Today we’d like to introduce you to Pippa Frame.
Hi Pippa, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned from my story, it’s that you’ve always got to be ready to pivot. Life will throw some crazy curveballs, and it’s all about rolling with them to see where they lead.
I always knew I wanted to be a dancer. From a young age, I was really focused on ballet and even got to train internationally at places like the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School in Canada. But when I hit puberty, it became very clear I didn’t have the body type for ballet. So, I pivoted to other styles of dance and ended up at North Carolina School for the Arts to do my undergrad in modern contemporary dance.
But in college, I had a knee injury so serious I had to learn how to walk again. Through some really intense physical therapy, I got interested in helping hurt people. So, after college, I went to massage school and made my rent as a massage therapist while dancing professionally in San Francisco.
After some years of being a starving artist, I went to grad school in Phoenix to get my MFA and move into teaching. But when I discovered the realities of the travel and insecurity of being an adjunct professor on countless campuses, I pivoted once again.
I had been providing personal training and found that my years of dance helped me break down movements in a way that clients understood. I found it fulfilling, so I got certified in Pilates and stretch therapy.
And that got me hired at the Stretch To Win Clinic in Phoenix under Ann Frederick, who created Fascial Stretch Therapy. It finally felt like everything was coming together… until they announced they were closing their clinic!
So, I went to the bank, opened an LLC, and on January 1st, 2012, Pippa’s Pilates & Stretch was born. From scratch, I slowly built out my clientele until I was booked out weeks in advance with a waiting list. I was traveling to teach workshops regularly, I was using my years of experience and knowledge to help people, and I felt like I’d made it.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
All those curveballs and pivots led to all those careers and experiences, which seemed to synergistically blend together and help me build a successful business in Phoenix. And then Covid came out of nowhere and made me question everything!
There I was, in lockdown, far from family and loved ones, trying to find joy in my work over Zoom. It was the biggest curveball of them all.
But I saw it as an opportunity to figure out where I needed to be to rebuild a life that was more fulfilling on all levels, and LA felt like the smart choice. It has the ocean, the mountains, and my sister, plus great food, museums, live music, and dancing—all the cultural diversity I had been missing. And I knew it was now or never.
So, I pivoted again, packed up my life and my dog, and came to LA. And it has not disappointed.
Everyone I meet here is so layered, interesting, and unexpected. I have clients who are musicians, and Arctic explorers, a friend who produces a drag cabaret, and my swing dance teacher is a world-champion dancer and also coach baseball.
So here I am, bringing Pippa’s Pilates & Stretch to LA and its interesting characters, and I know I’ve made the right decision. To react to life’s curveballs, we have to be flexible. Luckily, that’s something I can help with!
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Working with clients in private Pilates and stretch sessions, I tailor every movement and exercise to eliminate their pains and problems. I’m the person you go see when you’re not sure what’s wrong. When you’ve tried all the usual solutions but you feel like you’re not addressing the root cause of pain, you come to see me.
With my decades of experience and training, I can see the big picture and figure out what’s going on. I’m known as someone who listens to you and makes an effort to understand not only what’s bothering you but what you want to achieve.
Whether you’re dealing with daily discomfort that slows you down, recovering from an injury or training for a big event, I can help you build strength and mobility for more power and confidence so you can feel the best in your body every day.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Having been a professional dancer, with all the physical wear and tear or injuries that entails, it surprises some people that I still love dancing. My clients—who see me in my functional, comfy clothes, ready to take them through their stretches and exercises—might be surprised to see me swing dancing on a Friday night in a pencil skirt and heels, with victory rolls and red lipstick!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.pippaspilatesstretch.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pippaspilatesstretch/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pippaspilatesstretch
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pippa-frame-66477473/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_7oXpjsFXs_9BRxLNEIIvA
