Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Shiner.
Hi Lisa, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I first tried Lagree at a local studio around 12 years back and instantly fell for the workout. I ended up being a regular there for about seven years until the studio shut down during the height of COVID. I stayed in touch with the person who owned the studio and happened to chat with her about whether she had plans to sell the Megaformers. Initially, it was just out of curiosity—I wasn’t even contemplating opening my own studio. But as our conversations went on, the idea started to grow on me. Even though I had no previous experience running a fitness business -at the time I was an executive in behavioral heath/ health care industry- and we were still in the midst of COVID restrictions, I became excited about the possibility to build and operate a business revolving around a fitness routine I was passionate about. Plus, it felt rewarding to think about bringing Lagree back to the local scene, especially since two local studios had closed, leaving a lot of folks missing it. Now, more than four years later, I love the community that we’ve built!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
As you can imagine, starting a new business during COVID, especially one that’s not essential, was pretty tough thanks to all the restrictions and fear. I kept my expectations modest—I just wanted to make sure we were making enough to keep things running for the first months. The initial results were better than expected and I was hopeful when I started seeing a steady increase in members. By the third month, I even saw a small profit. Despite the ongoing fear and the need for masks during workouts and classes, I was reassured that there were plenty of people eager for group exercise, especially the challenge of the Lagree method. Although my background as a manager and executive helped, there were still so many things I had to learn to manage the business. I didn’t outsource much in the first few years to keep my expenses low, but eventually was able to build a strong team and shift responsibilities to others such as marketing, social media and managing instructor training and scheduling. We’ve been in a consistent growth mode for the past four years and now getting closer to a steady state during our fifth year, so time to think about what’s next for Core Precision!
As you know, we’re big fans of Core Precision – Lagree Fitness Studio. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Core Precision is a Lagree Fitness studio that primarily offers group sessions featuring the Megaformer. If you’re new to Lagree, people often liken it to Pilates, but it’s more comparable to weight training on a moving platform. What really makes our workout special is that the method is much more intense than traditional Pilates, thanks to slow, controlled movements and extended time under tension. What sets Core Precision apart from other fitness studios is our experienced instructor team, top focus on perfecting form and alignment, and we’ve got everyone’s back in creating a welcoming space for whoever walks in. We’re not about the “sexy” factor but about making sure everyone feels successful, no matter their fitness level. We actually love the muscle shakes, pure exhaustion and strong sense of accomplishment that hits at the end of our 50-minute full-body workouts.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Although I joined the local Chamber of Commerce and took advantage of a free resource called SCORE while getting ready to launch the studio and during our initial year of business, I still felt I was lacking a mentor who specifically understood boutique fitness. It can be daunting to connect with fellow local, small fitness owners since you’re unsure if they view you as competition and may hesitate to share insights. In time, I found support through various avenues, like mastermind and another virtual community. Although these required a monthly fee to participate, the expense was justified for the opportunity to engage with other small studio owners and exchange both challenges and solutions.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.coreprecisionyl.com
- Instagram: coreprecisionyl
- Facebook: coreprecisonyl
Image Credits
Stacey W., Deana F., Natalie D., Teresa G., Jessica Y., Grace T., Lisa S.,
