Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and fitness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Ashlee Carignan, CEO of Pilates With Ashlee, located in Los Angeles, CA, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

Pilates With Ashlee branded PWA is a chic boutique in the heart of Los Angeles that offers clients Private, Semi-Private, & Small Group Pilates training. We take pride in not having "one particular type of client," we welcome ALL shapes & sizes into our intimate studio. We've trained everyone from celebrities to bonafide pro-olympian athletes & our next-door neighbors! If you want the best Pilates training in LA, PWA is where to come.

Tell us about yourself

I quickly became addicted to the practice of Pilates 16 years ago when a friend, Eden Sassoon, invited me to attend some Pilates classes. Immediately I was intrigued by the idea of building a career wrapped around Joseph Pilates theory: the complete coordination between the mind, body, and spirit. "The mind, when housed within a healthful body, possesses a glorious sense of power!" - J. Pilates.
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I went on to train at some of LA's premier studios, eventually leading me to launch my own studio and brand in Los Angeles, appropriately called "Pilates with Ashlee," aka PWA. I opened a studio to ultimately share my passion for Pilates with men and women of ALL ages, sizes, and backgrounds, all the while helping strengthen their physical, mental, and emotional journeys! I pride myself on having an open-minded, "no type" studio where people can come and feel at their BEST. Working with every unique client of mine to help them see and achieve their personal goals.

Meeting new people & connecting with them on a weekly basis is why I love my job. Waking up knowing that I can impact someone's life or just turn their attitude around for just that day - THAT'S THE ULTIMATE FEELING! Priceless.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

It's truly hard to narrow in on one particular accomplishment as I strive to be better & stronger as a business owner every day/year. I wrote one of the first business-oriented workshops in the Pilates community pre-covid called, Behind the Hustle: Business Tools for Fitness Professionals. Its focus is to help younger & newer Pilates instructors/owners build their businesses and clientele. I share a lot of personal "insider secrets" I did throughout so many years to become and stay successful for so long. The workshop became certified by PMA (Pilates Method Alliance), making it a legitimate program to take as continuing education!

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

Staying on top of everything, particularly social media. It's a catch-22 for me because it doesn't bring me any business/clients, yet I have to stay active; otherwise, my business does not appear successful to the outside world. It's quite frustrating, costly, and takes up so much of my free time (the little that I have being a new mom and a business owner) that, subsequently, I don't have time to invest in my clients or studio. I decided 2023 was going to be the year I try to find some balance between the two, hoping I can continue providing exceptional service and content.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. BE PRESENT. I truly believe in order for a business to be successful, the person running it has to take an active role. You cannot delegate to someone else, especially not in the beginning. It'll be tough, time-consuming, and almost regretful at times, but completely worth it in the end, which brings me to #2.
  2. STICK WITH IT. Continue to work hard, even when you feel like quitting! It's impossible not to be successful if you're doing the work, setting goals, and consistently meeting them. Have faith in yourself and remember the old saying, "Rome wasn't built in one day." Meaning all new businesses take time.
  3. JUST DO IT! Fear is the reason why people don't pursue more things, whatever it may be. If you have a solid business idea, you've done the research & found a niche, then go for it! What do you have to lose? If it doesn't work out, then you can always go back to doing something else or try again. At least, you can say you tried and put 110% into it. If you never start, you'll never know.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.pilateswithashlee.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TEAMPWA/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pilateswithashlee/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Ashlee_Carignan
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/teampwa/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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