Meet Trailblazer Jen Mason Drolet

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jen Mason Drolet.

Jen, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I was initially referred to Pilates after I got into marathon running in the early 2000s. I blindly started calling around to studios in central Denver until came across pH7 Pilates studio founder Cher Aslor. She agreed to see me and it just evolved from there. I religiously came for my weekly session with a simple mandate – to stretch out my legs. As the years progressed, however, the reasons why I came did too – wedding dress arms, prehab, and rehab for hip surgery, stillness in the midst of professional chaos, a healthy pregnancy, and yet another hip surgery.

Cher regularly ran training programs out of the studio and I’d I always mused that if I didn’t have a more-than-full time-day job, I would love to get certified to advance my own practice. I eventually sold the business I owned and took much needed time off. It was during that hiatus that Cher approached me about getting certified. Free of any meaningful commitments, I agreed.

I was concurrently toying with a couple of new business ideas when Cher asked if I might also be interested in purchasing the studio. She’d built a respectable and consistent business over the years with a loyal clientele in two desirable locations. Her dreams had her wandering beyond Denver and she was ready to let go. It was a relatively easy decision for me to say yes. The studio had been a part of my life for over a decade by this point and the chance to mix my business skills with something I loved was the perfect union.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Taking the studio over has definitely come with its own set of challenges. Some of them I anticipated and planned for but many of them came out of the left field. I previously worked in a B2B environment where buying decisions were predicated on very different needs. The consumer-facing health and wellness space is faster moving and the marketplace locally is arguably congested. Boutique fitness studios are popping up all over the city. Delivering a reliable, quality experience is critical in retaining customers. So is maintaining a team of instructors who shares that vision and has the expertise to do so.

To other women, young or old, I would say find your passion. Being an entrepreneur takes a lot of everything – courage, tenacity, grit, humility, and patience. It’s infinitely easier to ride out the rough spots if you are passionate about what you are doing. And as much as hard work can impact success, being open to new possibilities and ways of doing things is equally important. If you close yourself off to new ideas, new possibilities or ways of doing things you will definitely stagnate. Finally, being true to what you (or your offering is) is also critical. You can’t be all things to all people at all times. Carving out your niche and owning it is what gives you the foundation to expand and grow in a sensible and (mildly) predictable way.

We’d love to hear more about pH7 Pilates.
I own pH7 Pilates, a classically-inspired Pilates studio in Congress Park and the Highlands.

At pH7, we have stayed loyal to the origins of Joseph Pilates’ method and are adept at personalizing a client’s experience such that progress towards a balanced body is accessible to all. Our studios and classes are small in size but big on individualization.

I’m extremely proud of the work our instructors do with their various clients. It does not matter if a client is super fit or suffering from a debilitating chronic condition, our team works diligently, if not creatively, to ensure that Pilates enriches their physical and mental existence in reliably a positive way.

Which women have inspired you in your life?
Ah! There are so many. My mom has been a source of continual inspiration over the years. We’re wired differently and our pursuits have varied widely but she has always been resourceful and never afraid of reinvention. Coco Channel is another one for her innovative and disruptive ways. Billie Jean King because well, women should be paid just as much as men for the work they do – period. I also worked with a brilliant female business coach who helped change my trajectory in life and taught me to own my power personally and professionally. Then there are the many women who have built me up and supported me over the years who are too numerous to count but for whom I am grateful. Then there is my 7-year-old daughter. She’s fearless, believes she can be anything and tells me I’m the best even when I feel like I’m at my worst.

Contact Info:

• Address: pH7 Pilates
  1162 Madison Street, Denver, CO 80206
  4928 West 29th Ave, Denver, CO 80212
• Website: www.ph7pilates.com
• Phone: 720-235-2131
• Email: jen@ph7pilates.com
• Instagram: ph7pilates
• Facebook: ph7pilates

Image Credit:
Kelly Shroads

Getting in touch: VoyageDenver is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.