Check out the latest interviews with Gina Axelson.

In her own words:

Hi, my name is Gina Axelson and I am a certified pilates instructor and studio owner. ThePilatesBiz.com was created as a resource for other pilates instructors providing pilates business advice and proven methods for being a success in the pilates industry.

I’ve been in the pilates industry for 10 years and a lot of times I found myself frustrated with the lack of resources available on how to run a business. There was always an overwhelming amount of opportunities for me to become a better teacher, and I have continually done that, but really very little information shared on how to be a successful instructor or studio owner. For a time I even believed that if I just kept improving my pilates knowledge I would by default become better at business, but now I know this isn’t true at all and is one of the big myths perpetuated in the pilates industry! (More on this subject in my upcoming book!)

Ten years ago I had completed my first pilates certification and jumped right in working full time almost immediately. I didn’t know how to attract and retain the right clients, how to promote myself and my studio or even what was the best way to “give back” to clients I had grown to care about. I felt overwhelmed, like I was spinning my wheels, and even though I was making “ok” money (charging only $45 for a private lesson if you’d believe that!) I was unfulfilled teaching day in and day out and just getting burned out. I knew there had to be a better way and for years I just kept working harder and harder thinking eventually all my efforts would come to fruition and life would get easier once all the pieces fell in to place. Well, guess what, it never happened. Kind of like the old joke about the rat race is no matter how fast you run you are still a rat.

It wasn’t until four years ago after completing my second pilates certification, opening an additional, much larger studio, and having my first child only 5 months later (talk about overwhelm!), that I was absolutely forced to make some changes. If I didn’t change and learn some business skills fast I risked my business failing, filing bankruptcy and the stress and shame that would undoubtedly affect my infant son and marriage.

With a new studio and baby the need for proven business strategies was even greater than before and yet my “to do” list seemed longer than ever. Only through years and years of study along with hiring the best consultants available to me, have I have been able to uncover incredible and surprisingly easy tools to help me grow my pilates studio. 2010 has been a phenomenal year for business (with Sept. ’10 being our best month ever!) all because of what I have learned and implemented.

From the moment I decided 4 years ago what I had been doing was not working, and shifted towards learning and implementing the best business strategies, life has been so much better! I now have a pilates studio that keeps getting better and better with several instructors teaching there and I can teach as much or as little as I want. This generates more income for my family and I have plenty of free time to be with my son or take care of myself. I am also more confident than ever and happy about the future of my business and the freedoms brought to my life.

This year after coaching dozens of pilates instructors and helping them get results in their business I finally wrote a draft of my first book about The Pilates Biz and created my web site. Now you can have easy access to these proven methods and have a place to go when you need just a little business tune-up or a full body makeover on your business. You can get proven tips, blueprints for success and have a place to collaborate and share ideas.

Interview with Gina Axelson