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player ready...Business: Pilates Corner Naperville
Address: Naperville
Phone: 630-712-2452
Owner: Erica Kowalski, 44, of Naperville
Years in business: 2.5
What does your business do? “It’s a private in-home studio in which I do personal training. And I do Pilates training, whether it’s small group classes of two to three people or private sessions which are one-on-one,” Kowalski said.
What’s the pricing? “Twenty-five dollars for a group class, $75 for a private class.”
How long is a class? “It’s 55 minutes.”
What’s your background? “I’ve been teaching Pilates for 14 years, but I opened my business when the pandemic happened. I’ve been in the exercise industry for 20 years. I graduated with a degree in exercise science from North Central College.”
What is Pilates? “It was developed by a man named Joseph Pilates. He was a sickly boy, he had anatomy and physiology books in his house. He looked through the books to make himself healthier with strength training and core training. … He (later) was interred in a war camp (during World War I) and he noticed that he could, with his expertise, help the people in the infirmary by doing light exercises with them. … From there, he opened a studio in New York.
“Pilates is about controlling your body, finding stability in your core, finding flexibility. You have your core, or your ‘powerhouse,’ we call it in Pilates. Your abdominals, inner thighs, outer thighs, glutes, all of those muscles around your pelvis are your core or powerhouse. … Pilates will strengthen your core from the inside out. … We’re focusing on the small muscles to help support the bigger muscles.”
How did you get into Pilates? “I was diagnosed with a chronic illness when I was in high school. I found exercise to be a way to gain back control of my body in addition to help the anxiety that surrounding having a chronic illness. I made friends by being in a gym. It’s a great community. People who want to be healthy. Going to North Central College, I decided to get a degree in exercise science.
“I fell into fitness management after college. … I realized I wasn’t doing what I set out to do. I like helping people find passion in exercise. I wasn’t achieving that. I decided to get a Pilates certification. … I did Pilates as a client and I thought it was a really fun way of exercising. … I can’t do hard-core lifting or running, but Pilates was always a workout I could go to, feel strong, confident.”
What misconceptions do people have? “That Pilates is overwhelming or that it’s just for women or that’s it not a ‘hard enough’ workout. … We’re working on the safety of the individual first. We’re working with your core ability. The equipment is intended to first support you. Then, as you get along in your Pilates workouts, to slowly challenge you. … People will say, ‘Oh, wow, this is great. It’s not what I thought it was at all.’ … Some people think it’s just for women. A man developed the workout. … I have a client who is 74. He heard that Pilates was great for golfers. He heard other professional athletes do it. LeBron James. It’s for males and females.”
What do you like best? “I like the fact that it’s a personal experience for people. Fitness training can be intimidating. … They can feel comfortable with not comparing themselves with someone else at the gym. One client said she likes that it’s a no-judgment zone.”
Any negatives? “Getting the word out.”
How has the pandemic impacted your business? “I started this because I didn’t want to go back into the gym. I had clients who didn’t want to go back to the gym because of COVID-19.”
Is there a busy time? “It’s busy all year long.”
Any challenges? “Having a business in my home, I don’t have walk-in business. In the beginning, I only relied on referrals. A friend suggested I do a Facebook page. That was helpful. I try to be informative on the page.”
Do you have a favorite story? “People always walk out of here in a better mood. That’s my goal.”
Any future plans? “To continue with what I’m doing. I don’t have this grand business plan. I just want to continue to help people and maybe work in the community a little bit more.”‘
What’s your advice for someone starting a business? “Stay true to why you got into your line of business.”
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If you know of a business you’d like to see to profiled in Down to Business, contact Steve Metsch at [email protected].
Steve Metsch is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.