Today we’d like to introduce you to Holly Quaglia Wells.
Holly, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
The original life plan (from the age of 8) was to be a primatologist studying mountain gorillas in Rwanda, Africa. Today, I teach Pilates. An unlikely progression but one could say I still study “animal behavior,” just in a different setting.
Though an interesting story of how I went from primatology to animal rescue and disaster response to Pilates, we’ll stick with the Pilates side of the story. In 2003, I found myself at a new beginning. I had accomplished my goal of studying primates, though it ended up not being the life-long pursuit I had envisioned. I worked as a humane educator for the top animal rights organization in the world. I was single in Virginia with a renewed faith and starting over. That’s when I discovered Pilates.
It started with 5:30am mat classes at the local YMCA three days a week. I was hooked. My teachers were motivating (which you need at that time of day) and challenging. I felt stronger in mind and body. It took ten years for me to realize that Pilates was something that not only could I benefit from as a student, but could actually turn into a career and empower others.
By 2012, I was a wife and mom of two. Emotionally and physically burned out from years in the field and office – change was calling. I was always an active person and knew I could no longer be tied down to desks and computers. I needed something completely different. I pursued my comprehensive Pilates training (on all Pilates equipment, including the mat) in Norfolk, Virginia under the watchful eyes of three incredible mentors who, themselves, all trained under Romana Kryzanowska, one of Joseph Pilates’ most revered pupils and mentees. I completed my training after 800-hours of study, in observation, practice and teaching. I was actually pregnant with our third child during my apprenticeship and can testify to the benefits Pilates offers before, during and after pregnancy.
Soon after finishing my training in 2013, we returned home to New England. I continued to grow as a teacher and leader when I took on the role of Pilates studio coordinator at the newly opened Equinox Chestnut Hill. At the end of 2016, it was time to move on and I was fortunate enough to open up not one but two Pilates Culture Studio locations –one space out of my home studio in Mansfield and the other in Newton. Both studios are fully-equipped with Gratz apparatus, hand-crafted to the exacting measurements and specifications as developed by Joseph Pilates himself.
My working hours are spent encouraging people, helping to create strong and more balanced bodies that often go from moving with pain or stiffness to freedom of movement. Day after day, I see lives change and grow through this incredible method of exercise, that not only strengthens and empowers the body, but also the mind and soul. I continue to be a student of The Work, as it’s often referred, and regularly take lessons and attend workshops with some of our most revered teachers, such as Sari Mejia Santo (Romana’s daughter), Jay Grimes and Kathi Ross-Nash, who maintain the integrity of the original work.
Joseph Pilates said, “physical fitness is the first requisite of happiness,” and I couldn’t agree more.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Speaking to learning The Work: Learning Pilates is like learning a foreign language. There is a definite learning curve and it takes time and practice before you sound, or in this case, execute the exercises with ease and fluency. We all started the same way – knowing nothing about Pilates. It’s easy to get frustrated in the process. Don’t. The great thing about being a student of The Work is you never stop learning. The great thing about being a teacher of The Work is you never stop learning. Teachers learn as much from their students as students do from their teachers. Stay humble. Stay teachable. The most important thing is to keep moving…forward.
Speaking to Leadership: Leadership is a learned skill rooted in humility and built around relationships. One of my favorite Bible verses regarding leadership is from Philippians 2:3 (ESV), “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” Wow! As a teacher, respect those who lead you and put your clients before yourself. As a studio owner, respect those you serve.
I walked through a very teachable season a few years ago. I was attacked, deceived and betrayed by a co-worker. It’s hard to not take things personally, even when it’s on a “professional” level. There were times I felt I handled matters with grace and restraint and other times when I fell for quick defenses that were unhelpful in the long run. I learned the need to be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger. A good lesson applicable in all areas of life.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into Pilates Culture story. Tell us more about the business.
ALWAYS. ONLY. PILATES. That’s what we do. On the way, we see people grow stronger in body, mind and spirit. Bodies come in worn and leave feeling restored. Minds come in tired and leave alert. Spirits may come in down but leave feeling invigorated. Pilates is for every body – male or female. Athlete or laborer. Homemaker or business executive. Young or old-er. Every person will benefit.
MOTIVATION! We can all use a personal cheerleader. If you’re willing to work hard, we will support you every step of the way.
INTEGRITY! Not all Pilates is the same – we bring you authentic training in the teachings of Joseph Pilates – true to the source. Our studios also only offer training on the best equipment, GRATZ™, hand-crafted to the exacting measurements and specifications as developed by Joseph Pilates himself. Mr. Pilates had a vision to change the way we think about movement and consequently, the impact it has on our lives. He believed that when his method of movement, originally known as “Contrology,” is applied to our everyday living, it “develops the body uniformly, corrects wrong postures, restores physical vitality, invigorates the mind, and elevates the spirit.” We strive to see his vision live on.
At Pilates Culture, you learn to master your body rather than being at the mercy of it. So many people walk about with aches and pains, tightness and imbalances that can be treated with, of all things, movement! The mind says, “don’t move, it hurts.” But what the body often needs, and can benefit from beyond temporary fixes like pain killers, injections or surgery, is movement. We teach people to connect their mind to their body through exercise.
One of my most beloved clients was diagnosed with a degenerative neuro-muscular brain disease and doctors told her to keep doing Pilates because it kept her body and mind communicating, helped with her balance and improved the control of her limbs. Clients who’ve suffered with arthritis have found relief without the continued need of steroid injections. Others with sciatica have spoken of reduced pain in their legs. The list of “success” stories are too numerous to recount. I personally have lived with flat-feet and knock=knees and through Pilates have actually seen improved alignment in my legs and strengthened arches in my feet. We challenge you to come experience Pilates for yourself and see how it can change your life, too!
Joseph Pilates summed it up best, “Pilates is movement and movement heals.”
Do you have a lesson or advice you’d like to share with young women just starting out?
Observe. Listen. Take note (literally). Be humble and stay teachable. Life is a classroom of learning opportunities.
Have fun. Be kind. Be kind. Be kind.
A good leader knows when to listen and when to speak. When to rise and when to delegate. When to ask for help and advice and when to offer it.
More practically. Budget. Understand it’s not how much you earn. It’s how much you save. Spend responsibly – give generously.
Contact Info:
- Address: Newton Studio:
65 Oak Street
Newton, MA 02464Mansfield Studio:
10 Southpark Lane
Mansfield, MA 02048 - Website: www.pilatesculturerevolution.com
- Phone: 757-641-4527
- Email: holly@pilatesculturerevolution.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pilates.culture/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pilatesculturerevolution
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/PilatesCulture
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/pilatesculture/
Image Credit:
Jacob Wells
Getting in touch: BostonVoyager 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.
