Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Olin.
Hi Jessica, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I didn’t set out to build multiple studios or an education platform. I started because movement changed my life.
I’ve always been deeply curious about how the body works, not just aesthetically, but mechanically. Why people hurt. Why some bodies compensate. Why strength without awareness can actually create more dysfunction. That curiosity led me into Pilates, and eventually deeper into biomechanics, fascia science, and whole-body integration.
When I opened Soteria, it wasn’t about opening a studio. It was about creating a space where people could train intelligently, without mirrors, without ego, without pressure. I wanted it to feel grounded. Thoughtful. A place where strength meant awareness, not just intensity.
As the studios grew, I started to see a bigger gap in the industry, instructors memorizing choreography but not understanding mechanics. So Soteria Education was born. We built a rigorous, biomechanics-driven teacher training program designed to produce instructors who think critically and teach with intention. Today, we prepare our graduates to sit for national certification, and we’re raising the standard of what Pilates education can look like.
But the vision doesn’t stop at brick and mortar.
We’re now expanding into Soteria Wellness, bringing intelligent, whole-body programming into corporate environments and off-site spaces like the Hamlin House in SODO and launching Soteria Retreats right here in Orlando. The goal is to position this city as a destination for wellness, longevity, and education. Orlando is known for tourism and entertainment, but I believe it can also be known for health, movement, and community.
What I’m most proud of isn’t the growth, it’s the depth. We’ve stayed rooted in biomechanics and long-term health even as we’ve expanded. Every pivot has been intentional. Every decision has been about sustainability, legacy, and raising the standard.
Soteria isn’t just a studio. It’s an evolving movement philosophy……and we’re just getting started.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Smooth? Not even close!
Entrepreneurship is humbling. Especially in a service-based business where you’re managing people, payroll, leases, marketing, and client experience all at the same time.
There were seasons where growth felt exciting, and seasons where it felt heavy. Raising rates and losing members. Navigating staff turnover. Opening a second location while still stabilizing the first. Making big decisions that were right long-term but uncomfortable short-term.
I’ve learned that growth doesn’t look like a straight line. It looks like refinement. There were moments where I had to pivot, not because something failed, but because I realized it no longer aligned with the vision. That’s hard when you care deeply about your team and your community.
One of the biggest struggles was shifting from “teacher” to “leader.” Teaching Pilates is one skill. Building systems, protecting margins, setting boundaries, and making tough calls, that’s a completely different muscle. I had to grow into that.
But every challenge forced clarity. It sharpened our brand. It made me more decisive. It made Soteria stronger.
So no, it hasn’t been smooth! But I don’t think smooth builds anything meaningful. The friction shaped the philosophy, the education platform, and the direction we’re moving now.
And I’m grateful for that.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Soteria Pilates is built on one core belief: movement should be intelligent, sustainable, and rooted in real biomechanics, not trends.
We specialize in whole-body Pilates that strengthens from the inside out. Our classes and private trainings focus on joint stability, core integration, and long-term resilience. We don’t just teach choreography, we teach people how their bodies actually work.
What sets us apart is depth. Our programming is informed by biomechanics and fascia science, and it’s delivered in a way that feels grounded, precise, and intentional. There are no mirrors, no ego, and no gimmicks, just thoughtful training and a strong community.
Soteria Education has become a major extension of our brand. We offer rigorous teacher training designed to prepare instructors for national certification and to think critically about movement. We’re known for producing the BEST instructors in the industry who understand the “why,” not just the “how.”
Now we’re expanding beyond our studios into Soteria Wellness, bringing off-site corporate programming to local organizations, and Soteria Retreats, positioning Orlando as a destination for health, longevity, and intelligent movement.
At its core, Soteria isn’t just a studio. It’s a movement philosophy, and we’re here to raise the standard.
What does success mean to you?
Success, for me, isn’t just revenue or growth, it’s alignment.
It’s building something that reflects my values and still works as a sustainable business. It’s knowing that our clients feel stronger and more capable in their bodies, and that our instructors leave our program confident and deeply educated, not just certified.
Success is longevity. Not just for the brand, but for the people we serve. If someone trains with us for years and their body feels more resilient at 50 than it did at 35, that’s success.
It’s also leadership. Creating opportunities for my team. Developing instructors who go on to open studios or teach at a high level. Watching them grow into their own confidence.
And personally, success means freedom. The ability to evolve the brand, expand into new spaces like corporate wellness and retreats, and build something that supports my family and future without compromising integrity.
If it’s impactful, sustainable, and aligned, that’s success to me.
Pricing:
- New Client Intro Special: Try 5 classes for $99 in 14 days
- New Client Private Training Special: 3 Privates + 3 Classes for $299
- Teacher Training Special: Spring Cohort Starts in March, Early Bird Pricing Ends Soon!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://soteriapilates.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soteriapilates/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Soteria-Pilates-Winter-Garden-61569595598720/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/soteria-pilates/posts/?feedView=all
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SoteriaPilates
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