Hey ,
When my dad used to talk about me to random strangers he met - parents, amirite? - he'd say in his Boston accent "Yea, my dawtah's a Pilates gooroo! She werks with a guy named Roahn Fletchah, who worked with Joe Pilates - the original!" (he's not really that Boston, but it's funnier with a strong accent)
Back then, what I did was pretty clear. Put the people on the machines, do the Pilates, make them feel better. But after 20 years of teaching full time, I realized:
I wanted more... skills that is. I knew that as much as the exercises were making a difference, there was something about the crafting of the sessions and my delivery - my coaching - that was making the true difference with my clients. I felt frustrated that my skills could only stretch outside of the studio in a metaphorical sense and so I embarked on an educational journey to expand them.
My coaching journey began in 2016 and as you know, in 2024, I became a board certified health coach. Over the past 6 months, I've also achieved my certifications as a level one Precision Nutrition Coach and sat my training for Mental Health First Aid. This evolution of learning and practice has allowed me to support my clients in even more profound ways. Here's a glimpse into what that looks like now:
✍️ Writing: I'm currently finishing writing the first draft of a comprehensive 100 page caregiver's resource for the American Lung Association's PCN Wellness Hub. This will provide guidance and direction to those in the role of caregiver to patient's living with lung disease.
🎯 Coaching: I'm blessed to work with a number of private health coaching clients, each with a different plan and trajectory towards their vision for health and wellbeing. I am also excited to be starting to work with a few studios as a health coach for their clients. I get to serve their clientele and they have the benefit of a revenue boost from a trusted professional.
📉 Business Consulting: I work with a number of Pilates studio owners as an advisor on business planning, program and product launch, marketing, and business models. Often I'm helping them refine their policies and procedures or create them. In some cases, I'm helping them establish their operations. This is largely contract and/or retainer work.
🤸 Teaching Movement: I have a small number of private clients who I love to see each week. I also teach three classes at It's Lit Studio in Albany Park to a glorious community of movers and from time to time (in addition to YouTube) I'll offer short movement-based programming, like Inner Strength, Outer Peace that just completed.
🎤 Corporate Events: I do between 1 - 4 events per quarter for the most awesome teams. Often these involve specialized pitches to get to the heart of the needs of the people who I'll be working with, including their challenges and motivations. I work hard to create experiences that are curated to the people I'm working with so they leave understanding that wellbeing is grounded in meaning and purpose.
Ultimately, what I've built – encompassing writing, coaching, consulting, teaching, and corporate events – is what my friend Taylor Elyse Morrison aptly calls a "portfolio career," reflecting my passion for engaging with well-being in a multitude of meaningful ways. It can get busy at times, but ultimately, it's such a uniquely fulfilling way to serve that I wouldn't change it for the world. .
What does your "portfolio career" look like these days? I'd love to hear about how your passions have expanded. Hit "reply" and let me know how you're doing!
And if any of these areas resonate with you, or if you're simply curious to learn more about how I might be able to support you or your organization, I'd love to connect for a brief, no-pressure chat.
You can learn more about my services and schedule a call here:
Living Well With You, Not At You,
Coach JZ
Next Steps Health Action Plan - $47
Wouldn’t it be great if someone could just point you in the right direction to take the next step?
You might just need a motivational nudge or help weeding through all the things you want to do to support your health, but aren’t sure where to begin. Life is busy and you just need something simple to get you going!
That's exactly why I created the Next Steps Health Action Plan.
Here’s how it works:
- Purchase the plan.
- You’ll be immediately brought to a page where your comprehensive form lives.
- When you’re ready, you’ll answer a series of detailed questions about various areas of your health and well-being. Plan on about 30 minutes to complete the form.
- Once I receive your completed form, I’ll review it in detail and record a personalized video for you with feedback, reflections and questions for your considerations. You’ll also receive a tool to develop your next actions along with some suggestions for a simple plan to move forward.
- Your customized materials and plan will be sent to you within 2 business days of submission.
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