We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Missoni Lanza. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Missoni below.
Hi Missoni, thanks for joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?
At the age of 27, I felt like a prisoner in my own body. I subscribed to the lifestyle of no pain, no gain and pushed my body to its breaking point. My history of injuries from poor training and a head-on-collision only exasperated the severity of my experience. It got to the point where I struggled lifting a glass of water and needed assistance from my partner to get out of bed in the morning. I went from exercising 2-4 hours a day to not being able to move without pain. I sought relief from countless doctors whose only solution was to fuse my cervical and lumbar spine. One doctor went as far as to tell me I had permanent nerve damage. It wasn’t till my employer at the time recommended that I go see a Pilates Instructor / Spine Specialist named Heidi Byrnes to see if she could help me. She was the first person to give me a straight answer as to what could possibly be going on with my body and had me move through the most mundane exercises you could think of. I saw her weekly and within a few months, the pain was completely gone. For the first time in two years, I felt like I had ownership of my own body again. The issue: my previous education mislead me to be a ticking time bomb for injury being a hyper mobile person with a history of injuries. Before I was injured, I was lead to believe that my routine and training habits was going to keep me resilient, yet it only accelerated my deterioration. The more I learned about my own body and how I came to my breaking point, the more passionate I became to better educate myself on creating a resilient body. I soon started exploring other facets of movement and incorporating various movement modalities to how I teach. This is when I noticed a significant difference in my clients, especially the ones who were experiencing chronic injuries. Their strength & endurance improved, their chronic pain began to dissipate, and they developed a deeper understanding of taking accountability of their own body. I wanted to share this information with as many people as I possibly could and made it my own personal mission to create a destination for individuals to nurture their body. In 2020, I opened my second Pilates Studio, Movement Bottega, in Palm Desert, CA on El Paseo. The word Bottega means artisans workshop or studio in Italian. Movement Bottega is a space for individuals to explore the details of their practice, develop a deeper understanding of their body, and develop the tools that they can apply to their day-to-day life that will last them a lifetime. At Movement Bottega, we believe your movement practice is an investment in your greatest masterpiece; your body.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I found Pilates at fifteen and immediately became addicted to the intelligence and precision of the practice. Having been involved in a variety of movement practices such as martial arts, fencing, archery, tennis, golf, volleyball and more, I enjoyed the challenge each exercise presented and how it demanded me to be more present with my body. At the time, Pilates was just a hobby, something I loved to do for my own self care while I was pursuing a career in music. After years of spending time in Pilates studios, my friend, who was a studio owner, suggested I get my Pilates Certification to support my music career. Now, I can tell you I had absolutely NO confidence that I would be able to teach. My friend persisted and she hired me as soon as I received my certification. I was the only green instructor in the studio and I knew if I wanted to truly support the clientele and their expectations, I needed to seek out additional education. So, I sold my car and sought out education from leaders in the Pilates Industry. Any opportunity I could get, I would immerse myself in workshops and training programs. The more I immersed myself, the more engrossed I became in the work. It wasn’t long till my focus shifted from music to Pilates. I worked at several studios and established a cult-like following for my athletic & thoughtful classes. It wasn’t till I was injured and met Heidi Byrnes & Madeline Black, an international leader in movement and exercise education, that I truly elevated my teaching. Heidi & Madeline were the catalysts to challenging me to think outside of the box, seek inspiration from other facets of movement outside of Pilates, and bringing new perspectives to the work. This is when I truly began to see more noticeable transformations within my clientele. I quickly developed a reputation for improving performance goals and alleviating pain. Teachers began seeking me out for mentorship and guidance on how to problem-solve for complicated cases. In 2017, I opened my first studio with a business partner. As the studio grew, the integrity of the services were no longer at the standards that I felt comfortable supporting and the communication between my partner was not productive. So, after 3 years in business, I walked from the business and later opened my second studio, Movement Bottega. After experiencing the dynamics of a larger studio, I quickly learned that my skillsets as an instructor thrive in a more intimate environment where the main focus is safe, intentional, and quality movement. The studio is thoughtfully curated where each person that walks in the door gets individualized attention and feedback based on their personal needs and their lifestyle. Each person gets hands out feedback and guidance so they can see results and progress over time. My mission is to provide each person that works with me the tools that they can apply to their day-to-day lives that will last them a lifetime. When a student comes to work with me, they are not only receiving a movement experience, but are also being educated on how their body works and how to take accountability of their own body. At the end of the day, I am the instructor people seek out who want to deepen their understanding of their body & elevate their practice.
Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?
When I found the studio space for my second studio, Movement Bottega, I had no capital and a small handful of clients that had followed me from my previous business. I was apprehensive if I would be able to generate enough of a clientele to be able to support the studio. Yet, my apprehension was outweighed by my desire to teach and provide a destination for my clients. I was extremely fortunate that my property manager gave me a trial period with an option to renew a 3 year lease. Within a few months, I was waitlisted by referrals alone. Paycheck by paycheck, I slowly started piecing together the studio. Movement Bottega started out as a very bare, Private studio with just a Reformer, Cadillac and Chair. Within a year, I was able to obtain four springboards to provide Semi-Private Sessions. Within two years I was able to purchase two stall bars and various props. Within 3 years, I got the opportunity to purchase 3 additional reformers and a barrel. The process has been slow and arduous, however, I am so glad I trusted my passion to share this work with others. When you have a mission to help others and are persistent with your pursuits, you can make anything happen. Yes, it may take time, but if you stay clear on your vision, you can get there.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
A story that stands out the most with my resilience is when I went to secure a credit card to purchase equipment for my first studio. I had no money and terrible credit (due to an unfortunate family situation.) I applied for loans and credit cards, but was ultimately denied. After awhile, I got fed up and wrote a business plan and presented it to an associate at the bank. Denied. I went back home and accumulated testimonials on how great my classes are and added it to my folder. Denied. I then calculated the money I made other studios with my Private Sessions and classes and added it to the folder. Denied. I kept adding documents, referrals, business projections, etc. After about two weeks of visiting the associate on a daily basis and pressing him for a credit card, he finally broke. “If I give you this credit card, will you leave me alone?” I shouted “Yes!!!” and thanked him profusely. He approved me of a credit card with a limit that was enough to purchase the equipment needed to get started with my first studio.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.movementbottega.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/missonilanza
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/missoni-lanza-743b8a4b/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@missoni-lanza
Image Credits
Photography by Jess Castro