Meet Erica Carter

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Erica Carter. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Erica , we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?

I love this question because it’s something I feel deeply passionate about. I’ve always had a strong work ethic and a drive to succeed, but confidence was not always a strength of mine. My confidence and self-esteem were shaped over time through my work experiences the good and the hard ones.

Early in my career, I worked in real estate for a boss who stifled the voices of those around her especially the women. Every day felt like walking on eggshells. I learned to survive by shrinking myself. I worked hard, produced results, and kept my head down. But what I didn’t realize at the time was this: the longer you keep your head down, the harder it becomes to lift it back up.

After nearly a decade in that toxic environment, I finally stepped out and everything changed. I went to work for someone who valued ideas, encouraged collaboration, and welcomed my input. For the first time, my voice wasn’t just heard, it was invited. My ideas didn’t just work; they excelled. They transformed processes and reshaped recruiting for that company. That experience taught me something I’ll never forget:

My voice had always been powerful, I had just been in a place that tried to silence it.

I promised myself I would never again shrink to fit someone else’s comfort. I learned that confidence doesn’t come from perfection, it comes from choosing courage, even when your voice shakes. The environments we allow ourselves to stay in will either suffocate our potential or ignite it.

And while I spent years in a toxic environment, I don’t look back with regret. Just as Scripture reminds us, we cannot know light without first experiencing darkness. Those years taught me resilience, discernment, and the value of leadership that builds rather than breaks. Because I experienced the weight of suppression, I now fiercely protect spaces where others feel seen, heard, and empowered. I honor confident and gracious leaders because I know what life is like without them and I am committed to being one.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I’m the founder of Prayers & Pilates, a Christ-centered Pilates studio and wellness brand built on community, movement, and faith. What started as a small dream inside my in-home studio during one of the hardest seasons of my life has now grown into two studio locations in Roanoke and Colleyville, with more on the way and a national franchise launch coming soon.

Before launching this brand, I spent 15 years building a career in leadership and sales while raising three boys with my husband and navigating all the beautiful chaos of work and motherhood. Fitness was always a part of my life, but Pilates became something deeper, it was healing. After walking through burnout and spiritual exhaustion, I began practicing Pilates not just for physical strength, but to reconnect my mind, body, heart, and faith. God made it clear: this was more than movement. This was ministry.

So I created a space where women could strengthen their bodies and souls at the same time, without judgment, without comparison, and without compromising their beliefs. Every class begins with a short devotional or scripture, and we pray over our members in class. We also play worship music and offer in studio bible studies along with other community events. We’ve built a studio where women don’t just “work out” they walk out better mothers, friends and daughters of Christ.

What makes Prayers & Pilates special isn’t just the workout, it’s the mission. We are a women-led, faith-driven brand that believes healing and strength starts from within. We combine powerful classical and contemporary Pilates training with community, purpose, and a culture of encouragement. We also offer additional wellness benefits with our infrared saunas and red light therapy. A sauna session is the perfect pairing to a pilates class.

What’s next? We’re currently expanding with a third studio location in the works and preparing to launch franchise opportunities in 2026. We’re also building our Prayers & Pilates Instructor Academy and releasing signature reformer training programs that will certify instructors nationwide. God isn’t just growing a business here, he’s building a movement.

At the end of the day, my goal isn’t just to scale a brand, it’s to build a legacy of women who are strong, faith-filled, and unafraid to walk boldly in their calling. I hope we inspire other businesses to lead with their faith.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back, the three qualities that have had the greatest impact on my journey are obedience to God’s plan, bold strategy, and discernment in who to build with.

1. Obedience to God’s Plan: building with purpose before profit
Prayers & Pilates didn’t begin as a business concept, it began as a calling. There were countless moments when God asked me to move before I fully understood the outcome. Obedience required surrender but it also unlocked supernatural favor, divine connections, and doors I could have never opened on my own.
Advice: Success starts in silence, make time to hear God before making big decisions. Obedience may not always make sense on paper, but purpose-led action will take you further than comfort ever will.

2. Bold Strategy: courage backed by calculated action
Faith alone isn’t enough, you still have to build wisely. Every season of growth required courage, but courage paired with strategy is what creates momentum. I had to learn how to take territory, make bold decisions, and scale with systems, not chaos.
Advice: Don’t wait until you feel ready, move, but move strategically. Take smart risks, study your industry, invest in the right tools, and build scalable systems early. God can bless a plan, but you have to have one.

3. Discernment: choosing people carefully
You can’t build a God-sized vision with the wrong people. Not everyone can handle your calling, and not everyone has earned access to your assignment. Discernment protected my peace, my brand, and the culture I was building. The right people don’t just support your vision, they strengthen it.
Advice: Be slow to hire and quick to identify misalignment. Protect the mission by surrounding yourself with wise counsel, character-driven leaders, and people who value trust over titles.

If I could give one piece of advice to anyone early in their journey, it would be this: Don’t just chase growth, build in alignment.

What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?

The biggest obstacle we’re facing right now is hiring the right people as we grow quickly. Expansion is exciting, but it also brings a serious responsibility: protecting the culture, purpose, and ministry behind Prayers & Pilates.

We’re not just hiring instructors, managers, or front desk team members, we’re building a leadership foundation that shapes how we serve people. Our studios are spaces of healing, strength, and faith, so we can’t afford to hire out of urgency or convenience. Alignment matters. Character matters. Calling matters.

We are growing fast, but we refuse to build recklessly. We pray over our hiring decisions and trust God to bring the right people at the right time.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.prayersandpilates.com
• Instagram: prayerspilates
• Facebook: Prayers and Pilates
• Linkedin: Prayers and Pilates