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

Hi Jill, we’d love to start by asking you about lessons learned. Is there a lesson you can share with us?
My career has taught me to not get in my own way. Things are not always easy. There are sharp turns, bumpy roads, and road blocks. You have to push ahead. Difficult situations will come up. Take a moment to think- to relate back to your vision and your purpose. Then make a decision, and move forward. It is so easy to talk ourselves out of things- to stay stuck. I see this with so many people- and I often have to catch myself. We all have the tendency to think negatively- to put up those road blocks before they are even there. Success doesn’t just come to you- you have to travel down that road.

What should our readers know about your business?
When I moved to Denver from Chicago, almost 12 years ago, I worked at a few different studio in town. I ended up taking a job as the MindBody coordinator at a big club downtown. Ultimately, I knew the corporate vibe wasn’t for me. I also hated being in a space that felt very dull- there were no windows, art, or character. After a few years, I decided to open my own space. Although group classes provide an affordable option for people, I wanted to focus on the individual experience. One of the biggest gifts Pilates gives is that it balances out your body. It corrects mis-alignments. Pilates can be restorative, corrective, rehabilitative, or used for athletic conditioning. What our bodies need on a daily basis changes. When you are working one on one with clients, you can really dive into their specific needs. And with this- you see the most drastic changes. Boutique studios really started popping up, which made it difficult for a small self-starter like me. I didn’t have the branding. marketing, or funding of some of these large chains. I couldn’t fit 12 reformers into my space, nor did I want to. I kept focusing on my intention of making each session a special and specific hour for each client. To help people feel like their most vibrant selves, I knew there were more elements other than just the physical body and movement. This is when I decided to pursue my training to become a Functional Medicine Health Coach. It’s also the time I had a baby boy. This obviously changed my work/life balance quite a bit! It also helped me ground me. It took some training, and flexibility with myself, but I became a master at time management. I needed to find time for my clients, my business, my family and friends, and myself. Through this time I started thinking of other ways I could evolve may business. I started creating and hosting wellness retreats (our first bring in Costa Rica). I loved watching the sense of community my clients naturally fell into- even though they were never in the studio together! Of course, COVID has put a pause on this aspect of my business, but I am looking forward to offering these wonderful experiences soon! Speaking of COVID, it was during this time I developed a deep love for essential oils. I loved the emotional and physical support they provided me and my family. I dove into some additional training and became a Wellness Advocate for doTERRA. I call these bottles of oil MANNA Magic. I love sharing and supporting all of my clients and their health with these products.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Aren’t we so lucky to live in such a beautiful state?! I always take friends and family to the Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse for brunch, a hike, a drive through Rocky Mountain National Park, a visit to one of our hot springs, a cocktail at Union Station and dinner somewhere fabulous (there are so many places to choose from). Oh- and I always make sure to grab some goodies fro Reunion Bakery.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Hands down, I wouldn’t of been able to do any of this without my husband. Not only to he give me the confidence in myself, but he was there to support me every step of the way. From selling his dirt bike to help me purchase my first reformer, to building out my studio space. He has been there to problem solve and motivate me whenever I was feeling down. There would be no MANNA Pilates + Health without my Jack.

Website: mannapilates.com
Instagram: manna.pilates.health
Facebook: MANNA Pilates + Health

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