Origins of Fine Tune Pilates
When I moved to Roncesvalles in Toronto’s west end I felt a part of a community for the first time in a long time. People cared about each other and seemed to value a certain quality of life. I had already been teaching Pilates for several years, most often one-on-one with people.
In 2014, a space just big enough for one reformer became available and I jumped at the opportunity to open my own little studio in the neighborhood I loved so much. Years later, a few curious clients had turned into a strong following of Pilates devotees. My little studio was growing and at the time my family was growing too.
In 2017, when I was pregnant with my daughter, a few skilled instructors came on board to help transition the studio while my personal life was shifting. I was nervous about what this new phase would bring, but the community we had created at Fine Tune was patient and supportive, sparking hope and possibility for what Fine Tune Pilates could become.
The Beginning
I had great training before opening Fine Tune Pilates. I had drawn inspiration and experience from teaching at so many different studios across the city, but there was something special about the way the other teachers and I approached teaching here that I’d never seen before. The tight-knit group of experienced instructors supports each other, we work as a team, and use each other as a resource to better one and other. It’s because of this that our clients receive the best service possible, and feel comfortable being cared for by any of us on staff. Within the group of teachers at Fine Tune we collaborate on clients, share knowledge and lend our expertise while attentively watching bodies move.
We consider biomechanics, and a person’s bigger picture of well-being to inform our teaching. We create trust with our clients, and teach them things about how their individual bodies move to empower them to feel better each and every day. Teaching the Pilates method of movement has always been a passion of mine, but it wasn’t until I started Fine Tune Pilates that my capacity for this work felt endless. Beyond the manner in which our teachers work, I truly believe that Pilates solos are best experienced in a private space so there’s an opportunity to really connect with clients and allow them to feel safe and cared for. Getting deep in a solo session allows us as teachers to watch how a person moves and create an open dialogue for what they are feeling and why, and to me, that’s when we can best affect change in someone’s body.
A Turning Point
When my daughter was born I struggled. I struggled to balance managing my little studio and the small team of instructors, I struggled with postpartum anxiety, I struggled with my confidence, I struggled as many women do during this period of their lives. The opposite of what I thought might happen when I took a break to honor the postpartum time: the studio was overflowing and we could no longer take on any new clients. With little business experience and my dwindling energy levels, I felt like I was drowning. I started to fantasize about closing the studio and what it would take to give everyone their money back. It was a time when I had to either expand or quit, and the thought of expanding seemed more than daunting, it felt impossible.
What Happened Next
I had known Lee Melamed for years through working at different studios together across the city. Lee began teaching at Fine Tune while I was pregnant and had since become a permanent fixture at the studio. When we were chatting one day she said, “you need to open another studio and I’m going to help you.” This was the buoy I didn’t know I needed, in a sea of uncertainty and overwhelm. I felt energy behind the idea of opening another space that could accommodate the growing community of people who loved Fine Tune Pilates.
Then there was Katrina. A family friend for ten plus years, and an original FT ally; when I let Katrina in on my plan to expand the studio she offered to lend her business skills. It quickly became obvious that in order to do this right we needed to work together fully and a partnership was born. We found a space in Parkdale months later and began building a dreamscape concept for a studio based on our current clients, offerings, and combined expertise. This new physical space posed challenges and setbacks over many months in 2019, all while we continued work to maintain the high standard of service at the existing studio in Roncesvalles. Over the course of a year, our group of instructors had grown, and friends, family, and clients had lent their skills and support to our efforts.
It’s hard to build something from scratch. Katrina and I are so proud of what we have the privilege of offering to our community. We invite you to book a solo with us so we can support you in feeling your finest!