Meet Gretchen Roscoe | Pilates teacher, NCPT, CRT, RCP

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

Hi Gretchen, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
There was never a formal process to the start of my business. In March of 2020 our work place was shut down and we all went home, like so many others. I had Pilates equipment in my home that I had purchased for myself to use so I could keep up with my self-practice, and maybe do a few workshops. It was never to start a home studio. A former student of mine reached out one day and said she knew I had equipment at home and could she come over and pay me for a private training session. My first response? Sure! But just come to play! She said, no. I want a proper private session and I want to pay for it. And that is how I started. She then referred her Mom to me and pretty soon the word got around and before I knew it I was seeing clients on a regular basis, later adding virtual teaching by July. I was taking on new clients each week, all organic and work of mouth. While I quickly outgrew my space, it wasn’t until April of 2022 I decided to expand. After saying I would never move into a commercial space, I took the plunge and did just that! I guess never say never! Since moving into my new studio, I have continued to grow, now offering in-studio small group classes. This has allowed me to grow at my own pace, which was helpful to not feel overwhelmed, especially during a pandemic. And it’s been a joy! I feel as though all the work I have done all my life has been in preparation for this, for now, for me, for my clients and for the way I want to run my studio.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?

I am a classically trained Pilates teacher, nationally certified with more than 30 years of experience. I am also a licensed Respiratory Therapist of 25 years and I blend what I know from both fields of study into each and every session or class I teach. They’re more connected than you would think!

In my studio I offer private and duet training sessions as well as small group classes and education/movement workshops. I continue to offer virtual/online sessions too. This is an exciting time as I am able to do both which allows me to help more people regardless of age, profession, sport, injury, limitation, disease process or where they live. I love the versatility of offering these services.

Pilates is a system of exercises that meet your body at where it is at today. The focus is on the whole body with many benefits such as improving cognitive function, balance, coordination, strengthening, increasing mobility and flexibility. It improves posture from a spinal centric place regardless of what is going on with your spine. I also focus on educating my clients! Understanding the practical application of how the work they do with me in the studio will improve their movements in whatever they do outside of the studio is very important. The goal is to take the lessons they learn in the studio in their body and carry that with them into everything they do.  Whether that is in a sport, study, work, or keeping active and mobile in retirement.

What I want people to know about me is that I am a believer in movement, a believer in how Pilates changes a body for the better. My clients tend to be on the opposite ends of the physical spectrum. They are either so injured they must relearn how to move. Or they are athletes, kids and adults, who want to improve their performance by recovering from injury and preventing further/future injuries. Both are committed to moving better and to be free of pain. I believe that an educated mind about movement will equate to a physical body that can do more, better. It is important to understand the why behind Pilates movements! How do these systems of exercises help you to perform better at whatever you want to do in life? Every single exercise that Joseph Pilates created has a purpose and a practical application. My goal is translating that into terms in which my clients can understand and find helpful. No matter how complex. My medical background trained me to break down complex medical situations to patients in crisis. Teaching at a medical college taught me how to teach the adult learner. My work with pediatric patients helped me to speak to kids of all ages in a way that helps them to see the benefit of maintaining a healthy movement practice, and have fun doing it! My competitive nature as a former athlete and coach has given me the ability to truly understand the frustrations of my dancers and athletes who may be sidelined with injury, but not allow them to focus on what they cannot do, but instead to change their mindset to what they can do, what is possible now, as well as in the future. And of course, my own injuries over the years have given me the grace to share my struggles with clients so that they never feel alone in what they are experiencing.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
A trip to my town would definitely include:
Surfing or SUP at various locations along our coast. Beach days would be a must! Including a trip to Sunny Jim Sea Cave.
A trip up to Julian for lunch and pie as well as a walkabout around the town. Maybe even hit up a tour at the Eagle Mining Co. Definitely will stop off at Dudley’s in Santa Ysabel and hit the shops in Wynola.
Hiking would be next, whether that be Iron mountain, Potato chip or Torrey Pines reserve. But I would definitely hit Annie’s Canyon for a truly unique and fun experience! Since we’d be in Encinitas, we would stop off at the Naked Cafe in Solana beach and check out Carlsbad too.
For specific areas around town to enjoy, I would take my BFF to Liberty Station, the downtown harbor area, Balboa park, hit a movie at Angelika Cinema, our wonderful zoo and safari park, Old Town, Gaslamp quarter, Cabrillo national monument, the Midway, catch a ballgame at Petco Park, and ride the roller coaster at Belmont.
Some of my favorite places to dine at: Yanni’s, Cafe Luna, Sofie’s Pita, and Wonderland Ocean pub.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Beyond my family and friends, I would say that my business attorney, Danielle Stead Blanton and Lesley Logan at Profitable Pilates have been instrumental in helping me recognize that having my own studio space, whether home or commercial, was always going to be the better choice for me. With encouragement, I never felt alone in the process of setting my studio up, back in 2020 or more recently when I expanded in April. In fact, Lesley recently hosted a Pilates business retreat in March of 2022, and it was pivotal in helping me see where I was getting stuck as well as to hone in on what the next step was for me in my business. Plus, Danielle easily helped me glide from home studio to commercial space without any hesitation or legal concern.

I know that without Danielle and Lesley I would have never ventured out on my own nor felt comfortable with it. Without Danielle, I would have never felt comfortable with my contracts and waivers or questions regarding legal issues in business. Without Lesley, I would never have mastered the applications of social media, website design, and booking systems that were right for me. My area of expertise is medical and movement. So having a tribe of women I can turn to with my industry specific questions has given me the freedom to expand my business with confidence!

Website: http://gretchenroscoepilates.com

Instagram: @gretchenroscoepilates

Facebook: Gretchen Roscoe Pilates

Image Credits
Monica Linda @Girl Squad Media