We recently connected with Francine Acevedo McCaughan and have shared our conversation below.

Francine, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. To kick things off, we’d love to hear about things you or your brand do that diverge from the industry standard.

Yes. At our studio, we focus on the individual client and their particular needs and desires for each class. Because we are a small business, we can do this without shaking up corporate practices. We are free to give much more attention to each client because we have less machines and clients per class than a big box corporate studio. This keeps our clients feeling taken care of, happy, and safe.

I actually worked at three different corporate Pilates studio chains before I purchased my small business, and I can tell you from experience, that in a corporate setting, teachers have their hands tied in what they can and cannot teach. For example, at one chain studio, which has twelve machines per studio, the class schedule is set by “level”. Each level has restrictions as to what a teacher is allowed to teach, which is understandable because when there are so many students in a class, it is near impossible to watch all students performing one exercise at a time. It’s a safety thing, and I get it. However, this inconveniences corporate clients who might not be able to arrange their schedule to attend a class whose level fits their abilities. For example, if a Level 4 advanced client can only make room in their schedule to attend a Level 1 beginner class, that client will not be allowed to work up to their potential and will be limited to level 1 exercises. I remember that in the corporate setting, this frustrated many clients time and time again.

We are proud that Code of Life a small business because it allows us to really cater to each client individually and tailor each class to what the clients want and need for that particular class. We welcome all levels in each of our classes since we only have six machines per class. Because of our small size, we are able to offer modifications and progressions for each exercise in order to allow clients to make the class as light or challenging as they want or need for that particular day. We are also able to keep an eye on each client giving each the attention they deserve because our class sizes are small, unlike corporate chain studios. Our teaching style is flexible and flows instead of being rigid and restricting. This keeps our clients happy and coming back again and again.

Francine, 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?

My Pilates training started in Atlanta, Georgia, while I was a Varsity Georgia Tech Cheerleader. Originally seeking mental respite from the scholastic and physical rigors of student-athlete life, I found that Pilates not only soothed and calmed my mind but also invigorated my body, lengthening and leaning it out. After noticing the results, I was hooked.

I honed my Pilates practice by taking classes regularly in Atlanta and Augusta, Georgia, Washington DC, Los Angeles, California, and finally in Cádiz, Spain. I attended my teacher training courses in Miami, Florida, through Pilates ProWorks and Polestar Pilates. Currently, I own my own studio in Key Biscayne, FL, where I teach Pilates Group and Private classes.

I also teach Pilates masterclasses in French, Spanish, and English in order to share my passion and teach others about the benefits of Pilates. To date, I have taught in Los Angeles, New York City, Chicago, Augusta, Georgia, and Paris, France. When you do what you love, the sky’s the limit!

Before becoming a Pilates and Barre teacher, I worked at a big well-known talent agency in Beverly Hills, California, helping negotiate director, talent, executive producer, licensing, and production service contracts. I worked with high-profile celebrities and helped package TV shows which sold to all of the big TV and digital networks. Although I enjoyed this work, my passion for fitness because of my past as a soccer player and cheerleader tugged at my heartstrings.

While in Los Angeles, I toyed with the idea of returning to the fitness world. I was apprehensive about leaving the corporate world because, professionally, that was all that I knew. My first step back towards fitness was stunting with the Los Angeles Clippers cheerleading squad on my off-time from work. This seemed promising until an ACL injury prevented me from continuing.

While attending physical therapy for my knee, I noticed that many of the exercises I was given were Pilates exercises. I remembered that Pilates was something that I could do into my old age because it is low impact and rehab-based. The seed of becoming a Pilates Professional was planted.

Working as an Entertainment Professional was fun, but it left me unsettled and yearning for something more. I moved from LA to Cadiz, Spain, to clear my head and figure out my next step. Inspired by the clientele that I used to serve, who all seemed to be following their dreams, I decided to leave the law completely in order to pursue my passion for fitness full-time. My past experiences have not been lost on me, though, as I combine what I learned in my past career in order to run my small business now. The amount of legal knowledge necessary to run a business is astounding.

I am a firm believer in doing what you love and loving what you do and trying everything in between until you find out what that is. I have found this life process to be analogous to Pilates itself, where every exercise takes trial and error to achieve, but persistence and determination help you to achieve your goal. I feel I have finally married my passions and strengths and encourage my clients every day to strive to do the same!

Named a Top Ten Studio in South Florida, Code of Life is not your regular everyday Pilates studio. It is an experience, a feeling – a lifestyle. It is off-the-beaten-path. Many of our clients tell us that they have never experienced Pilates in the way we present it: fitness-based, but mindful. We use the Pilates principles of Breath, Alignment, Length and Core Control to help you connect your mind and body while immersing yourself in uplifting music in our state-of-the-art studio.

Code of Life offers fun & effective in-studio, at-home, and online Reformer, Exo Chair, Tower, Core Align, and Mat group, semi-private, and private Adult and Teen classes. Events, parties, bachelorette, and birthday parties are welcome. Beach Pilates classes are available through our community partnerships. Unlimited Memberships are available through the Mindbody website, which offers classes as low as $16/class. Spanish and English are spoken.

We are a boutique contemporary Pilates studio in Key Biscayne, Florida. We promote intentional movement of mind, body, and spirit. We offer fun and challenging choreography guided by the Principles of Pilates offering you a more athletic approach to Pilates than any other Pilates studio around.

Group classes are conducted on Balanced Body Reformers & Towers combo and on Exo Chairs. We use props, like free weights and the Pilates Ring (Magic Circle) to help keep you engaged. Most of our classes are taught to the beat of the music to keep the vibes high and to help you stay focused. The result is a highly engaging efficient and effective workout.

We welcome all levels, whether you are a beginner or a Pilates pro. Our teachers are trained to provide modifications and progressions for those who prefer them in order to accommodate all levels in each of our classes. If you are pregnant, please let us know and seek permission from your doctor before coming.

For sanitation and safety, closed-toe Grip socks are required. We do sell socks in studio for those that need them. Join our studio through one of our New Client specials available on Mindbody!

At Code of Life, we are known for our fun and energetic, flowy yet athletic classes. We inspire our clients to tend not only to their physical health through exercise and eating well but also to their mental and spiritual health. In our classes and through our Instagram @code.of.life we keep clients and potential clients motivated and inspired to live a balanced and fulfilled life.

We are most proud of providing a service that helps people realize their physical and mental potential and that they are perfect just the way they are. Pilates is a mind, body, and spirit centered exercise. Once people realize this, they grow in confidence in all aspects of their lives.

Code of Life is different – ask anyone who has walked through our door. What sets us apart from others? We have our own teaching approach and vibe. We are not a traditional Pilates studio. Our teaching approach is based on the Pilates Principles from traditional Pilates, but is more athletic and contemporary. It almost has a personal training feel to it. We zone in on our students, paying close attention to their form and encouraging them to reach their fullest potential. We teach fun and creative choreographed classes on the Reformer Machine, Tower, and Pilates Chair. Our teachers are trained to offer modifications and progressions for each exercise in order to accommodate all levels. Our vibe is loving, accepting, and familial.

On any given week, we have students visit us from different countries and states who have heard of us from a friend or family member, Instagram, or the internet and are curious about our approach. Most students comment that they have never experienced Pilates in the way that we present it and they love it. Many have tried to find studios like ours elsewhere, but are unable to. Because of this, we are constantly asked if we will open other locations. Stay tuned!

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Resilience: the capacity to withstand or to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness.

The Pandemic was probably our toughest time because our landlord, bank, insurance and software companies, among others, still demanded payment from us even though we weren’t allowed to operate in-person. We made the personal decision to keep paying our cleaning lady during this time (though it was not demanded from us like the creditors mentioned above) because she had a severely disabled child she was caring for and it didn’t seem morally right to make that a “business decision”. Sometimes the right choice will temporarily put you behind, and it will be taxing and uncomfortable, but everything works out in the end.

The piles of paperwork and documents we had to read through, figure out, fill out, and provide in order to receive some sort help was insane. All the while, we continued to give classes, do our everyday admin work, and market our efforts in order to keep people interested. All of my teachers decided not to teach for the studio during this time, so I was doing all of the teaching myself, in addition to the admin, tech, and marketing I was already doing. Thank God for my superstar husband and business partner who helped me with the loads of paperwork and money-side of the business. So many businesses, especially fitness gyms and studios – many that I knew the owners personally – were forced to close during this time. Honestly, at times I think it would have been so much easier to close – but we made the decision to dig our heels in the ground and fight to stay open and prosper – and that, we did!

It was definitely not easy to get to where we are today, a top-ten studio in South Florida, especially because we purchased Code of Life literally just a few months before the Pandemic lock-down. We were freshly locked into a bank loan, lease, and software contract, that all took time, money, and energy to acquire. Thankfully, we already had a strong client-base, who stayed connected with us during the lock-down through our online classes and brand-partnerships, so when we opened back up after the lock-down, we hit the ground running. It was a challenge to operate according to EPA standards, navigating the fears and demands of our clients in the process, but we did it. We were in the studio daily teaching with a new-found passion and purpose, nightly deep-cleaning and fogging, and in the wee hours of the morning at our computers doing admin, fixing tech issues, and coming up with campaigns.

It was certainly a challenge to attract more people and keep public confidence during a scary and uncertain time for all, but we rose to the occasion and are so proud of our ourselves and our team for doing so.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I think the biggest lesson that I have learned is to delegate tasks and stop trying to be super-woman. Before taking a deep-dive into personal development, I was an extreme perfectionist, which put a lot of negative pressure on me. After a few episodes of burnout and a little encouragement from my team, I started delegating work and hiring the right people. Our team is amazing and I am so thankful for them everyday. They call me out when I need to be called out and make wonderful suggestions that help run the studio more smoothly. I think some other lessons I have learned are to be more flexible and to trust the process.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.code-of-life.com and www.perfectlyfrancine.comwww.code-of-life.com
• Instagram: @code.of.life and @perfectlyfrancine
• Facebook: Code of Life Pilates

Image Credits
Jesenia Betancourt Photography