Meet Melissa | Pilates Enthusiast & Entrepreneur

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

Hi Melissa, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I’ve always been drawn to being my own boss, as I find it eliminates the “stress” of trying to achieve work life balance. While I run a successful law firm, I always find myself conjuring up new business ideas. I enjoy brainstorming. Most ideas I unfortunately don’t have the time to develop, however CADiLab PIlates was special. It felt like a natural extension of my lifestyle, something I would utilize myself regularly, and from a business perspective it was a way to diversify.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
As an experienced business owner of a law firm, I knew that my next endeavor needed to be a passion project that is both a part of my everyday lifestyle & offered an elevated experience uniquely defined in the market.

CADiLab Pilates is as a first-of-its-kind studio in Miami. We offer small group classes exclusively taught on Cadillac Reformers. From my experience, this top of the line equipment by Balanced Body, is mostly found in high-end studios where you’d occasionally find one for private sessions only.

After practicing Pilates on a Cadillac myself, I realized the quality of the workout was incomparable. I wanted to bring the most expensive piece of equipment available in any Pilates studio to the general public and offer small group classes that would allow people to practice on the Cadillac Reformer and Tower without having to pay a premium. This new concept for the Miami community is offered in an intimate setting of 8 people per class.

The concept and buildout was easy; I attribute that to how intertwined it is to my own lifestyle. Aside from the equipment choice, the vibe and approach to attendee experience from start to finish is really based on designing a place where I personally want to workout. The design does mirror in many ways my own home. The architect and designer, Claudia Nagel, a Columbia University trained professional designed both my home and the studio.

I envision it as a place where my adult/teen children can workout, this is crucial in brainstorming what I need for the studio. It helps define routines, class styles, types of accessories and other apparatus purchased for fun classes/events, the merchandise for sale, and the range of personalized services we can arrange so EVERYONE in Miami feels welcome.

I encourage any business owner to truly think about their customers not as a single user, but as a user that goes through many life stages, situations and challenges. The greater the number of life needs we can meet for every user, the greater the opportunity for new people to experience the studio.

This approach has allowed the studio to be utilized beyond the regularly scheduled group class offerings. We are always approached for unique uses – these have included studio rentals for professional athletes for use with their own personal trainers, private bookings for people who require a tailored session for specific injuries, or activities such as photo shoots, social content capture, and private events. Events range from baby showers to bridal parties, and our Certified Instructors even customize classes for teen birthday parties (optimizing for varying heights for safety on the equipment at all times).

Privacy is hugely important, I personally handle all private bookings. And our custom branded window shades allow for maximum privacy when working out.

Whether traveling to Miami for leisure or business, or a long-time resident of Miami, my goal is for everyone to have a reason to experience CADiLab Pilates.

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.
As a small business owner, I find joy in supporting other small business. I regularly visit Pura Vida (highly recommend the Pistachio matcha) and The Salty Donut. Dinner at Phuc Yea is a must! I love walking over the Biscayne Bridge for both the great cardio and beautiful views. And love boutique experiences around the city, a favorite is Anhinga Clay Studios.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I know it sounds cliche, but my life today would not be what it is nor would it be possible, without my family. In my case as a single mother, this is truly about my children, and my mother who is a great support system and extension of our household. I’d spent 10+ years practicing pilates and while pregnant with my youngest, my children and mother gifted me private Pilates classes that were taught on Cadillac Reformers. It was a game-changer and inspired the concept for CADiLab Pilates.

Website: https://www.cadilabpilates.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cadilabpilates/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CadiLabPilates/

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/cadilab-pilates-miami

Other: TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@cadilabpilates

Image Credits
N/A full credit to CADiLab Pilates.