Hidden Gems: Meet Olya Fromer of Soleil Pilates

Today we’d like to introduce you to Olya Fromer.

Hi Olya, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My name is Olya, and my journey in professional sports began as a gymnast with the Ukrainian National Team. For 18 years, I had the incredible experience of performing with Cirque du Soleil.

Growing up as a professional athlete the emphasis was always on pushing through pain and relentless hard work, often at the expense of rehabilitation and listening to our bodies. Consequently, wear and tear and injuries were common. As a former Ukrainian National Team gymnast, my young body faced immense demands. After a severe spinal fracture prior to the Olympics, which unfortunately prevented me from competing, and quick rehab as I forced my body though pain as it was all I knew, I joined the world-famous “Cirque du Soleil”. I was offered a contract with their famous production “Alegria” and went on to perform for eighteen years in three different productions: “Alegria,” “Corteo,” and the iconic “O” in Las Vegas.

However, entering the world of Cirque with a history of injuries meant that pain was a constant companion in my new career. The daily demands of performing were significant, and my body struggled. Despite appearing very strong on the outside it was just a cover, I experienced a great deal of internal pain and felt broken, while trying to keep up with the rigorous show schedule.

It wasn’t until one of my physical therapists suggested Pilates that I began to consider a different approach. Initially, I was resistant and didn’t believe that exercise beyond intense training could be beneficial. This reflected my limited understanding of my body’s needs beyond just being stronger through a practice like Pilates initially. As my pain continued to increase, I decided to give a deep dive into Pilates’ core beliefs , and it truly changed my life. It not only saved my performing career, it changed my body and I was no longer in pain but it also led me to become the owner of my own Pilates studio, with deep core values in understanding the body beyond the outer appearance. This is “Soleil Pilates ” : 13455 Ventura Blvd #216 Sherman Oaks, CA. 91423

After my first “fully committed” Pilates private session in 2005 in Barcelona, Spain, I finally gave my body a chance at rehabilitating from injuries to the spine, shoulder and knee. And many more that kept on appearing while performing. I haven’t stopped practicing since. My body experienced a transformation that I hadn’t realized was possible. It was like I suddenly gained an internal understanding of movement, rather than relying on external cues. I’ve experienced a wide range of Pilates methods and programs, from classical to comprehensive to rehabilitation. In 2009, I chose my comprehensive certification with Stott Pilates, which took me to various locations around the world, including London, Rio de Janeiro, Los Angeles, NYC, Chicago, and Toronto. Even while performing, I began helping fellow artists maintain their bodies by focusing on core stabilization, control of local and global deep muscular connections, and bringing awareness to injury rehabilitation and prevention in our demanding profession.

With over thirteen years of teaching experience, I’ve worked with a diverse clientele, including professional athletes, addressing a wide range of injuries and specific goals. I am passionate about meeting clients where they are in their fitness journey and creating personalized programs to help them build strength, flexibility, and body-mind awareness, which will help them progress more quickly and steadily toward their desired results. My extensive knowledge of the body and injuries allows me to offer a unique approach, empowering individuals to overcome limitations and continue doing what they love by building strength from within, with a deep understanding of how to optimize every part of their body. I strongly believe in my practice and that everyone is unique and individual. Just as your body requires food and water to function, it needs movement to maintain a healthy lifestyle and a better relationship with your body, understanding that every pain point is telling you something. Your body isn’t something to quickly patch up and move on until the next issue, it needs a repair for life and a lifelong commitment to pivots, to improve not ignore. I believe in and teach all my clients to approach my Pilates style from the standpoint of being a marathon runner, not a sprinter. The goal is to build tolerance for long distances with a steady and consistent pace and progression, understanding that breathing is fundamental to sustaining ourselves through life, not just in short bursts. If you dont know your breath, you don’t know your movement! And you will fall in the first mile of your run.

I look forward to the opportunity to work with everyone and change their perspective on how all forms of exercise, when combined with Pilates can be truly beneficial. It’s important to understand your body to achieve the best results, because there is “NO FAST RESULTS!!” If you belive in that “quote” then you fell into a sales pitch, and it’s worth remembering that significant changes take time and consistent effort.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Starting a business based on your core values is rarely a smooth process. There will always be individuals and obstacles who may try to undermine you or challenge your philosophy, particularly regarding your values and your level of commitment. However, staying true to my vision and viewing every challenging, painful lesson and all bumps as an experience and an opportunity for growth, learning, and strategically adjusting, this has been the key to my success.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
At Soleil Pilates, our focus is on rehabilitation, education, and awareness, aiming to build a strong connection between your body and exercise. We pride ourselves on being one of the few studios that offers truly individualized attention to clients of all ages and fitness levels, from the very young to the young at heart.During our sessions, my goal is not just to guide you through the movements, but to also empower you with the belief that you can master anything within your own self,I empower Motivate and challenge.

While rehabilitation is our specialty, we also provide specialized support for prenatal and postnatal mothers, helping them prepare for and recover with a deeper understanding and care for their bodies.

If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Being born prematurely presented me with some health challenges early on.
I was always the smallest in class, so much so that my teacher would give me their chair so I could reach the table! I was very shy and liked to play alone and dance, I loved dancing.

Despite being a shy child, I was incredibly active and loved to climb anything and everything I saw as a challange, early on I knew adrenaline was part of my identity. Getting involved in sports at the young age of four was a turning point for me. It played a vital role in building my self-confidence and ultimately led me to pursue a professional career in the field.

From a young age, I’ve been very driven and committed to anything I undertake. I set clear goals and work tirelessly until I’m satisfied with the outcome. Whether it was a school project or even something as simple as crafting a paper doll. This dedication, while leading to both successes and inevitable setbacks, taught me resilience and the importance of moving forward. This commitment was particularly significant when I ventured into sports at an early age, which required considerable sacrifices. I had to mature quickly and become independent, living away from home by the time I was nine.

Pricing:

• Our prices for private sessions range from $75 to $125, and the session lengths vary from 30 to 55 minutes.
• or our duet sessions, the price ranges from $55 to $75 per person.
• Our classes are highly individualized, and our pricing begins at $40 for a single class. The per-class cost decreases depending on the package one selects

Contact Info:

• Website: https://soleilpilates.com
• Instagram: @soleilpilatesstudio