From Pilates Instructor to CEO: Why You Probably Need More Than Passion Alone to Thrive in Business
You became a Pilates teacher because you believe in the power of movement. You love helping clients reconnect with their bodies, move better, feel stronger. And when it came time to open your own studio, you didn’t hesitate. Your passion led the way.
But here’s what no one told you: The skill set that makes you a brilliant Pilates teacher isn’t the same one that will grow a profitable, sustainable business.
And if you’ve ever wondered why your classes are full but your revenue is unpredictable, or why you’re always working but never quite ahead - you’re not failing. You’re missing a second layer of expertise.
The Two Roles You Now Hold as a Pilates Studio Owner
As a studio owner, you wear two hats:
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The Expert Teacher – You guide, teach, coach, and inspire.
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The CEO – You plan, market, lead, manage, and make strategic decisions.
Most struggling studio owners put 95% of their energy into the first role, and only what’s left (which is usually not much!) into the second.
But the reality is that both roles are equally important. And if the CEO hat is hanging on a dusty peg in the corner above the extra Spine Correctors or Small Mini Barrels it’s time to dust it off.
Why Business Skills Matter (A Lot)
You don’t need an MBA to run your studio. But you do need to understand a few business basics.
Lead Generation: How are people finding your studio?
Client Conversion: What happens after someone tries a class?
Retention: What keeps clients coming back long term?
Revenue Flow: Are you profitable, or just busy?
Team Leadership: Are you growing a culture, or just managing people?
Marketing Strategy: Does your message resonate with the people you want to serve?
These are not “nice to have” skills. They’re exactly what drives everything behind the scenes and ensures your studio is successful.
And when you don’t build them? Even the best teaching in the world can’t save a struggling business.
What Happens When You Do Build Business Expertise
Here’s what shifts when you start leading your studio like a business:
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You stop guessing at pricing and start setting prices that reflect your value and support profitability.
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You stop relying on referrals alone and create consistent marketing that brings in qualified leads.
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You develop systems - automations, workflows, onboarding processes - that save you time and energy.
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You lead your team with confidence instead of scrambling to fix things when they go sideways.
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You finally have the capacity to think big: to grow, scale, or simply work less.
And maybe most importantly? You rediscover the joy in what you do. Because burnout isn’t always from teaching too much. It’s from carrying the weight of the business without the right tools.
The Real Reason Many Studio Owners Avoid the Business Side
Let’s be honest, business can feel intimidating. Especially when you weren’t trained in it. Maybe, like so many studio owners I’ve spoken with, you’ve thought:
“I’m just not good with numbers.”
or
“Marketing feels like I’m shouting into a void”
or even
“I’m too busy to learn this now.”
But business is not about perfection. It’s about progress. Just like Pilates.
And we already know that you’ve learned a deeply complex movement system.
Which tells me you can absolutely learn to write a high-converting marketing campaign or analyze your retention metrics.
How to Start Building Business Skills - Without Overwhelm
Here are 5 simple ways to begin strengthening your business muscles:
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Track one KPI (key performance indicator) weekly - like new leads, intro conversions, or client retention.
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Audit your client journey: Is every step - from discovery to long-term membership - clear and compelling?
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Batch your marketing: Plan social/email content for a week or month at a time. (Hello, sanity!)
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Block time for CEO work: 90 minutes weekly to review, plan, and get strategic.
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Invest in guidance: Find a coach, program, or community that supports business growth with real strategies - not fluff.
Remember: You’re Not Meant to Do This Alone
You’re not expected to have all the answers. But putting a sign above the door means you are expected to lead - and leadership means learning.
The most impactful studios are run by owners who embrace both sides of their expertise: Teaching + Business.
You already have the heart. Now it’s time to bring in the strategy.
Yes, your clients need the brilliance you bring to the studio floor, but your business needs the same level of care behind the scenes.
It’ time to build both - together.
About
Seran Glanfield, founder of Spring Three and host of the award-winning Pilates Business Podcast, is a leading business coach and consultant to boutique fitness studio owners around the world. With over a decade of hands-on experience, Seran has masterminded the growth and development of hundreds of studios, becoming the go-to expert for those looking to scale their studios, transforming them into sustainably profitable, streamlined studios. Seran’s expertise encompasses all facets of business management, including marketing, retention, sales, team management, pricing, and strategic growth. A graduate from the prestigious London School of Economics, Seran is also a certified business consultant and both Power Pilates and Romana’s Pilates trained Certified Pilates Teacher.
To learn more about working with Seran and Spring Three, go to: Spring Three or follow @seran_spring_three