Today we’d like to introduce you to Meghan Jackson.
Hi Meghan, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My dream growing up was to be a professional ballet dancer. After graduating high school I did just that, but early in my career I suffered several chronic injuries. On physical therapist #4 I finally found relief when a therapist felt that my issues stemmed from muscle imbalances – and prescribed Pilates exercises. I was vaguely familiar with the Pilates Method through the dance world, but what made me pay attention was the fact that it helped heal my injuries. Fast forward a few years and I began practicing Pilates regularly and began thinking ahead to the “what’s next” after my dance career was over.
Ever the overachiever, I went through a Pilates teacher training program at the same time as I returned to school to earn my Master’s Degree in Dance/Movement Therapy and shortly after opened my studio, Pilates Body Center, in 2001 – one month after 9/11. Back then most people did not know what Pilates was – that was soon to change!
Over the past 25 years I have taught countless Pilates sessions, developed a teacher training program which has now has almost 100 graduates, and offer mentorship programs to support the growth of other teachers and businesses. Alongside this, I lead international & domestic retreats designed to make wellness an integral part of a person’s identity, so that it’s not something to check off the to do list, but supports their entire being – so they have the vitality to live the life they envision.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Looking back, my biggest challenges started at the beginning. Many people didn’t know what Pilates was and I was the only studio within a 45 minute radius. 9/11 literally just happened and there was a lot of uncertainty in the world. Thankfully I had a lot of encouragement and support from family & friends.
The next step of uncertainty happened in 2008 with the financial crisis. This was when I stated to think about how I could make my business viable with less overhead and less stress. I took a leap of faith and moved my location 25 minutes away to a studio space located behind my home. Thankfully, people followed.
The biggest test perhaps was Covid when we closed for 5 months. I pivoted on day one to virtual sessions – which I had never done before. Most of my clients joined in and when I reopened 95% returned right away.
Entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart. There is always some uncertainty, you wear countless hats, and your boss is usually stingy with time off and benefits 🤣
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My goal as a teacher, mentor and retreat leader has always been to be encouraging & non-judgmental. What is the phrase, “progress, not perfection”? The feedback I get from those I work with include, “you’re my Pilates mom,” (from a teacher trainee), “I feel so welcome,” “I so appreciate the community you have created,” “I feel like I can do this,” “I appreciate how you work around how I am feeling each day.”
At this stage of my career, I would say I am most proud that I have clients who have been with me for as long as 20 years, I am excited to see my teacher training graduates with successful careers & wanting to grow more. It brings me so much happiness to see people I trained and mentored opening their own businesses – already 4 in 2026 alone. And I am humbled by those who come on retreat with me, who trust me to create an experience for them that can change how they live when they return home.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
So much has changed since I started in 2001. Back then it was print advertising, posting & handing our flyers and going to Chamber meetings. My industry felt relatively new, so mentorship was also new. Today, the Pilates industry has exploded and of course everything has changed in the way we connect with other business leaders.
Because of the rapid growth of Pilates, teacher training programs have become more accelerated and trainees are often teaching before they have graduated without the benefit of a true apprenticeship period. If someone wants to make Pilates a career that doesn’t involve burnout from lack of growth, support and working too many hours, they should work with a mentor. Yes, this is an investment. Many people do not realize the investment of time and money it takes to become a comprehensively trained Pilates teacher. A mentor should be someone not only with experience, but someone who can guide you to search for the answers yourself – not just feed them to you. It should be someone who has the balance of encouragement and pushing you a little outside your comfort zone.
Networking can take many forms. Sometimes it is just connecting with others in your industry to support one another, see what ideas others are having success with and getting someone else’s perspective. Networking can also be creating connections outside your industry – more of what I would call collaborative networking. How can you help one another?
I have realized that lifting one another up is the best way to grow. When you support and promote others it comes back around to you. I have felt this pull from the very beginning and it has not failed me yet.
My most recent networking has involved meeting with a very small group of local business owners organized by Shawn Connors, who runs a local Facebook group. He has a very simple format: Come each week and share a win, a challenge, something personal and something you want to be held accountable for. We spark great discussions from this simple format and we are all from vastly different industries.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.pilatesbodycenter.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pilatesbodycenter
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/pilatesbodycenter and www.facebook.com/meghanjackson
- Youtube: www,youtube.com/@pilatesbodycentertraining
