Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to May Martin. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi May , thanks for joining us today. Can you recount a time when the advice you provided to a client was really spot on? (Please note this response is for education/entertainment purposes only and shouldn’t be construed as advice for the reader)

One of my clients came to me desperately trying to improve her figure. She was on the verge of trying liposuction. She had a clean diet, slept well, exercised regularly, and managed her stress levels. She had tried several exercise programs but nothing seemed to work. After carefully analyzing her posture. I noticed that she had a lordosis with is excessive lower back curvature. During my analysis I noticed her lower back never contacted the mat which prevented her from properly exercising the core muscle groups. By inserting a supportive pillow into the curvature of her back she was able to make significant progress without dietary changes or painful and expensive surgery. My client had finally achieved her goals without relying on surgery or excessive diets. As a Pilates teacher I see the body as as it extends from the spine and postural alignment . Which gives me the insight needed to give the best advice to each individual based on their goals and abilities.

May , 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 name is May Martin, and I am a certified classical Pilates Instructor.   My journey as a Pilates Instructor began in 2017 when I began studying Pilates as a way to overcome the pain of my scoliosis.  All the hard work and effort paid off, and I now live pain free and strong.  Since that time, I have seen a tremendous improvement in my  life and in the overall look of my body.   I was so pleased with the outcome, that I wanted to share the benefits I had gained through Pilates with everyone. Pilates can help people improve their body awareness, strengthen their core muscles, and create lean, long muscles.

I focus on each client as an individual and don’t apply a one sized fits all formula. Everyone has different needs, capabilities, and goals. A formula driven approach isn’t going to drive the best outcomes. In addition, I’ve taken specialized Pilates instruction to help alleviate some of the issues related to mild forms of Scoliosis. Something that I myself live with and continue to develop skills and experience around.
I focus on clients as individuals. I don’t teach large classes because I don’t think they’re effective for the majority of people seeking pilates as part of a holistic solution. Most of my clients are looking to reverse significant problems brought about by physical imbalances that often times can be remedied with pilates instruction. I pride myself on continuously studying and specializing on those aspects of the human anatomy that bring the most value to my clients. Most of the people I see tend to have weaknesses in their anatomies from imbalanced lifestyles, sports injuries related to repetitive motion, age related deterioration of the musculature system, and genetically related imbalances (scoliosis). I work with my clients to help them live strong, pain free, and to improve the level of activity relative to their goals and overall wellness.

My journey has been truly rewarding.  Listening to my clients say that they feel revitalized, and pain-free while exercising,  and seeing them do things with their bodies that they never thought possible, is truly the most rewarding part of my job.

Whether they speak Spanish or English I am here to help clients achieve their “best selves.”

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

Give back to the community. I donate classes to non-profit organizations as part of fund raising auctions. I also teach for free at the local community center. It gives me a great sense of satisfaction and helps me to engage as part of the local community. As you give so shall you receive. Getting my name in the community through philanthropic and charity has been a personal blessing as well as a great way to create local buzz.

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

As a boutique Pilates Studio, let your work and reputation bring in business. It also helps to incentivize existing clients to help spread the word and get your name out into the community but be selective. A bad client reference can hurt a business too. This is the type of business that works on referrals as opposed to a big studio where the emphasis is on advertisement and membership drives.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pilatesbymay
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pilatesbymay
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/may-martin-108a94199
• Yelp: Pilates by May

Image Credits
non applicable