Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy Jordan.
Hi Amy, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I created WundaBar Pilates to strengthen, empower and support a community of like-minded individuals that strive to better their health and wellness both physically and mentally. It’s never been about “bikini bodies,” it’s always been about workouts that improve your functionality – and oh yeah, you’ll look great too because your body wants to be toned and conditioned to live a full and vibrant life. As a Mom of two, and knowing who I want to raise in this world also guides my belief when it comes to wellness: You are perfect wherever you are today, and my goal is to empower you to have the best experience in your own skin! I don’t care what color, gender, race, size or religion is. We welcome all at WundaBar and always have. When I began practicing Pilates in 2006, I was journeying through a difficult time in my own life. This workout soon became my passion, and I left her career as an Entertainment Marketing Executive to open my first Pilates studio in 2008.
Fueled by my continued study of traditional Pilates and the desire to share wellness through movement far and wide, inspiration struck again in 2010, and I sketched the now-patented WundaFormer and envisioned WundaBar Pilates. In 2017, I translated the in-studio experience on the WundaFormer to a repertoire that can be done on the mat, extending the reach and benefits of the WundaBar Pilates Method beyond the studio walls. We serendipitously launched wundabarondemand.com in early March 2020 and have connected with clients online all year – and are SO excited to be re-open in select CA studios outdoors and all three NYC studios are open now. As an artist, I thrive on innovation and pushing the boundaries of the fitness industry through determination and perseverance by creating a patented machine, a worldwide, connected wellness community with WundaBar On-Demand and opening nine WundaBar Pilates studio locations in CA and NY.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
2020 was full of challenges – or as I like to think of them – opportunities for creative solutions! The fitness industry in LA has been hit hard with mandated closures and for a studio like WundaBar Pilates with custom equipment, it is not as simple as moving it outside and is even restricted in some of the shopping districts we are in. We took things online with Live Zoom classes and streaming workouts via WundaBar On Demand. It’s been fun to watch things evolve for how we can still emotionally connect as we work out together on a screen and we are also actively developing a home model of our patented WundaFormer machines to launch a connected fitness platform too! Entrepreneurial success is never, ever a linear line! As if to prove that point in my personal life too, in June of 2020, with all WundaBar studios closed due to the pandemic, I was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive cervical cancer.
For seven months, I battled – and beat! – cancer, with the incredible support of my tribe and the love of my two children. I have chosen to see having cancer as a gift. Not a gift I would wish on anyone; but a gift in the sense that it brings you to the very core of things (no Pilates pun intended). Staring death in the face for months on end brings a deep sense of clarity and focus to what you value, love and desire for the future. You lose all energy for anything that is not worthy of your time and can easily let the small stuff go. It allows me to consistently stay in a peaceful and happy mindset with immense gratitude to be on the other side and get back to life!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’ve never been a one-size-fits-all kind of a person. My Dad always called me a “mixed bag of nuts” (that’s a compliment, right Dad?) as I grew up and had a wide range of activities, interests and friends. This followed me into my adulthood as my first career was over a decade in Entertainment Marketing – a job I loved with people I am still friends with but it wasn’t fulfilling my spirit. I took my artistic background and applied it to fitness. What?? I know. It’s a mixed bag of nuts! I knew I loved Pilates, but the way I wanted to experience class didn’t exist. I wanted to do beautiful, functional movement that would keep me strong and sleek but I also loved the high-energy experience of a group class and wanted to get cardio too. That’s a lot to ask because it is historically one or the other. I literally drew the WundaFormer on an airplane with the aim to create a more efficient way to do Pilates where all of the elements – the Reformer, Wunda Chair, Ballet Bar and Jump Board could be easily accessed without downtime for setting them up or moving around a studio. This type of combined equipment didn’t exist so I drew it, clicked my way around more than one manufacturing plant (pregnant and in 4″ heels) and brought that drawing to life! It took a LOT of creative vision to go from a successful corporate career to trusting myself and the power of movement to get here now, and I am so glad I did.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Resilience! Regardless of which career path you are on, resilience is a quality that is required to thrive. This year has taught us all that we’ve got to know how to carry on even when everything goes sideways. It takes creativity but more than that it takes resilience, the willingness to try something new. And if that new idea doesn’t work or things change again, then it’s time for yet another approach. At WundaBar this year we’ve had to pivot from our primary business being in studio to all online, to LIVE classes, to Zoom operations, to small capacity classes, to outdoor classes, and now working on a home model too. Sometimes, it even works out better than it was – with more ways to succeed and grow!
Pricing:
- WundaBar Pilates Studio Classes – vary by region, check wundabar.com
- WundaBarOnDemand.com – first two weeks are free! $24.99/month subscription
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: wundabar.com
- Instagram: @amyjordanofficial and @wundabarpilates
- Facebook: @wundabarpilates
- Twitter: @wundabarpilates
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiXVHuPWFe_I44xW1mhGHvA
- Other: wundabarondemand.com
Image Credits:
Gregory Zabilski, @gregoryzabilski and Michael Ameel @michaelameel
