Today we’d like to introduce you to Shelia Donovan.
Shelia, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
When I moved from Virginia to Massachusetts in 1998, I became a member of a local Boston Gym/Studio offering group Pilates mat classes. I took my first Pilates mat class and was immediately hooked. I found the exercise repertoire very challenging and I considered myself to be extremely fit (avid cyclist/runner and 30+ marathons). The group Pilates mat class became a part of my regular exercise routine. In December of 1999, the owner of the Boston Gym invited me to participate in their first STOTT Pilates Mat Teachers Training they were hosting; I jumped at the opportunity to learn from the well-known STOTT Pilates Instructor Trainer from Toronto, Canada. I had recently resigned from the Richmond, VA Veterans Hospital as Kinesiotherapist (13yrs) and was then attending the Massage Therapy School in Somerville, MA. So, I had the time and the opportunity to take the training. After completing the Pilates mat training, I registered to take my first STOTT Pilates written/practical exam and passed. I continued studying the STOTT Pilates Method equipment base Teachers Training (Cadillac, Chair and Barrel) with a local instructor trainer from New England. After completing the course and passing the written/practical exam I became a STOTT Pilates trained and fully certified level 2 instructor, in 2001. Shortly after completing STOTT Pilates training, I started practicing Gyrokinesis and Gyrotonic Method. By 2003, I was certified as a Gyrokinesis and Gyrotonic Instructor. As an avid runner/cyclist, practicing mind body exercise is essential to remaining injury free. This also included my regular yoga practice; which I later completed four 200-hour yoga Teachers Training with my teacher Natasha Rizopolous. After several years of teaching STOTT Pilates mat/equipment exercises in local gyms and studio settings, I was offered a space at my neighborhood gym to train private and semiprivate clientele. The gym owners concluded after the first month the need to increase my rent by 50% due to the unexpected clientele (non-gym members). They gave me the option to pay the increase in rent or we part as friends. I chose the latter. My husband, Mike recommended I open my own studio space located within our home. He renovated our multi family home and created the beginning of Shelia Donovan Pilates Studio, in September 2002. I was excited! I had seven private and a few semiprivate clients. By 2003, Mike created a larger space so I added group Pilates mat and yoga classes to the schedule. I hired Pilates and yoga instructors. The studio clientele grew and it became apparent that the space was too small to accommodate the increase interest. Mike had another brilliant idea of creating a larger studio of 4000 square feet with individualized Pilates and Gyrotonic equipment rooms, including two group mat/yoga base exercise rooms. This terrified me because I was afraid we wouldn’t have the clientele for such an increase in space. Despite fear and failure of maintaining a “successful” business, our new studio located on the same grounds of our multifamily house opened October 2006. My friend/client and now yoga instructor, Jackie B said “open the doors and they shall come.”
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?
The most challenging part about expanding my business was finding the right instructors. I wanted dedicated instructors on my team who shared the same vision I had and who could also work together as team. I didn’t want my business to grow too soon, I wanted it to be a smooth transition. The support of my husband, friends, and instructors led us to grow at a steady pace. I grew from 700 square feet to a 4000 square foot studio. My passion for training helped me to move forward despite the fear. At the end of the day, I love training. My love for training exceeds any fear and I’ve learned to “feel the fear and do it anyway”!
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Shelia Donovan Pilates Studio is a mind body fitness and movement education center that offers the widest variety of intelligent exercise disciplines for developing conditioning practices to maintain a strong “core” and promote lifelong wellness habits. It’s simple – no egos, no attitudes. Plenty of attention, focus and support.
Our goal, in essence, is to offer the finest, cutting edge physical conditioning programs with a safe, straightforward approach to learning “core” disciplines and safe cardio training all implemented with a mind body perspective. Our clients experience both physical and personal growth, awareness of postural alignment, and overall improved health.
Our passion for training in Mind Body Exercise sets us apart from others. We all have a passion to do this work, it’s not just a job for us. Our clientele is very intelligent and they look to us for support, education and to feel safe. We require commitment. It’s totally different than stepping into a gym setting. Our studio is intimate and we truly care about meeting clients’ goals with honesty.
What has been the proudest moment of your career so far?
Becoming the only Pre-teacher’s trainer in the south shore for Gyrokinesis and Gyrotonic Method under Master Trainer, Lisa Pari.
Pricing:
- Introduction Package for new clients: four 60-minute private sessions $250
- Client Appreciation Day/Open House October 28th 8am-1pm. Full day of free classes.
Contact Info:
- Address: 847 Washington Street Canton MA 02021
- Website: sheliadonovan.com
- Phone: 781-821-4448
- Email: sheliadonovanpilates@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sheliadonovanpilates/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sheliadonovanpilates/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/sheliadpilates
Image Credit:
Yeradmi Gomes
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.
