Meet Kristin Dungee | Pilates Instructor and Creative Director/Founder at La Jolla Pilates

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

Hi Kristin, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
The vision and thought process was to create a space where I was free to just be. No code switching. No toxic positivity or self righteous spiritual fluff. Just genuine connections built on the basis of authentic human connections and community development. If I could create such a space where I felt safe, surely there were others who would benefit from this space as well. I also envisioned the studio being a wellness hub for the community–where members could take classes, become an instructor, or access wellness and health services.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I am the founder and creative director of La Jolla Pilates. Our studio is a referral only membership based studio. To gain access to our exclusive space, you will need to be invited by a current member or instructor. We as a team are proud of the community we have created over the past 2 years and our goal is to mentor the next generation of pilates instructors.

Trial and error definitely sharpened my business acumen! Before starting La Jolla Pilates, I danced professionally for the NFL- the Miami Dolphins and the New York Jets. This instilled in me an amazing work ethic, attention to detail, and communication skills. I also taught fitness and pilates all over New York City and even managed several boutique studios. I made several attempts at starting fitness brands over the years.

One main challenge for me was timing, forming the right connections, and gaining enough resources. To overcome this I had to continue to sharpen my skills while waiting for the right time to launch my new brand in a different market that was unsaturated. I’ve learned that you must be brave enough to take calculated risks. I’ve also learned the valuable lesson of sustainable growth versus rapid unsustainable growth.

Overall, I want the world to know that I’m that girl with big dreams that just went for it. If I can do it so can you.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
San Diego has so many great areas. I would first take my best friend to La Jolla Shores! The cove is always a winner when friends come to town. La Jolla shores has great views and lots of quaint shops/great restaurants. I would not forget to take them to Avenida de la Playa to grab a burger at Jeff’s or hang out at Mrkt Space. I would also take them to Oldtown for the history/fresh tortillas and Mission Bay for a bonfire.

Convoy Music Room is a definite spot on this list followed by Understory Bar in Del Mar. Little Italy and Sunset Cliffs are also great spots that never disappoint!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to shoutout my family and friends who listened to me obsess over all my grand ideas and dreams! I want to thank them for not discouraging my dreams–for gassing me up and telling me I could do and be anything! Specifically I would like to shoutout my parents for encouraging me to be my best and my older brother who was an early investor in my fitness career.

Website: https://www.lajollapilates.org/

Instagram: @lajollapilates (studio) @herbnaura (personal)

Youtube: herbnaura

Other: I’m on Substack! https://substack.com/@herbnaura

Image Credits
Photo credit Kristin Dungee