Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Shipman.
Hi Stephanie, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
After dancing on the ministry field and traveling for about 18 years, seasons changed, and, in 2014, I found myself returning to my family in the Hill Country of Texas. Not knowing what the next step was going to look like, family and friends suggested I open up my own Pilates studio. Pilates served as an integral part of life even while dancing, so it seemed a natural next step.
My very first “studio” was in my family’s barn serving clients in the Blanco area. Eventually pressed to have an actual brick-and-mortar, I started asking the Lord where I should open the studio. He led me to space in the Shops at Faithville Park in the heart of Spring Branch, TX. Not knowing how people would respond to Pilates, though, I chose to start small. In January of 2017, with the support of family, I opened my first studio in about 500 square feet. Thankfully, our amazing community was extremely supportive, and I found myself needing more space and moved to a small cottage of 900 square feet. Within a year, the client base had grown and the cottage walls were no longer big enough. We found ourselves moving to an old, beautiful wedding chapel in Faithville Park, which has continued to serve as Pilates By Design’s home now since 2019.
Throughout the studio’s journey, we have had the privilege of serving our community and bringing the benefits of Pilates to our clients….and it truly is a joy!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Thankfully, the studio’s journey has been fairly smooth. Now, that is not to say there has not been hard work. There has been a LOT of hard work! The first two years were spent teaching long days without much downtime as the client base was building. The credit to the studio’s success really goes, though, to the wisdom and direction of Jesus, the support of family and the incredible loyalty of each and every client.
When COVID hit and so many studios unfortunately closed, Pilates By Design was able to transition online and still keep clients moving and going. We did lose nearly half of our client base during that stressful time, but we were also able to clarify our purpose. Prior to COVID hitting, our client base had grown enough to where we were contemplating expanding yet again. However, when we were allowed to return to the studio, we re-opened with a renewed intention to offer Pilates instruction in an intimate environment where each client feels seen and receives individual cueing and instruction, as if each and every client was a private client. As a result, we have chosen to remain small, and for this, we are thankful.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Pilates By Design offers classical Pilates instruction through one-on-one, private instruction, as well as within a small group setting. We intentionally keep our classes size small so that our instructors have the ability to cue and instruct each client within the group. As we have grown and our client base has expanded, we have come to specialize in working with clients with Scoliosis. Regardless of a client’s needs and goals, though, we strive to give each and every client individual attention while training with us.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
For those just starting their Pilates journey and/or studio journey, my strongest piece of advice is to connect yourself with a mentor(s). Learn from them, grow from them, let them correct you and correct you yet again. They can draw out the best that is within in you. None of us are an island. We are more effective when we not only are pouring into others, but we also have those who are pouring into us.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@pilatesbydesign.me
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pilatesbydesignsb/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pbd966
Image Credits
Kristen Johnson Photography
