We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Bristin Andreae a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Bristin, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
From my mom.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I was born and raised in Costa Mesa, CA where i grew up dancing competitively. Dance and movement have always been my passion so when I was introduced to Pilates in college while studying for my Kinesiology degree I immediately fell in love with it as well. Pilates merged my passion for dance with my degree and I dove right in after graduation. I received my certification through BASI international where I studied directly under Rael Isacowitz and started to teach out the gate. Two years into my teaching journey I was given the opportunity to purchase Escape Pilates at the age of 24 never looked back. In 2006 when I purchased Escape the industry was much different. It was mostly private and semi private Pilates. But as the industry got more popular and group classes started to immerge it was clear Escape would have to expand with the times as well. I like to say Escape Pilates is where tradition meets modern trends. Our classes follow an athletic style but maintain the integrity of traditional Pilates with safe but effective flows. At Escape Pilates we are committed to restoring, strengthening, and toing your body in an inclusive and empowering environment.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Strong work ethic- owning any small business isn’t easy, especially in the service industry. You have to be willing to put in the long days because in the beginning you’re the one doing it all and the last to get paid. During Covid I thought my business was done. For 2 years, every month was a struggle. I wanted to give up many times. But I’m so grateful I didn’t.
Build lasting relationships- I’m a people person so this one is easy for me. Ive built amazing relationships with my clients and a lot of them are still with me today. They’ve watched me grow up in the industry and have been my greatest support.
Take advice from people that are doing it better- Don’t be afraid to ask for help. There’s no way you can be great at all aspects of the business so get advice from those who do it better and once you can afford to hand over these duties…do it!
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
My parent’s believed in me and took a risk on a 24 year old that had no idea how to run a business. They loaned me the money to purchase the business and allowed me to pay them back interest free. It took me 3 years to pay back the loan.
Contact Info:
- Website: [email protected]
- Instagram: @escapepilates
Image Credits
Rachel Jane Photography
Bram Jay Photography
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
