Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Lynda Lippin, founder, and CEO of Lynda Lippin Pilates, LLC., located in New York, NY, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

I'm the Pilates Goddess & CEO of Lynda Lippin Pilates, LLC, where I've been helping people feel and function better for over 33 years. I serve women over 50 who suffer from chronic pain and/or osteoporosis through safe, effective, custom design online Pilates programs, classes, and services. I also serve Pilates Teachers through my Pilates Teacher Mastermind®, offering business development and continuing education programs.

Tell us about yourself

I love to teach and to help people feel better. Pilates gives me all of that and more! I started doing Pilates in my senior year of college, and I felt so much better that I became a life-long fan and learned to teach others. I'm a 55-year-old former Philosophy and Women's Studies professor who took my part-time Pilates gig full time when I opened my first brick and mortar studio in the 90s. Academia was pretty toxic, so when one of my Pilates clients became pain-free and wanted to open a studio, I jumped into entrepreneurship.

I have owned award-winning studios (Best of Philly® Pilates Studio 2003), taught at Parrot Cay by COMO, an A-list, 5-star private island resort in Turks and Caicos (where I won the SpaFinder Reader's Choice Award for Best Pilates in 2011), came back to NYC as a Master Teacher at Real Pilates and for myself (won Best Business of New York - Trainer 2014 & 2015), and officially started my online business in 2020 (won Most Influential Enterprise in the 2021 Global Ignite Visionary Awards).

I currently live in lower Manhattan with my husband of 30 years and our rescue dog, Juniper.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I have to say that my biggest accomplishment, even with winning so many awards over the years, was successfully pivoting a Pilates business fully online. People said it couldn't be done. That everyone needed hands-on adjustments and all the apparatus. It turns out that I was right, and so much of the apparatus work can be done with inexpensive, small pieces of home equipment. Now I work with clients from all over the world!

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

Turning off is my hardest thing. I could work all the time because there's always more to be done. Hiring help was my biggest hurdle because I hate to give up control and admit that I can't do everything well. But, hiring help allows me to more easily turn off and take time for myself and my family.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Start a business so you can do what you love, not simply to make money or because you think it will be easier to work for yourself.
  2. Niche down. I know that it seems like if you serve everyone, you'll have a better shot at success, but that's not the case. Think of medicine and how much more a niched specialist makes than a general practitioner.
  3. Know that working for yourself is awesome and fulfilling but can be lonely and very hard. You will need to develop new skills and new relationships. I highly recommend getting coaching and finding a great networking group.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

I'm thrilled to be able to offer busy women the ability to access safe, effective, custom design Pilates programs from their homes, using either no equipment or small, inexpensive items that are easy to store. My daily 30-45 minutes of home exercise keeps me pain-free, strong, and mobile. My clients have the same experience with 1-3 sessions per week. You really don't need the gym or studio!

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://lyndalippin.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lyndalippinpilates
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lyndalippin/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lyndalippin
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lyndalippin/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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