We recently connected with Shawna Beardsley and have shared our conversation below.

Shawna, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

My parents did a great job in providing me with both love and support, as well as teaching me the value of hard work and responsibility. This balance had a significant impact on my life and career.

One way in which my parents taught me responsibility was when they expected me to help fix the window after I accidentally broke it. This experience taught me the importance of taking ownership of my actions and helped me develop problem-solving skills.

Furthermore, their expectation for me to change my own spark plugs and take on responsibilities such as getting a job and paying for my own gas and insurance shows that they were preparing me for the real world. By giving me these responsibilities at a young age, they taught me valuable life skills and instilled a strong work ethic and sense of independence in me.

The impact of their parenting style has influenced my journey in both my personal life and my career. I have learned the importance of taking initiative, being accountable for my actions, and being self-reliant. These qualities did contribute to my success in navigating challenges, setting goals, and achieving them.

Overall, my parents did many things right by balancing their support and love with the expectation for me to work hard and take responsibility. Their approach has not only impacted my personal growth but also equipped me with valuable skills that have benefited me in my career.

Shawna, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Hello! My name is Shawna Beardsley, and I am a native of Tucson, AZ. I have always found the desert to be my home, despite having moved out of state a couple of times. My journey into the world of pilates began through my sister, who started the biggest pilates franchise in the world.

One thing you may not have known about me is that my passion extends beyond pilates; I also enjoy practicing yoga, weight training, hiking, swimming, cycling, and walking. Pilates acts as the adhesive that enhances my performance in all these activities, enabling me to approach them with heightened awareness and intention.

Another thing people may not know about me is that I am a proud college dropout. I completed two years at community college but realized that pursuing a career as a doctor or lawyer was not what I truly desired, and I wanted to avoid accumulating too much debt. Fortunately, I discovered pilates as an alternative path and I seized this opportunity. I am entirely self-taught in this field and have extensively studied through books, constantly learning about sales, marketing, advertising, leadership, education, management, and various other business avenues. I firmly believe that firsthand experience is the most valuable learning tool one can have.

I completed my 500-hour comprehensive teacher training for pilates in 2015, and have been teaching pilates for 8 years now. In 2018, I took ownership of In Balance Pilates, a local studio serving the Tucson and Oro Valley community. We specialize in group reformer classes and also offer a fantastic teacher training program.

At In Balance Pilates, we aim to solve various problems for our clients, such as helping them overcome pain, strengthen their bodies, and tone up. What sets us apart from others is the fact that we are a locally owned business, allowing us the freedom to operate without conforming to rigid corporate rules. Our ultimate goal is to empower fearless movers, encouraging our clients to embrace their full potential.

One aspect of In Balance Pilates that I am incredibly proud of is the community we have built. We have a diverse group of amazing instructors, each with their own unique backgrounds and teaching styles. We empower our teachers to teach fearless movement and give them the freedom to create their own classes.

I consider myself fortunate to work with such incredible individuals, including our instructors, teachers in training, brand ambassadors, and, of course, our clients. I am grateful for the opportunity to make a positive impact within our community and help people on their journey to better health and fitness.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

One lesson that I had to unlearn was the belief in the scarcity of money and its impact on helping people afford pilates. Initially, in an effort to attract more people, I decided to lower my rates and bring pilates to a wider audience.

The backstory behind this decision relates to when I first acquired the studio. Attendance was at its lowest and our rates were incredibly low. I mistakenly thought that by charging lower rates, more people would be able to afford pilates and our classes would be full. However, I soon realized that this approach didn’t yield the desired results.

I came to understand that our value as a business should not solely rely on monetary aspects but rather on the quality of the services we provide to our clients. There is no price that can be placed on the impact of helping a client overcome low back pain or supporting their strength and independence well into their golden years. These benefits are truly invaluable and deserve a premium price.

My biggest lesson was centered around my money mindset. I mistakenly believed that raising my prices would result in losing clients. However, I learned that when you increase your prices, people not only expect a higher value service, but they also receive it.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

The most effective strategy for growing our clientele has been through social media. Harnessing the power of the internet, we have been able to advertise and market ourselves for free. Consistent and daily posting on various platforms helps us stay relevant and visible in people’s news feeds.

In addition, Google is a crucial platform for attracting new clients. When individuals search for a pilates studio in their area, it is important that we appear in the top results. Making a strong first impression with our online presence is key in converting these leads into loyal customers.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://inbalancepilatestucson.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inbalancepilatestucson/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/inbalancepilatestucson/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawna-beardsley-622476250/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXN8Xo5uqX4Nx5NWShSrXtQ
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/in-balance-pilates-tucson