes your passions take time to transition into a full-time focus. But I wouldn’t have it any other way—this journey taught me resilience, trust, and the power of asking for help when you need it.
Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?
For me, it all comes down to experience.
From the very beginning, I knew Lalita Method wasn’t just going to be about Pilates or even about wellness services. It was about how someone feels the moment they step inside our doors—what they see, hear, smell, and sense in their body.
When we were building out the space, people would tease me for being “too picky” about things that might seem small or insignificant—like the exact tone of the lighting, the texture of the flooring under bare feet, or even the subtle scent in the air when you walk in. But I knew those weren’t small details. Those were the things that would shape the energy of the space.
Because here’s the thing: details create emotion.
When someone walks in and feels instantly calm, welcomed, and elevated, that’s not an accident. It’s the sum of dozens of tiny choices that work together to create something you can’t quite put your finger on—but you feel it.
That feeling is irreplaceable.
Anyone can copy a class format or a schedule. But you can’t replicate a feeling. And that’s where the magic lies.
So yes, I obsessed over the exact seating in the lounge area so it encourages connection rather than rushing out. I thought about making sure you can dim the lights, that you can sit by a fireplace that emits heat in the winter months and more. I chose every single element in our Lalita Apothecary—supplements, tools, even the way products are displayed—so that clients don’t just see something beautiful, they experience a curated moment that extends beyond the studio.
Because at the end of the day, if you give someone a feeling, they’ll give you their loyalty.
They’ll remember how it felt to be here. And they’ll want to come back, again and again, because it’s more than just a class—it’s a moment in their day where everything feels right.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lalitamethod.com
- Instagram: @lalitamethod
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/107973908/admin/dashboard/
- Other: Google Business: https://www.google.com/search?q=google+business+lalita+method&oq=google+busines&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqBggCEEUYOzIGCAAQRRg5MggIARBFGCcYOzIGCAIQRRg7Mg0IAxAAGIMBGLEDGIAEMgoIBBAAGLEDGIAEMgcIBRAAGIAEMgYIBhBFGDwyBggHEEUYPNIBCDMzNzJqMGo3qAIAsAIA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8