Jenny Johnson has always loved teaching, and with only a handful of fitness studios in the Flathead Valley that specialized in Pilates, she decided to combine her two loves and open The Pilates Scene in 2019.
But just a few months after opening, the pandemic hit and she came close to losing her business.
“I was lucky because the person who offered me a place said I didn’t have to pay rent,” Johnson said. “If I had moved to a place where I had to pay rent at that time, I don’t think we would be here.”
The Kalispell studio continues to grow and has moved from the KM Building to a new location on East Idaho Street.
“People recommend us to their friends, so we’ve really grown just by word of mouth,” Johnson said.
Johnson has taught Pilates, TRX and barre for many years and also holds a degree in Health and Human Performance with a concentration in Health Promotion. Johnson taught at Space Pilates in Kalispell before the studio closed, after meeting a client who finally encouraged her to open her own studio.
“I’ve been to trendy Pilates studios where they don’t dress appropriately. I don’t want that stereotype here. [the Pilates Scene] “Pilates is for everyone,” she said. “Pilates is for everyone, for every body.”
Pilates Scene offers mat, barre and private sessions that are individually tailored to clients’ goals. Johnson, an outdoorsman who enjoys snowboarding, snowmobiling, hiking and rafting, says she loves how Pilates helps her feel in tune with her body and the space around her.
“These exercises make me feel like a better sportsman overall,” Johnson says. “They’re great for your body and great for cross-training, so they’re great for anyone who does HIIT, CrossFit, or weightlifting.”
Because Pilates uses lower-impact, more controlled movements, it’s also a gentler form of exercise for people looking to build strength and engage muscles they don’t use often, Johnson said.
Currently, Johnson is focused on becoming a BASI certified teacher so she can gain the qualifications to teach others to become Pilates instructors. BASI stands for Body Arts and Science International and was founded in 1989 by world-renowned Pilates educator Rael Isacowitz and is one of the leaders in Pilates education.
“I like to teach people who are willing to learn, and I love BASI because the standards are so high and it’s global. Even if I go to different BASI host studios in different states, it’s the same idea everywhere,” she said.
Ms Johnson is due to take the exam in July, which will see her be asked a series of questions and have to complete three exercises randomly chosen from a selection of 350 questions which she said “will have to be perfect”.
After receiving this certification, Johnson will be one of only a few BASI certified instructors in Montana, and Pilates Scene will be the only BASI host studio in Montana, Johnson said.
“Anyone who wants to get BASI certified has to leave Montana and go to Idaho, Colorado, Washington or California. This will provide a base and help those who want to become Pilates instructors,” she said.
“This is a great opportunity for people looking to change jobs or even retire. You can also teach a few days a week as a side job. It’s fun and you get to interact with other people.”
Pilates Scene is open Monday through Sunday and is located at 417 E. Idaho St. in Kalispell. The phone number is 406-253-8836. For more information about the studio, visit thepilatesscene.com or visit their Facebook or Instagram page @thepilatesscene.
Reporter Summer Zalesky can be contacted at szalesky@dailyinterlake.com.
Jenny Johnson opened The Pilates Scene in Kalispell in 2019. (Photo by Haley Jessat of Haley J Photo)
Jenny Johnson, owner of The Pilates Scene, training with a client. (Photo by Haley Jessat of Haley J Photo)