We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tisha Ortiz. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tisha below.

Tisha, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear the story behind how you got your first job in field that you currently practice in.

My first Pilates teaching job actually came about because I was already a member of the Pilates studio working out before I went to my full time job at a real estate office. I had been a decade long boot camp junkie with chronic shoulder pain that ultimately resulted in surgery in Spring 2016. Post surgery and graduation out of PT I knew I wouldn’t go back to the heavy, impactful exercises I had been doing. I had heard about Pilates and the benefits it offered so I tried it and instantly fell in love. Hence why I was going to the studio to work out before my day job. I jumped head first into teacher training in Fall 2016 and was teaching at the studio by January 2017. I knew the benefits of what Pilates did for my body and I wanted to bring it to everyone! Both being a member and teaching Pilates at the same studio was wonderful as it allowed me to not only get to know the people and have them get to know me but it also allowed me to submerse myself around like minded instructors so I was always learning!

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I always say everybody and every body can do Pilates and this is SO true! I have had strong athletic men and women, those with a replaced hip or knee, those with a rod in their back from scoliosis as a kid, to those who just want to get and stay strong as they age. I have seen those who have suffered severe head trauma with scars across their head, able to do pilates, concentrating hard on the mind-muscle connection to move a limb. It’s humbling when a client starts out weak and slowly, through time, becomes stronger and stronger and realizes that for the first time in forever they can do x, y or z. It brings me to tears knowing that because of my guidance (and slight pushing!) they are finding joy in being able to do what perhaps they couldn’t before.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

It was never my intention to own a Pilates studio, or any other business for that matter. It just happened really. Some inquiries to expand another brand didn’t come to fruition and since I already knew what the numbers would be to buy equipment, have rent, etc., my husband gave me a little push to open my own studio. Finding the perfect space took a bit of time, losing out on a few spaces, but what what even more challenging was acquiring the bank loan to start the business. Note that unless you’re already an established business, banks don’t like to give a brand new business a loan. So I opted to forgo the banks and just use some personal liquidity I had. Probably not super ideal given the business could have failed and I would have been left on the hook on my personal credit, but my choices were slim to none.

I opened Milford Pilates Club in Fall 2019 and within 6 months, the world as we knew it shut down. I had a baby so to speak, I had bills, I had a lease I was responsible for. It was very scary to say the least. Quickly I pivoted to Instagram live but then thought, all my clients are paying money for my service and now anyone who follows me can get a free workout. Well that wasn’t fair to my clients so thank goodness for Zoom. Life saver indeed! Classes were held twice daily both a.m. and p.m. and once the weather broke, we were able to meet up in the park (socially distanced of course). Very slowly and methodically I brought small groups, socially spaced, in the studio starting at only 2 or 3 and as time went on, we grew to maximum of 6 in the studio. In the beginning we were max 10. I put new safety guidelines in place such as masking, cleaning after each class, with a deep clean weekly. You work the hours you need to, to keep the doors open and the clients happy, wanting to come back and they did!

I look back now and am amazed by the fact I actually GREW a business in a pandemic where so many had to close. I am so appreciative and honored by those who entrusted me with their health and well being.

Conversations about M&A are often focused on multibillion dollar transactions – but M&A can be an important part of a small or medium business owner’s journey. We’d love to hear about your experience with selling businesses.

My future goal for the studio, when it came time for my spouse and myself to retire, was to perhaps sell the studio to a member of my staff or perhaps with a rocking staff, be a snow bird and fly back in monthly to teach classes. I knew at some point the day would come that I would have to figure that out. I just didn’t plan for it so soon. One of my clients and I have a mutual friend in the industry as well who told her that I may be thinking of selling in the future. This client brought it to her boss, who is also in the Pilates industry, to which they both then came to me to discuss purchasing the studio. I went into these conversations knowing I could say no and continue ownership so it made it very easy to have open communication with this individual. I didn’t HAVE to sell and I’m NOT moving out of state yet, so why rush? The biggest thing I kept in my mind were my clients. Those who had been with me from the beginning and stuck with me the entire time. They are like my family and there was no way I was going to let them down when they kept me lifted for 3 years. I had to be sure this person was the one, was the one who would take care of my clients just as good as I had. It wasn’t a rushed decision and there were several months of talks before I knew it would be ok. That my baby would be in good hands, as would the clients, and I felt comfortable with my decision.

Ironically 3 years to the date I opened Milford Pilates Club, I sold it! The name on the front of the building will change at some point to it’s new name, Reforming Foundations. Now I get to sit back and teach the amazing clients as I’m not leaving the studio, just leaving the ownership. It’s a wonderful feeling indeed!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: pilates.by.tish
• Facebook: Pilates by Tish

Image Credits
Nicole Rall Photography Girl Squad Media, Monica Linda Self