Today we’d like to introduce you to Elena LaMadrid.
Hi Elena, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Originally from Scottsdale, Arizona I fell in love with classical ballet when I began dancing at the age of four. At 16, I moved to Houston, Texas to professionally train with the Houston Ballet Academy. After completing training at Houston Ballet, I moved to professionally dance with Nashville Ballet. I was introduced to pilates at the age of 10 as a form of cross-training and deeply fell in love with the practice after moving to Nashville and trained under David Gensheimer. After two seasons with Nashville Ballet, I decided to leave my ballet career and pursue a career in physical therapy and go back to school. While attending college, I was teaching pilates part-time throughout Nashville. I enjoyed teaching pilates while in school and was planning on hopefully combining my two loves to utilize together. After my second year in school, I was contemplating PT school if that was the right path for me and then COVID-19 began. My main teaching studio shut its doors in August and I was completely unsure with what I wanted to do in this new chapter of my life. Two weeks before beginning the fall semester, I dropped out of school and decided I wanted to open my own pilates studio. My dad is a Mexican immigrant and started his own company without a college degree and I always had an itch to build something of my own involving something I loved.
Deciding to open a pilates studio in the middle of a pandemic was the scariest thing I’ve ever done. With the uncertainty of what the future held especially for what that meant for the fitness industry, I wasn’t if I had just lost my mind with deciding to open a pilates studio. It was a year of crazy setbacks and obstacles while trying to navigate COVID-19. Despite these setbacks, I pushed to get the studio open and finally was able to open my studio doors in April of 2021. I opened Studio Pilates Nashville with the goal to inspire a community to elevate oneself and each other through movement. I’ve seen exactly that in these past few months. I’m excited and overwhelmed with our community we’ve built and continue to grow.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There have been numerous struggles and challenges along the way. Deciding to open a pilates studio during a pandemic left complete uncertainty if fitness could ever return to normal and if people could ever safely return to studios. A lot of people thought I was crazy to leave school and open a business that was in the top 5 most risky businesses to start. It was a year long of constant setbacks and navigating what the future held for the fitness industry. It proved to be the most challenging and hardest year of my life getting the studio to get opened but I was able to finally open Studio Pilates Nashville in April 2021.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Studio Pilates Nashville?
Studio Pilates Nashville is an athletic pilates studio located in the heart of the Nations. We offer group reformer classes and private training. An inclusive studio built on encouragement where everyone will feel welcome no matter age or level of fitness experience. We will have you leaving pumped for your next class! Our classes are challenging, creative, unique and FUN! Our style and approach is contemporary Pilates and we don’t shy away from other scientifically effective exercise styles! Our classes will always leave you sweaty, engaged and challenged.
We offer a variety of group class packages and membership options so we have you covered no matter your level of commitment.
First Class: $15
Two Week Teaser: 5 Classes in two weeks for $50
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
My dad, family and friends have been my biggest resource. My dad helped me navigate a lot while I was trying to get the studio opened and it felt like every door was getting slammed close in my face. He supported me the whole way through and continual gives me advice as I continue to navigate this crazy journey.
Pricing:
- First Class: $15
- Two Week Teaser: 5 classes in 2 weeks, $50
- Jumpstart Package: 2 privates and 4 group classes, $200
Contact Info:
- Email: elena@studiopilatesnashville.com
- Website: studiopilatesnashville.com
- Instagram: studiopilatesnashville
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/studiopilatesnashville/
Image Credits:
Catherine Powell
