Today we’d like to introduce you to Leslie Lawson.
Leslie, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I started working out as a teenager and immediately took to lifting weights. I loved feeling strong and the fact that I could shape specific parts of my body to my liking.
While living in NYC in 2001, I discovered Pilates. I loved the camaraderie of the small group classes, the fact that hundreds of exercises could be performed using one machine (in this case, the reformer), and how quickly I began to gain flexibility, as I was often sore from the gym.
In 2012 I suffered a serious shoulder injury and took up Pilates again the following spring for rehab after a botched surgery. I ended up having stem cells from the bone marrow in my hips injected into my shoulder. It was a slow and painful process, but I never gave up hope. I continued to practice Pilates (very cautiously), and went from not being able to open a door 3 years ago to being extremely active.
Last summer I made the difficult decision to give up my career in television and open Renegade Pilates. With the increasing popularity of boutique fitness studios, I realized that this was something that I have loved my entire adult life, and something that was actually within my grasp! Once I had the idea in my mind, I just ran with it.
Earlier this year, I decided to begin the certification process with Power Pilates Education. I’ve been extremely lucky that I was able to connect with amazing instructors and clients, who have truly become a second family to me.
Has it been a smooth road?
We’ve definitely had our ups and downs. Just getting our name out there was a huge undertaking. There were plenty of times where I wanted to give up, but then I would hear positive feedback from a client or read a review that touched my heart, and I knew that I couldn’t just walk away. Today a good chunk of our business comes from referrals, people bring their friends, daughters, spouses, etc. I’m lucky to have found a great group of talented, loyal, enthusiastic teachers who were willing to take a chance on a startup and build a community from the ground up.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Renegade Pilates story. Tell us more about the business.
Renegade Pilates is proud to be a boutique fitness studio where clients can build off the energy of each other in small group reformer classes (with a maximum of 8 students per class), yet still receive personalized attention (We also offer private sessions for those who prefer to work one-on-one).
I am a firm believer that Pilates should be easily accessible. We offer a wide variety of packages and memberships. We have onsite parking and are open 7 days a week with 34 classes weekly.
Having spent so much time as a student, and having practiced in dozens of studios, I do my best to run the studio from our students’ perspective. Our goal is to not only give you a great workout and help rehabilitate/prevent injuries, we want each and every person that walks through our door to feel at home and leave just a little bit happier than when they walked in!
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
While technology and social media make the world a smaller place, they can sometimes make us lonelier. We are constantly on our phones and personal interaction can easily become limited. Boutique fitness studios help fill that void. Sometimes you just need to go somewhere where someone knows your name and asks you how you are doing and genuinely cares about your wellbeing.
In addition, sitting at a computer all day and constantly looking down at our phones, really throws our bodies out of alignment. Pilates really helps with that, and I believe that as more and people discover it, Pilates will continue to grow in popularity. I also envision more and more men practicing Pilates, as it is great for balance, coordination, strength and flexibility and a consistent practice will certainly improve performance in all sports.
Pricing:
- New Client Special – First class only $19
- New Client Special – 5 Classes for $85
- Memberships available starting at $150/month
Contact Info:
- Address: Renegade Pilates
649 NE 79th St.
Miami, FL 33138 - Website: www.renegadepilates.com
- Phone: 786.423.6027
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @renegadepilatesmiami
- Facebook: @PilatesMiami419
- Twitter: @RenegadePilates
Getting in touch: VoyageMIA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
