Today we’d like to introduce you to Hannah Mapes.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’ve been working in the fitness industry for the past 14 years. I started out teaching group fitness classes, and I quickly realized that what I loved most wasn’t just exercise, it was bringing people together to build community and improve their health.
That passion led me to become a certified personal trainer and Pilates instructor. I’ve had the privilege of working with clients one-on-one and in group settings, and both have proven again and again how wellness ripples in effect in powerful ways.
In 2018, I stepped into corporate healthcare as a wellness coordinator for a rural hospital, where I developed programs for more than 200 employees. It was incredibly rewarding to create approachable opportunities for people to prioritize their health. I learned so much about behavior change, leadership, and building a culture of wellness.
Then, in 2020, my husband and I welcomed our son into the world right in the middle of the pandemic. Like so many parents, I reevaluated what I wanted my life to look like and chose to scale back my career so I could spend more time with my family.
At the time, I was still teaching a few Barre classes each week at my local studio in The Dalles, Oregon. When the owners approached me about becoming a partner, I said yes almost entirely based on instinct. To be honest, I didn’t even look over the financials closely of the business.
I just knew that it was a low stake investment, and if a boutique fitness studio could survive the 1st year of a pandemic with shutdowns and numerous challenges then it must be something special.
Buying into a business with 3 other partners seemed like a great deal to share the load of responsibilities and be part of a team.
I came in with big ideas—expanding our class offerings, creating events, adding a retail boutique, hosting wellness retreats, and finding new ways to serve our community. What I didn’t anticipate was that over the next three years, my business partners would move on, and I would eventually become the sole owner.
That was never the original plan.
I had never used QuickBooks before. I didn’t have a business degree, and I certainly didn’t have all the answers. What I did have was a genuine love for people and the belief that everything else was figure-out-able. I always say that entrepreneurship requires optimism and a hint of delusion.
Today, I own and operate the studio alongside an incredible team of instructors who help create a welcoming, supportive community every day. My husband and I are now raising two young children, so I’m once again learning how to balance entrepreneurship with motherhood.
There are definitely days when I wonder what I got myself into, but then I look at how far we’ve come. Years of hard work, uncertainty, and countless all-nighters have built a business that I’m incredibly proud of. We’re continuing to grow, and I still have a long list of ideas for where I want to take the studio.
The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that when you genuinely show up to serve people, they’ll show up for you too. Our members are incredibly loyal because they know we care about them beyond the workout. The same goes for our instructor team. One thing I’ve learned along the way is that you can teach skills, but you can’t teach kindness. That’s the first quality I look for in anyone who joins our team, because culture will always matter more than credentials.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Operating a studio in the midst of a pandemic.
Being a newly postpartum mom while owning a business felt like having twins.
Sole ownership means I have been the Janitor, the bookkeeper, the social media marketing guru, the person that carries all the stress and still have to show up as the cheerleader.
The economy has been a big challenge this last year for our retail sales. So it has illuminated what we really thrive on and that is our health and wellness services.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
We are a boutique group fitness studio. We specialize in Barre, Pilates and Functional Strength Training. Our niche is offering variety of class styles and really meeting people where they are at. We have a vast demographic of members and fitness levels and we still manage to create classes that accommodate everyone in the room.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Find mentors who are seasoned in your industry. Soak up their knowledge like a sponge.
Don’t take advice from people who don’t understand your vision or are not living the life that you aspire to have.
Pricing:
- $99 Unlimited Classes / month
- $18 Drop-In Class
- $129 8 Class Pass
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.studiofittd.com/
- Instagram: @studiofittd @pilatesmiseenplace
