It’s with mixed emotions that I reach this milestone.

– shocked that it’s been so long.

– grateful that it’s been so long.

– amazed by the intense commitment of our clients.

– inspired by the teachers I work with who all strive to learn and share.

– confused by what some of the Pilates world has become.

– tired at the thought of continual reinvention.

– disappointed by the need for social media.

It’s an honest list that shifts order on a daily basis.

And like all time reflection, this 25 year span feels long – and well, not long at all.

When we opened in 2001, weeks before 9/11, Pilates was virtually unknown. Almost all of our inquiries were by phone – in response to our yellow pages ad. How quaint.

“What exactly is Pie-lates?”

“Is Pie-lates like Yoga?”

“I heard there is a Pie-lates machine that fixes back pain.”

“Do men do Pie-lates too?”

We had a description on a sticky note at reception so we could attempt to explain Pilates in 2 mins or less. Quite a challenge when there was no point of reference.

We used a manual credit card machine and accepted cheques, wrote schedules by hand and left instructor schedules on voicemail. We took workshop after workshop and worked with physios and massage therapists as we forged a path to adapt Pilates to work for a continually broader range of therapeutic clientele, as was our reputation.

A Natural Teacher…

I was introduced to Pilates through the ballet world. It was love at first try. The complexity, the subtlety, the discipline drew me in in an instant. I still didn’t think I’d make a career of it – I thought I’d just do it. But then I completed teacher training and fell in love with the teaching side. Which is so very different from doing. I liked how personal it was, how exploratory it was. It still is.

…NOT a natural business owner.

With my aversion to numbers, spreadsheets, and tech I was an unlikely business owner in 2001. With my added aversion to social media and auto-systems I’m even less of a likely candidate in 2026.

They say that the ideal business owner is first driven to develop a business and then decides which business to build based on profitability, scalability and sell ability.

Don’t let your passion drive your business.

Work at your business Laura, not in your business.

Focus on an exit plan.

You need to reach out to influencers.

AI can write your newsletters.

I’ve been told this by very smart people for years. It may be smart advice but really not me.

Although this blog feels like an admittance of all that is lacking and all of my shortcomings I think I felt the need to write it as a counter to the “everything is great” “even my failures are great (and beautiful!)” and the all so perfect tone of what I recoil at in social media.

It’s been hard work, but work that is so deeply satisfying and the community, organically built up over the years, is an inspiration. (The words community, organic and inspiration all over used highjacked – I know!).

But truly. I love coming to work. There is so much to love.

I love teaching clients I’ve known for 25 years, through life transitions, challenges and ever changing bodies.

I love working with new people I’m just figuring out. The process of adjusting and choosing and tweaking.

I like being surrounded by good teaching and creativity. I like the people that we draw in who are overwhelmingly varied, interesting, kind and curious.

I like the windows and the light and the physical space. I’m not a good fit for working from home everyday.

So. Thank you to everyone who has been part of this 25 year journey.
Here’s to continually showing up and moving forward.

xo
Laura

Laura Helsel Gauthier
Founder, Pilates Process
Writer, Teacher, Presenter
Franklin Method Educator®