Today we’d like to introduce you to Magen Benedetto.
Hi Magen, 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?
Initially, my career was on a completely different path. I had been in the digital media and branding industry, working as a content manager and brand communication strategist at various organizations but always had a love for health and wellness. I had been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease early in my 20’s and did everything I could to learn about how best to move and care for my body. As a side gig, I ended up getting a personal training certification and began taking on clients on the side and even started spearheading multiple wellness initiatives in my corporate life such as leading bootcamp classes after work, providing nutrition coaching and support to colleagues and promoting healthy practices in the office. I knew I ultimately wanted to make the switch to do this kind of work full-time. Pilates was a training modality I fell in love with.
As a low-impact workout that helped me move and feel better, I started looking into getting my Pilates certification to become an instructor, then COVID happened. Like most people, my life shifted somewhat and after many changes and challenges, I ended up getting laid off from my corporate job and this was the sign I needed. My husband was immensely supportive through this as I juggled countless freelance clients for financial stability while going through my intensive teacher training with my mentor Keary Ann Bixby. The studio I had originally attended closed due to the pandemic and after my teacher training, I didn’t want to just teach at a studio, I wanted to open one. In the end, I left 2020 not only a certified instructor in Pilates, but a business owner, helping create a new space for clients to come and move with a team of instructors – including myself, my mentor and fellow instructors that I had trained with.
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?
Is it ever? I would say opening a new business is a rough and bumpy road regardless, let alone opening a new business during a pandemic. From trying to navigate COVID protocols to create a safe and healthy space to getting financing for numerous pieces of equipment, we hit many snags in our plans. The biggest hurdle by far was the long-term impact of COVID when it came to securing a space in Los Angeles and the supply chain issues for our equipment. Multiple spaces fell through or just weren’t quite right for us and we pushed back opening countless times while waiting for equipment but we got through it. Now we’re trying to build up our class schedule mindfully as we continue to monitor the pandemic and needs of our community while doing our part to keep everyone safe.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about The Body Process?
We are a Pilates and movement studio in Culver City offering intimate group reformer and movement classes, private and semi-private sessions, workshops and teaching trainings. When you come to The Body Process, it’s more than just a workout. While you definitely get a workout, our team of certified instructors help you gain a way of understanding your body and create a mind/body connection so you can move and feel better to get the most from your movement.
For us, it’s not about losing weight or the aesthetic aspect of fitness. While that’s a happy byproduct for some, we focus on building strength and mobility and increasing energy and vitality to improve the way you FEEL, not just the way you look. Pilates in particular can be a very aesthetically focused modality and can seem intimidating to the average person. All too often, we hear folks say they aren’t “fit” enough, “skinny” enough or “flexible” enough to do Pilates and we want to change that. If you have a body, you can do Pilates!
The thing I am most proud of brand-wise is the vibe we’ve created in our space. It’s warm and inviting and open and feels accessible to those that come in. Accessibility was extremely important to me because I want everyone to feel welcome in this space and comfortable to move and sweat with our community of instructors.
In the end, I want people to know that having aesthetic goals is great, but it’s not the only thing that’s important. We focus on mindful movement, proper connection and engagement rather than the waistline and while you may hit that aesthetic goal with us, we hope by the time it comes around, you are so focused on the way you feel you don’t even care about a number on a scale.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
For myself, I define success as getting to do what I love for a living, not just doing any job to live. So right now, I am succeeding! I truly love what I do and can’t believe this is my life sometimes.
As for my business, I define success as introducing new folks to Pilates and having them fall in love with it as I have. I want to build a community within Culver City and have full classes of folks that look forward to that hour every day with their instructor in our space. Ultimately, success would mean I have a space dedicated to just classes and a space for privates so we can bring in more folks and continue to grow as a wellness and movement studio in Culver City.
Pricing:
- New Clients: 2 weeks of Unlimited Classes for $75
- Membership: Unlimited Classes $250/month (month-to-month)
- Drop in class $40
- New Client Special: 3 privates for $225 then $45 off your next package.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://thebodyprocess.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_bodyprocess/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheBodyProcess
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-body-process-culver-city
Image Credits:
Kasha Krawczyk
