Meet Lisa Peranzo | Fitness and Pilates Instructor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lisa Peranzo and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lisa, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
When I first entered the fitness industry in 2008, owning my own business wasn’t even on my radar. Not even a little. My goal was simple: do something I loved as a side hustle and have something fun to look forward to after a long day at work. Fitness was my passion, my stress relief, and honestly, my excuse to spend more time doing what made me happy.

Even when I eventually decided to transition into training full-time, I still wasn’t dreaming of becoming a business owner. My motivation was much simpler than that. I wanted better work-life balance, more freedom, and the opportunity to build a career that I genuinely enjoyed. I wanted more control over my professional future and the ability to spend my days helping people move, feel better, and gain confidence in their bodies.

My mission was never about building a brand or creating a company. It was about sharing something I loved with as many people as possible and helping them discover that movement didn’t have to feel like punishment. I wanted people to find joy in exercise, build healthy habits, and make movement a natural part of their everyday lives.

What I quickly discovered, however, is that people are incredibly curious creatures. And I mean curious about everything. Clients didn’t just ask about workouts—they wanted to know what I ate, what shoes I wore, what kind of coffee I drank, how often I exercised, and sometimes even what I packed for lunch. It turns out that when people trust you with their health and fitness, they also become interested in the habits and routines that support your lifestyle.

Over time, those conversations evolved. Questions shifted from “What workout should I do?” to “What should I be doing when I’m not in the studio?” Clients wanted guidance on nutrition, recovery, mobility, stress management, and creating healthy routines outside of our sessions. They weren’t just looking for another workout—they were looking for support, accountability, and solutions that fit their unique lives.

That’s when I realized something important: people wanted a more personalized approach to their health and fitness. They wanted programs tailored to their goals, their schedules, their challenges, and their lifestyles—not just another one-size-fits-all group class. They wanted to understand how all the pieces fit together and how to create sustainable habits that would actually last.

I knew I had the knowledge, experience, and passion to help. More importantly, I knew that when people are given a plan designed specifically for them, they’re far more likely to succeed. Real results don’t come from following the latest trend or forcing yourself into someone else’s routine. They come from finding an approach that works for your life.

As my client base grew, I began to see the limitations of only working in person. There were only so many hours in a day and only so many people I could help within the walls of a studio. That’s when the idea of expanding online started to make sense. Not because I wanted to own a business, but because I wanted to reach more people.

Creating an online platform gave me the opportunity to support clients beyond my local community and provide resources, programs, and guidance to people who may never have the chance to walk into one of my classes. It allowed me to continue doing what I love on a much larger scale: helping people move better, feel stronger, and build healthier lives.

Looking back, it’s funny how things work out. I never set out to become a business owner. I simply followed my passion, listened to what people needed, and kept saying “yes” to opportunities to help. What started as a side hustle eventually grew into something much bigger—a community, a career, and a business built around helping others discover the power of movement.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My work has always been centered around one thing: serving others. Long before I ever thought about websites, memberships, social media strategies, or content creation, I simply wanted to help people improve their lives through movement and healthy habits.

A Healthful Life began as a way for me to share everything I had learned throughout my years in the fitness industry with my local community. My goal was never to tell people what they “should” do or force them into a one-size-fits-all program. Instead, I wanted to help people find an approach to health and wellness that fit their individual goals, lifestyles, and personalities. I wanted them to experience the same joy and confidence that I had found through prioritizing my health.

As the business grew, so did the needs of my clients. Then COVID arrived and, like many business owners, I had to pivot quickly. Overnight, the fitness industry looked completely different. Studios closed, routines changed, and people were suddenly trying to figure out how to stay active while spending most of their time at home.

So, I adapted.

What started as in-person training evolved into virtual coaching, and before I knew it, I was teaching clients multiple times a week through Zoom. One of the coolest parts of that experience was realizing that location no longer mattered. I wasn’t just helping people in my neighborhood anymore—I was working with clients from all over the world. We traded fitness studios for living rooms, garages, spare bedrooms, and occasionally a kitchen floor with a curious pet wandering through the camera frame. It wasn’t always glamorous, but it worked, and it allowed people to stay connected, healthy, and moving during a challenging time.

That experience opened my eyes to the possibilities of online coaching and education.

Today, through Lisa Peranzo Fitness, I’ve been able to expand that vision even further. My community can now access my workouts, fitness tips, wellness guidance, and educational content whenever it fits into their schedules. Whether someone wants to read a post on Substack during their morning coffee, squeeze in a workout during lunch, or follow a Pilates class on YouTube after putting the kids to bed, the resources are there when they need them.

The best part is that people still receive the same guidance, encouragement, and expertise that I provide in my coaching. The format may have changed, but the mission hasn’t. My goal is still to help people move better, feel stronger, and build healthy habits that last.

And let’s be honest—life is busy. Between work, family, responsibilities, and the endless list of things demanding our attention, not everyone can make it to a scheduled class. By offering free content through YouTube and additional resources through my Substack community, people can learn and train on their own schedule. For those who want even more support, they can join my membership community and have workouts, wellness tips, and guidance delivered directly to them for a small monthly fee. It’s fitness without the hassle of trying to coordinate schedules or rush across town.

Of course, none of this happened overnight.

What people often see is the finished product—the videos, the website, the memberships, and the content. What they don’t always see are the years of learning, experimenting, pivoting, and occasionally wondering what in the world I got myself into. Building a business has been a continuous process of adapting to what people need while staying true to my mission.

This most recent transition has been one of the biggest and most challenging pivots of my career. If you had told me years ago that I would be teaching Pilates on YouTube, creating online content, and learning about algorithms, thumbnails, analytics, and email marketing, I probably would have laughed. Yet here we are.

One thing I’ve learned along the way is that the internet is a constantly evolving beast. Just when you think you’ve figured something out, everything changes again. New platforms emerge, trends shift, algorithms update, and suddenly you’re learning an entirely new skill set. It’s exciting, exhausting, and humbling all at the same time.

I also learned very quickly that entrepreneurship is not a solo sport. While I may be the face behind my brand, building a successful business requires support from other entrepreneurs, mentors, coaches, and professionals who bring expertise in areas where I don’t. Having people to collaborate with, learn from, and lean on has been invaluable throughout this journey.

At the end of the day, my mission remains the same as it was when I first started. I want people to feel empowered to take ownership of their health and wellness journey. I want them to understand that being healthy doesn’t have to feel overwhelming, restrictive, or complicated. It can be enjoyable, sustainable, and something they genuinely look forward to.

My brand isn’t about perfection. It’s about helping people build a healthy lifestyle that works for them. If I can help someone move with less pain, feel more confident, create healthier habits, or simply discover that exercise can actually be enjoyable, then I’ve done exactly what I set out to do.

Because ultimately, my goal has never been to build a fitness business. My goal has always been to build a healthier, stronger, and more empowered community—one person at a time.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
San Diego is one of those rare places where there’s always something to do and somehow never enough time to do it all. Between the beaches, outdoor adventures, incredible food, and perfect weather, it’s pretty much impossible to get bored here.

If a friend were visiting, I’d definitely start with a trip to La Jolla Shores for kayaking and snorkeling. If we’re lucky enough to visit during leopard shark season, that’s an absolute must-see. It’s one of the coolest and most unique experiences San Diego has to offer. After working up an appetite, we’d head over to Piatti for some amazing Italian food and a glass of wine while soaking in the coastal views.

No San Diego visit would be complete without spending a day at the San Diego Zoo and exploring Balboa Park. You could easily spend an entire day wandering through the museums, gardens, and beautiful Spanish-style architecture. Of course, we’d have to stop at The Prado for lunch because it’s practically a San Diego tradition.

A trip across the bridge to Coronado would also be mandatory. Between the stunning beach, the iconic Hotel del Coronado, and the charming small-town feel, it’s one of my favorite places in the county. We’d definitely make time for dinner at Jolie and maybe grab a coffee or a sweet treat while strolling through town.

Food-wise, we absolutely couldn’t skip Convoy Street. We’d have to stop at RakiRaki Ramen for some of the best ramen in San Diego. While we’re there, we might as well turn it into a full food tour because Convoy is packed with incredible restaurants, dessert spots, and boba shops.

I’d also want to take them to Seaport Village and the Embarcadero for a walk along the waterfront, maybe catch a sunset in Pacific Beach, and if timing worked out, we’d absolutely go cheer on the San Diego Wave. The energy at their games is so much fun, even if you’re not a huge soccer fan.

For a little extra adventure, we could hike Torrey Pines, visit Sunset Cliffs for one of San Diego’s famous sunsets, or rent bikes and cruise along Mission Beach. And if we’re feeling especially adventurous, maybe even hop on a whale-watching tour or spend an afternoon paddleboarding in Mission Bay.

Of course, all of this would be strategically scheduled around plenty of Pilates sessions. And because every great San Diego itinerary needs a little randomness, I’d probably throw in a puppy yoga class, too. Nothing says “vacation” quite like getting a workout in while being distracted by adorable puppies.

Honestly, by the end of the trip, we’d probably need another vacation just to recover from trying to fit all of San Diego into a few days!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My husband, my daughter, my family, my team, and my community. Who have encouraged me to take the leap in to training full time and has supported me every step of the way.

Website: https://lisaperanzofitness.substack.com/subscribe

Instagram: Https://www.instagram.com/lisaperanzo

Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/lisaperanzo-ahealthfullife

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/lisamperanzo/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@pilateswithlisa

Other: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRjNsd8H/

Image Credits
Britney McCourtney