Today we’d like to introduce you to Dede Ramos.
Hi Dede, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My Pilates story really began over 25 years ago in college when I was a dance major training with aspirations of hopefully one day joining a professional modern dance company. During this training I was fortunate enough to be part of a select group of dancers that would incorporate Pilates into our daily workouts to explore how it affected or changed our bodies and movement. I was able to understand more about my muscular strengths and weaknesses and through Pilates was able to learn how to facilitate my own body to move more efficiently. Much like a professional dance class, my Pilates training offered me structure and focus beyond the dance studio that would continue to benefit my mind and body for all these years later. From that early time I knew that Pilates was a method that felt good on my body and that the long term effects it has is endless. My passion for helping others even, non dancers, became quickly apparent and so I wanted to share this skillful instruction with as many people as I could. I went on to become a fully certified comprehensively trained Pilates instructor through Stott Pilates.
I have spent many hours and years in Pilates studios training myself, studying, observing and teaching others.
Fast forward to almost 5 years ago when I first opened my studio, I am a mom of two great kids and going through one of the biggest challenge of my life, a divorce. During this time I knew I had to do something that would reconnect me to myself and my passions. Pilates has always been more than a workout method to me. It’s a way of life. If you know, you know! It keeps you centered, focused, helps maintain control of anxiety, fears and even your breathe
Obviously the effects it has on your skeletal and muscular system is what most people are striving for.
Longevity of your body. The ability to continue to move your body productively throughout your entire lifetime. I am deeply rooted in sharing the principles and philosophy of Pilates to my community. Much of what you see being advertised today as “Pilates” is in fact not Pilates at all. I strive to always keep the integrity of the practice in tact and to meet each client where they are on their fitness journey. Pilates is not something you learn in a weekend course or teach from a scripted workout program to loud music and flashy lights. To teach Pilates means to spend the endless hours to practice it and discover what the practice is truly about. Always being a student and learning from every client that happens to be on the mat or reformer in front of you.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Opening The Body Lab was honestly one of the best decisions of my life. Of course nothing great begins without some struggles( blood, sweat & many tears) but thankfully I was pushed and encouraged by all the right people that knew it would be successful.
The biggest struggle for me has been finding a work/life balance. Raising two teenagers and the hours that a small business demands on one person is often overwhelming. Thankfully I have the best instructors & clients to work with that seriously make my long days so worth it.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
At The Body Lab Pilates studio we specialize in the individual client.
We honor each person where they are in their fitness journey. Each and every client gets one on one attention and workouts dedicated and organized specifically for them. There is a great deal of mixed information out today about Pilates and even more studios opening that claim the Pilates name but aren’t actually teaching Pilates. All of the instructors at The Body Lab are comprehensively certified with years of experience and practice.
We strive to teach Pilates in a way that Joseph Pilates himself would be proud of.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Success to me means that I’m making a powerful and positive impact on my clients. When people can recognize the multitude of benefits of Pilates and feel better in moving their bodies everyday, that is success to me.
Being able to share my passion and talents with my community is success to me. Being grateful to watch my small business thrive is success to me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thebodylabpilates.com
- Instagram: @thebodylabpilates
- Facebook: TheBodyLabPilates
Image Credits
Photos by Julie Little
