Jenny Johnson has always loved teaching. Flathead There were only a handful of fitness studios in the Valley that specialized in Pilates, so she decided to combine her two loves and open The Her Pilates Her Scene in 2019. did.
But just a few months after opening, the pandemic hit and she nearly lost her business.
“I was lucky because the person who gave me the space said I didn’t have to pay rent,” Johnson said. “If we had moved somewhere where we had to pay rent during that period, I don’t think we would be here.”
Kalispell’s studio continued to grow and later moved from the KM Building to a new home on East Idaho Street.
“We’ve really grown just by word of mouth because people recommend us to their friends,” Johnson said.
Johnson has taught Pilates, TRX, and Barre for many years and holds a degree in Health and Human Performance with a specialization in health promotion. While teaching at his now-closed Kalispell space His Pilates, Johnson met a client who eventually encouraged him to open his own studio.
“I’ve been to some trendy Pilates studios where they didn’t dress appropriately, but I don’t want to be stereotyped like that here.” [the Pilates Scene] “For the benefit of everyone,” she said. “Pilates is for everyone and every body.”
The Pilates scene offers mat, barre, and private sessions that are individually tailored to the client’s goals. Johnson, an outdoorsman who enjoys snowboarding, snowmobiling, hiking and rafting, said she likes that Pilates helps her become more in tune with her body and the space around her.
“I feel like I’m a better athlete overall when I do these practices,” Johnson said. “It’s great for the body and great for cross-training. I love it for people who do HIIT, CrossFit, and weightlifting.”
Because Pilates is low-impact and uses more controlled movements, it’s also a gentler workout for people looking to build back strength and use underused muscles, Johnson said. Ta.
Currently, Johnson is focused on becoming a BASI certified instructor in order to qualify to teach others to become a Pilates instructor. BASI stands for Body Arts and Science International and was founded in 1989 by world-renowned Pilates educator Rael Isakowitz, who is one of the leaders in Pilates education.
“I love teaching people who want to learn. I love BASI because their standards are very high and world-class. If you go to another BASI host studio in another state, We’re all on the same page,” she said.
Johnson is scheduled to take the exam in July, which will include a series of questions and three random exercises from among the 350 questions, which she says must be “perfectly executed.” “No,” he said.
After earning this certification, Johnson will be one of the only BASI-certified teacher instructors in the state of Montana and Pilates Scene will be the only BASI-hosted studio in Montana, according to Johnson.
“People who want to get BASI certification have to leave Montana and go to Idaho, Colorado, Washington, or California. This helps people who want to become Pilates instructors and gives them a base. It’s going to be giving,” she said.
“This is also a great opportunity for people who are changing careers or thinking of retiring. You can also teach a few times a week on the side. It’s fun and you enjoy socializing with other people. .”
The Pilates Scene is open Monday through Sunday at 417 E. Idaho St. in Kalispell and can be reached at 406-253-8836. For more information about the studio, visit thepilatesscene.com or visit our Facebook or Instagram pages @thepilatesscene.
Reporter Summer Zalesky can be reached at szalesky@dailyinterlake.com.
Jenny Johnson opened Pilates Scene in Kalispell in 2019. (Photo credit: Haley Jessat of Haley J Photo)
Jenny Johnson, owner of The Pilates Scene, works with clients. (Photo credit: Haley Jessat of Haley J Photo)