We had the good fortune of connecting with Lisa Curwen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lisa, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I started Mind the Body Pilates at the beginning of the pandemic. I had been working at Life Time Fitness when the staff was put on furlough. Not wanting to stop practicing and teaching Pilates, I took the opportunity to build a Pilates studio in my home. Pretty soon many of my clients started to come to me for training. Since being an entrepreneur was not new to me (I had been a free lance apparel and textile designer for 25 years), things progressed naturally.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I founded Mind the Body Pilates to work with clients on a one-to-one basis. This enables me to teach proper form, so clients achieve a safe and effective movement experience. It also allows me to get to know each client well, which enhances both of our experiences. I find teaching Pilates very rewarding, due in large part to the way I structured the business.

My aim is to help clients reach their own health and fitness goals which they articulate when we begin to work together. Their goals can include toning and strengthening the body, improving posture and balance, overcoming chronic pain, undergoing rehabilitation after surgery and/or injury, improving athletic performance and stamina, or just simply wanting to experience the joy of moving. I also emphasize the functional nature of Pilates so that the work we do can carry over into their daily lives.

I have found that my clients prefer to work privately because I can push them to work harder and smarter than what they would do on their own or in a class. There are also those who prefer private sessions because they are not comfortable, for whatever reason, attending a class with a lot of people. Other advantages of privates sessions is that I bring novices up to speed at their own pace, and I can be flexible in scheduling to accommodate those who have demanding jobs/calendars.

Meditation has been an important practice in my life for over 30 years. There is so much value in learning to be still and watching the mind, so have incorporated this aspect into my business. The combination of movement and stillness is particularly powerful with Pilates. So I coach those who want to incorporate a mindfulness experience into our sessions, or just meet with them for mediation on its own. This is what sets my business apart and reflects my own personal values.

Mind the Body Pilates has grown organically and the business has become surprisingly busy. My personal challenge is to manage the balance between my work and the other things I love to do like travel, play golf, make delicious and nutritious food, spend time with my husband and grown children, and socialize with friends.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I have recently had dear friends visit and this is what we did:
-Saw a concert at Red Rocks Amphitheatre.
-Went for a walk in Rino to see the wall murals and have dinner at Uchi.
– Drove to the mountains to hike at St. Mary’s Glacier.
-Walked around Cherry Creek to shop the stores and have a manicure at Cherry Creek Mani Pedi.
-Went out for dinner in Cherry Creek at at Le Colonial, Le Bilboquet, Denver Curry House.
-Saw a performance at DCPA.
-Worked out at Life Time Fitness.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My oldest daughter, Hilary, likes to take credit for my becoming a Pilates instructor so I want to recognize her for her encouragement. She has been a Pilates instructor in Los Angeles for many years and always encouraged me to do the same. Knowing that my dance and sport background would be invaluable in understanding and teaching Pilates, she was my big champion. The timing just had to be right; that happened once my youngest child graduated from college and I had an empty nest.

Website: www.https://mindthebodypilates.com

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