FXBG Neighbors Podcast
Fredericksburg Neighbors Podcast
FXBG Neighbors Podcast
EP #192 How Pilates My Way Builds Strength Without Mirrors
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You’ve probably heard Pilates is “easy” or “just for women” and if that’s what’s kept you away, we need to clear the air. I’m joined by Dr. Kimberly Brown-Mason, founder of Pilates My Way, a boutique Reformer Pilates studio in Fredericksburg, Virginia with a simple promise: the slow burn that changes everybody. We talk about what Reformer Pilates actually trains (strength, mobility, flexibility, and control) and why her small-group coaching model helps people feel confident even when they’re brand new.
Kimberly also shares her personal journey as a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel, including how Pilates became a tool for healing and a path back to purpose after leaving the military. That lived experience shapes the studio culture in a real way, from meeting members where they are to creating a space without mirrors so people can focus on how their bodies feel instead of how they look. If you’ve ever walked into a fitness class and wondered, “Am I doing it right?” you’ll understand why this approach matters.
We also dig into entrepreneurship lessons for anyone thinking about starting a business. Kimberly explains why she chose not to go the franchise route, how networking and local chambers can support small business growth, and what it looks like to build a brand that serves the community on your own terms. She highlights the Move Forward Pilates Foundation and the mission to provide free Pilates for 80 to 100% disabled veterans, plus opportunities to apply, donate, or volunteer.
If you enjoy local business stories, fitness that actually feels doable, and community-first leadership, subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more Fredericksburg neighbors can find the show.
Dr. Kimberly Brown-Mason
Pilates My Way
10827 Courthouse Road, Fredericksburg, VA, United States, 22408
Welcome To FXBG Neighbors
Speaker 1This is the Fredericksburg Neighbors Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Dori Stewart.
Speaker 2Welcome back to another episode of the FXBG Neighbors Podcast, where we share the stories of our favorite local brands. I have a special guest joining me today. We've got Dr. Kimberly Brown -Mason with Pilates My Way. Kimberly, welcome to the podcast. Thank you so much.
SpeakerI very much appreciate you for having me today.
Speaker 2Well, I'm really excited about this. I'm excited to get to know you and get to know your business.
What Pilates My Way Offers
Speaker 2So let's start there. Share with us what is Pilates My Way?
SpeakerPilates My Way is a boutique Reforma Pilates studio in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Our mission is simple: deliver the slow burn that changes everybody. We offer Reforma Pilates classes designed to build strength, improve mobility, increase flexibility, and help people feel better in their bodies. What makes us different is that we focus on personal attention and personal coaching in a small group setting. We welcome people of all ages, sizes, fitness levels, and backgrounds. We also don't have mirrors in the studio because we want people to feel focused on their body, not feel intimidated or feel the need for comparison.
Speaker 2I love this so much. I love that you said it's small classes. I love that you mentioned not having mirrors because of the intimidation factor. Because I know when I go into exercise studios, I am super intimidated. Am I doing it right? Am I at the same fitness level? So I really love what you're doing. Congratulations on this.
SpeakerThank you so much.
Speaker 2So I want to learn about you. Tell me about you. I want to learn your background and how you got into this.
From Army Service To Healing
SpeakerUm, well, my journey is one of a retired uh lieutenant colonel, U.S. Army veteran um that suffered from um sexual trauma. And um I really was lost after I um departed the military after 20-something years of service. Um and I had to find a way to cope and to heal. I tried therapy, I tried a number of things, and it wasn't until I found Pilates that I felt like I found a new purpose in life. I fell in love with Pilates as it strengthened my body, my mind, and it also helped nourish my soul. Um eventually I realized that not only did I enjoy uh being a participant of Pilates, but when the opportunity arose for me to become a Pilates instructor, I jumped on it quickly and I completed it quickly. After that, I decided I wanted to own a studio. Initially, I was going franchise, but I wanted to service the community that means so much to me, and that is disabled veterans by giving being able to give free Pilates to disabled veterans in a place that I called my own. And unfortunately, through a franchise model, that is not always possible to be able to do with your studio and serve the community the way that you want to serve. So, therefore, Pilates My Way was came to life.
Speaker 2Amazing. Well, first, thank you for your service. And I absolutely love how you're giving back. So, congratulations on that and congratulations on finding something that is bringing you so much meaning. What a gift to our community you are. I love it.
Pilates Myths That Hold People Back
Speaker 2I love so let me ask you this do you find that there are any myths or misconceptions uh that you hear about Pilates?
SpeakerOh, yes. The biggest myth is that Pilates was created for women, but Pilates was actually created by a man, a man who was helping military actually members um recuperate after injuries. Um, and it so therefore Pilates is good for athletes, military personnel, and people, all people recovering from injuries and those in between, young, old. Um, another misconception is that Pilates is easy because it's low impact. Um, Pilates low intensity does not mean that it's easy. We call it the slow burn that changes everybody. Because when people come to our introductory class, they think, oh my God, another introduction, another, um, I don't need this, especially people that aren't new to Pilates, but not only do we introduce them to our Allegra II um reformers but um and to our studio, but we also introduce them to our slow burn method, which means that the next day you will feel that you had a workout. That also makes us different from everybody else because we provide a full workout during our introductory sessions as well as introduce people to our reformers and our studio. So low impact doesn't mean less intensity, just because we're not jumping around, you will feel the burn and you will get the work at Pilates My Way.
Speaker 2Amazing. Amazing.
Starting A Business Without A Franchise
Speaker 2So it's a lot of hard work to start a new business. And if someone listening right now is inspired by what you've created and are thinking, well, maybe I want to start my own business, what advice would you give them?
SpeakerUm, some people may frown on this, but what I've learned and my new model to myself is no franchise. Um, there are too many tools and resources out there available to uh business businesses nowadays where they can really survive and thrive on their own. Um, franchises, we pay for their name, um, we give them a portion of our money for the hard work that we do, our blood, our sweat, and our tears to turn around and have them use Chat GPT to try to train us. We can do that ourselves. So I have learned that it's not easy. I won't say that, but I will tell you that you can learn so much on your own by the tools and resources that are now available to us, then paying for somebody else's brand. Be your own brand, be your own name, and create something that you truly love and that you can share in the way that you want to share it.
Speaker 2I love that. Great advice. Great advice. What do you love most about Pilates My Way and what you do?
Building Community Through Free Pilates
SpeakerOkay, what I love most about Pilates My Way and what I do is that again, it all goes back to community. I could not serve the community the way that I want to serve them if it was not for me coming up with Pilates My Way. Um, I am, I have my employees working the front desk. I have my instructors teaching in the classroom. I do teach sometimes, but only by necessity. My goal is to be out in the community. My goal is to be out there introducing people to Pilates My Way, being a community partner with others, and trying to get them to know about also the Move Forward Pilates Foundation, where we provide that free Pilates to 80 to 100% disabled veterans and transition those individuals to instructors so that they can too drive and be successful as a military uh individual with disabilities. So the biggest thing is I like to be in the community. I like to be around other business people and entrepreneurs, learning from them and also sharing with them so that we can grow the community and because small businesses are a community that needs help, that needs to be uh nourished and that needs to hear from others. We cannot do this alone. We need others. So if you're not a member of the Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce, you're not a member of the Virginia Black Um Chamber of Commerce, if you're not a member of these networking groups that can help you be the best business that you can be, I tell you that that is something that you need to do because it is helping me and I appreciate it. Everything that they it pour into me on a daily basis.
Speaker 2Yeah, that's really great advice. Really, really using those resources. And I can feel your love and your passion for what you do when you're talking about it. So I imagine you just fly out of bed each morning. I can I can feel the love.
A Studio That Meets You Where You Are
Speaker 2So, what is something that you wish the listeners knew about Pilates My Way?
SpeakerUm, one thing that I wish they knew is that I wish they knew that we are more than a reformer Pilates boutique studio. Outside of the chandeliers, the crown molding, our beautiful reformers, our studio is beautiful. We have one-of-a-kind art as well that was um was uh drawn and painted by art art by Meach, um, who's a local artist on our walls. So outside of being a beautiful place aesthetically, that people can come and take a load off and get a good workout. We are a community uh reformer studio. When our people come in, they are celebrated. When we get new members joined, they are celebrated, they are given gifts. We are just trying to make them feel like that Pilates My Way is their home away from home. When people come there, I want to see the smiles. We have one member, Miss Teresa. She's 75 years old, she's one of my favorite members. And um, she felt one time that she had disrupted a class because she got a little overheated and tired. And um, the good thing about being able to coach in a small group settings is that people can take a break when they need to and jump back in. Um, we are not a high pressure uh place where you're gonna be uh chastised for not keeping up. Everything is at everybody's level and everybody's pace. And that's what we mean by um individual coaching in a group setting. Um, we we love all of our clients and we want to meet them where they are. So I just love being able to give back to each and every one of them and give them all of me because I do. I wake up in the morning excited to go in there, excited to meet the new people coming in, and excited to greet the people that are already part of the Pilates My Way family. Um, and all of that can be even seen on Google Review. We are very personable, we are very loving, we are very kind, and um, we want people to love Pilates just as much as we do.
Speaker 2What a wonderful community you have built. Congratulations on all of your success. I just love what you're doing. Thank you. I love it. So
Where To Find Pilates My Way
Speaker 2if the listeners want to connect with you, if they want to come visit you, where can they find you?
SpeakerAll right, we are located at 10827 Courthouse Road, that is at the intersection of Patriot Highway. And um, we also are across the street for Harm Hard Times Cafe. Um, you can also visit us online at pilatesmyway.com. We are also on social media and Instagram, Facebook, anywhere, Twitter, all of those things you can find Pilates My Way. Um, again, also if you are 80 to 100% disabled veteran and you want to apply to the moveforward Pilates foundation.org, our 501c uh partnership with them allows us to provide free Pilates with our studio to disabled veterans. You can apply at moveforwardpilates foundation.org. You can also donate to the cause as well as become a volunteer because all nonprofits cannot move without community support. And we need volunteers so we can make a greater and more impactful um impact.
Speaker 2Amazing. Amazing. Thank you so much for all that you do, and thank you so much for sharing Pilates My Way with us.
SpeakerThank you for having me again. It was my pleasure to be here, and I hope that everyone will find Pilates My Way on Courthouse Road, your strength, your movement, your way.
Speaker 1I love it.
SpeakerThank you. You're welcome.
Speaker 1Thank you for listening to the Fredericksburg Neighbors Podcast. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to FXBG NeighborsPodcast.com.