About Us

Name:

Nisha Srivastava

Name of my Pilates Studio:

Northwest Pilates & Yoga Centre

Number of years open:
I opened the studio 9 ago after building up an established clientele from Peter Street Community Centre, St.Helens, Appleton Thorn Primary School and Liverpool hope University

Website:
www.pilates4sport.com

My Certifications:

I am fully certified with STOTT PILATES, this qualifies me to teach beginner to advanced levels including injury and specialist populations in Mat,Reformer,Cadillac ,Chair and Barrels. I am also am a certified dance teacher with the ‘Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance’.

Years of teaching:
I started teaching when I was 13, so I have a wealth of experience.

Inspiration for opening my own Pilates studio: I just love helping people meet their goals! And, I love the relationships that are formed thru this energetic, positive field!

Vision/mission for my studio is: for every person to feel accepted in the skin they're in and to feel successful with exercise. Most people either feel intimidated or nervous about exercise but Pilates is for EVERY individual. I love when people tell me over and over "I’ve lost inches” and “my back pain has gone”.

My initial fears: trying to please everyone with the evening timetable, which is impossible?

If I knew then what I know now: I wouldn’t change anything, as everything in life is an experience.

My favourite thing about owning my own studio: being able to create a program based on others needs/wants and having complete control to do so! I feel such a sense of accomplishment when I'm able to fill other people’s desires.

Useful skills of a successful studio owner: The most useful skill is having a great attitude and a pleasant smile. Be willing to LISTEN to other's needs and you can never go wrong. Marketing skills and business 'know-how' come last in this business...the key to retaining clients is the affect you have on them personally.

Services offered at my studio: Pilates, both mat & equipment, private and group training, fusion classes incorporating yoga & personal training w/pilates principles, specialty programmes for cancer, golf and racquets, pregnancy, etc.; spinning, personal training, cardiolates (which is just like urban rebounding, pilates style), sports massage.

What makes my studio unique: A colonial Asian feel environment, friendly instructors and clients; small intimate classes? We cater to individual needs while keeping a personal approach by knowing each and every person by name whether it be in a class environment or privates.

How I initially got clients in the door: our local rag the St.Helens Star

How I retain clients: Personalized approach and a variety of classes to choose from. Our studio is friendly, clean and unique compared to gyms/health clubs that offer Pilates in the area. Because we are a specialized studio, we cater more toward equipment and specialist populations.

Number of employees: I have 3 independent contractors.

What I look for in my instructors: Pleasant personality, good grooming, an articulate/clear teaching manner, training from a respected Pilates/Yoga source, eventually loyalty & a good team attitude.

My greatest challenges as a studio owner/employer: finding qualified instructors!

My inspirations: the clients I meet every day. They keep me going and remind me daily why I love this business so much.

How I maintain my passion: The clients I meet every day! Without the relationships I form at the studio it would be a job like any other. The smiles on their faces, the results and excitement they bring each and every time I see them light the fire within me and remind me why I chose this field to begin with!

Words of wisdom or advice for future Pilates studio owners: Take a deep breath and soak it all in. Try not to let the business side of ownership get in the way of your dream. Sometimes, the behind the scenes 'stuff' that goes on can drain you. Remember the spark within you the day you chose to open the studio and how you felt when your first client walked through the door.

When I’m not running my studio I’m: a keen fair weather golfer in the summer and love to backpack in Asia in the winter.

One question I would ask Joseph Pilates: More of a comment/observation: I am amazed each and every day at the unique movements and the thought process for which he had in order to create such precise, involved & unique movements. I would love to be able to see what he saw and think what he thought as he moulded and formed this amazing form of movement.

My mentors: there are too many too mention, but mainly my American tutors, defiantly Shiva Rae for yoga and Marie-Jose Blom for Pilates.