Exploring Life & Business with Carla Gilfry of The Stiletto Gym

Today we’d like to introduce you to Carla Gilfry.

Carla, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I started fimb (fitness in mind and body) yoga & wellness center in Sept 2006 as primarily a yoga studio where I would incorporate other unique fitness classes that I believed incorporated both mind and body. I have a master’s degree in psychology and am a licensed professional counselor so I wanted a space in which women could come to improve both their mind and body. I am also a certified yoga instructor and fitness professional.

In 2007, I stumbled upon what at that time was considered maybe a controversial class called the S Factor which was featured on Oprah. I was immediately intrigued by the class because it was so edgy and new. Myself and some other instructors took a pole class and I found someone locally who was teaching a “strip tease” fitness class. After taking these classes, I realized the positive impact these types of classes have on both the mind and body and how these classes really boosted my self-confidence and had a positive impact on how I felt about myself and my body. Since I did not have poles at my then yoga studio, I decided to offer a “striptease for fitness” workshop and soon realized the popularity of this, even back in 2007.

In 2007, after the success of these “striptease” fitness workshops I decided to get trained in pole fitness and add a few poles to my yoga studio. I began to offer a few pole classes alongside my yoga classes and soon realized that I could combine pole fitness with yoga and Polga (pole yoga) was born. I also decided to begin to offer “girls night out” parties as a way to promote my yoga/pole studio. It was at this time I changed the name to the Stiletto Gym by fimb.

My original studio had 5 poles and 900 square feet, today we have 15 studio poles and 8 stage poles and 2500 square feet. We are completely booked every weekend with our signature “Celebrate Sexy” parties, I have seven instructors who instruct our parties, workshops, and classes.

I teach our Polga (pole yoga) classes out of our KC studio but also have an online in home Polga (pole yoga) fitness program and sell in home poles. We are developing a Polga (pole yoga) teacher training. Polga (pole yoga) will be featured in the SCW fitness conventions in October 2021. July 2021, we will have our first “Celebrate Sexy” Women’s Empowerment Retreat.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road. I have had to learn the art of business since this was not what I was trained in. I have had to educate people that pole fitness is a “real” form of fitness and that we are not training “strippers”. I have bootstrapped by business from the beginning and much of the profits in the beginning were reinvested back into the business to grow the business without investors or loans. I worked as a therapist while starting and growing the business so that I could continue to grow the business. I have had to learn how to build websites, trademark names, market, and grow a business both brick and mortar and online. I have felt the frustration and struggle but believe it has all been worth it. Starting and running a business in not for the faint of heart.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about the Stiletto Gym?
The Stiletto Gym is a boutique-style fitness studio that specializes in sexy fitness classes, parties, and workshops. Our specialty is our “Celebrate Sexy” Girl’s Night Out parties and host women from all over the country. Our Polga (pole yoga) in home fitness program is sold all over the country. What I am most proud of is that we help women feel strong, confident, and sexy through our classes, workshops, and parties. I am also proud that I have created Polga (pole yoga) which is a one of a kind program.

Over my 15 years in business, I have taught thousands of women and have loved every minute of every party, workshop, training, or class.

I am also a Guinness World Record Holder for the largest chair dance which was established right here in Kansas City.

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I love our city and truly believe that our city is one of the best-kept secrets. I live in the city (midtown) area and know that we have so much to offer and do as a city. Our restaurants, sports, entertainment are top-notch and our people are welcoming.

At the Stiletto Gym, we host lots of out of town girls coming into the city for bachelorette parties and I so enjoy giving them ideas of what to do while in town and love hearing how they are having a good time while here.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.thestilettogym.com www.polgapoleyoga.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestilettogym/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Thestilettogym/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeF09MuefqdEJ4gBGgEpXsg/featured https://www.youtube.com/user/polgafitness/featured