The Power of Showing Up: 96 Pilates Sessions That Transformed Me

In May 2024, I walked away from the company I had helped build for nearly two decades. I wasn’t just stepping out of a job - I was stepping into the unknown. And while I was confident in my decision, I knew I had to rebuild from the inside out. I needed to create space to re-center, refocus, and rediscover who I was without the title, without the to-do list, and without the nonstop pace of leading a region.

So, I started with one simple commitment: showing up for myself.

Enter Pilates.

Working with Christina Pieri in private Pilates sessions wasn’t just about movement or strength. It was about creating a consistent, intentional experience, one that made me feel seen, grounded, and empowered. I didn’t need the fanciest gym or the latest trend. I needed connection. I needed care. I needed someone who would meet me where I was and help me rise.

A year later, I’ve completed 96 sessions: 79 private sessions as well as 17 group classes at C-Fit, a boutique fitness studio in Springfield, PA. Both the private and group lessons have been taught by Christina, and as I write this, we are planning the next 4 sessions to hit the 100 mark. These numbers aren't just a fitness milestone. They represent 100 curated moments - each one an experience that helped rebuild my confidence, clarity, and courage.

And that’s exactly what I believe transforms people, brands, and businesses:

Experiences that are personal, purposeful, and consistent.

The same way businesses earn customer loyalty through thoughtful, human-centered interactions, we also build loyalty with ourselves. Loyalty to our wellbeing. Loyalty to our growth. Loyalty to becoming the version of ourselves we’re meant to be.

Here are three takeaways from this experience that you can apply in your life or your business:

1. Consistency Builds Loyalty

We often think loyalty is built in big, grand gestures. But it’s not. It’s built in the quiet consistency of showing up. The same way a customer becomes loyal to a business that remembers their name or anticipates their needs, I became loyal to this process because it never failed to show up for me. And in turn, I kept showing up for it.

2. Transformational Experiences Aren’t Always Flashy - They’re Intentional

Each Pilates session wasn’t a big “aha” moment. It was small, thoughtful cues. Encouragement when I doubted myself. Adjustments that made me feel strong instead of strained. These are the same micro-moments that businesses overlook - but they’re the ones that make people feel like VIPs. Loyalty isn’t just to a brand or a service - it’s to the feeling you create.

3. The Most Important Relationship You Cultivate Might Be the One with Yourself

In business, we talk a lot about relationships - with clients, customers, and teams. But the relationship you have with yourself sets the tone for everything else. This year of rebuilding has reminded me that if I want to create unforgettable experiences for others, I have to live one myself.

These 100 sessions were more than workouts. They were reminders:

• That slowing down can be powerful.

• Those meaningful experiences, whether in the studio or in the boardroom, are what create connection and loyalty.

• And that when you give yourself the space to heal, grow, and rise, you don’t just return stronger - you return fearless.