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Meet Clara Gelatt of The Pilates Collective in University Hills and Baker

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Clara Gelatt.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Clara. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I started taking Pilates after I had my first son. I had had a c-section and someone suggested Pilates as a good way to build strength back. It became a regular part of my workout routine and when I decided to take a break from my day job, I enrolled in a Pilates certification program. I loved going deeper into the Pilates method and getting to see how it gets results for people of all different types of fitness levels. My first foray into small business ownership was when I bought into the studio where I initially worked. I enjoyed learning the ropes of running a studio but overtime decided I would rather have my own studio, so I sold my half of that business and started The Pilates Collective in 2016.

I know I’m biased but I have to say I think Denver is home to the best Pilates instructors in the world and my mission was to create a studio where great instructors wanted to work. So I’ve always tried to have my studio be very collaborative and supportive for the instructors that work there. I have to say I’m continuously impressed with all of the instructors at The Pilates Collective and I think that’s what makes our studio very special. All of the instructors are focused on being the best instructor they can be and bringing amazing high-quality workouts to their clients. In 2019 we started our second location in Baker. I think the thing that drives all of us is that we really love bringing Pilates to people. It really is an incredible method of exercise and seeing how it can change people’s health is very inspiring.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I’d say the biggest struggle for me was the decision to leave the first studio I owned. It was a hard time and a difficult decision but once I had successfully disentangled from that situation, everything else has felt a lot easier. I am very lucky in that I have an amazing staff who really gives the business there all and I think I feel just as invested in the success of The Pilates Collective as I do. Of course, there are struggles along the way. I’d be lying if I didn’t mention that the past few months have been one of the most challenging times in my life. Navigating a small business through a pandemic is not something I imagined I would be doing four years after opening our doors. That being said, we have also had incredible support from our clients, instructors, other studio owners and the Colorado fitness industry. As challenging as it has been, I am so grateful for our community and impressed by my staff. We’ve learned a lot over the past few weeks and I am a big believer that challenges serve to make us stronger in the long run. The creativity and endurance that Pilates Collective instructors have shown in getting workouts online and out to our clients have really been inspiring, and I’m excited at the innovation that I think we’ll be able to showcase over the next couple of years.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about The Pilates Collective – what should we know?
The Pilates Collective is a boutique Pilates studio. We primarily teach Pilates in private and semi-private classes (limited to six people or less). We also share our two locations with a handful of like-minded health and wellness business, including Klein Physical Therapy, Total Body Wellness and A Body of Knowledge. I’d say we are known for our Gentle Pilates classes. While we teach small classes to all levels, we have a robust program of classes for people who suffer from chronic pain, arthritis, osteoporosis or other physical issues that might prevent them from safely participating in other small group fitness classes. I like to think that we are also known for being very collaborative.

We routinely offer workshops for our clients that focus on specific issues and we like to invite other health and wellness professionals to contribute to these. I have found in our profession that the more we can collaborate the better off we are. I’m the most proud of my whole team. All of our instructors have different strengths and we compliment each other very well. We truly work together to solve problems, come up with new programs and we are constantly finding better ways to help our clients. As I said before, Denver is home to one of the best Pilates communities in the country, The Pilates Collective is proud to be part of that community and I’m proud that we have done a lot to increase people’s awareness of the benefits of Pilates.

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Good communication. I’d say the most important factor in The Pilates Collective’s success is that we’ve created an amazing team. We truly work together and the cornerstone of that is that we communicate well with each other and I like to think that as the owner of the business, I have instilled that quality in to the studio. I also think this emphasis on clear communication is what makes all of us good at teaching Pilates. We know that certain clients need different types of cues and we strive to make sure that everyone is understanding each element of our classes and sessions.

 Pricing:

  • Private Sessions: $66-$85 per session (Depending on package)
  • Duets: $38-$45 (Per Person again depending on package)
  • Trios: $30 (Per Person)
  • Monthly Unlimited Virtual Live Classes $100
  • Monthly access to Pilates Collective On Demand Videos $40
  • Small Group Classes: $23 (per class, package of 10)

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