Today we’d like to introduce you to Randi Whitman.
Hi Randi, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I began as a professional dancer, dancing with various companies in Chicago and Los Angeles. I injured my back, ruptured a disc and was in horrible pain. I tried everything to get over the pain and continue with my dance career. Nothing ever seemed to last very long, until I learned about Pilates. I gave it a try and fairly quickly, I got stronger and stronger, relieving myself of the constant pain I had previously been in! I loved it so much that I had to learn as much as I could and enrolled in The Pilates Center in Boulder, Colorado-the Pilates Mecca. The Pilates Center had, and still has, the best of the best instructors out there. After a 600 plus hour year of training, I opened my first Pilates studio in a small space in Chicago, calling it Frog Temple Pilates. Pilates was very new to Chicago, and immediately we were incredibly busy. I took on a few apprentices, taught them all I could and the business grew and grew. After about 6 years we grew out of ht e space we were in and moved to a beautiful studio in the Bucktown area of Chicago. After about 9 years we expanded agin to the space we now work out of and have been there for 10 years. We have grown to 10 other instructors and myself, a full time massage therapist on site, and my 15th year directing our year long Teacher Certification Program. We have all the Pilates apparatus and teach Private, Semi-Private, and group classes on the mat, as well as on the equipment. Our community has grown by leaps and bounds over the past 25 years with many clients still with me that have been with me from the beginning. Pilates has changed my life and the lives of so,so many others. After all these years, I still love and feel so fortunate to do what I do.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Being in business for 25 years defineately has had its ups and downs. Business ebbs and flows according to so many factors, weather, school calendars, vacations, illness, Covid, economy, recession…not to mention just the revolving door of instructors as they come and go. I am very proud to say I have survived it all, so far. Certain times of year we are booked solid, then summer slows down with all the travel folks do. At the beginning of the school year, September can be one of the worst times as parents, who are our clients, are navigating their kids schedules and digging for motivation, so things slow down. January can be tough as well, post holidays, the health clubs fill up and the boutique studios die a bit…then by early March they leave the health clubs and come back to the boutique studios. So, navigating the financial ups and downs is always a challenge, and can be very stressful.
Covid was the most challenging time of all, as it was for so many people and businesses. Shutting down the studio and going to online instruction, keeping students moving, learning Zoom and all the technology while keeping my kids interested in school on their computers, dogs crawling all over me as I taught from home, all while smiling and pretending like I was unaffected and energetic when I really wanted to just throw in the towel and quit. But I didn’t, and I learned how resilent I was, and how resilient my students were, as well..and who wasn’t. Lost some teachers during that time, lost students, lost my mind! Then we reopened and started over again. Still recovering from that time to be honest, but still standing.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
The business is a Pilates Studio where we teach Private, Semi-Private and group classes on all the Classical Pilates apparatus as well s on the mat. We utilize our beautiful Yoga Wall to teach traction, balance and building strength. We have a yearlong ongoing Teacher Certification Program (TCP) in its 15th year where we learn in-depth, everything there is to know regarding Pilates, including practicing, instructing, observing, extensive Anatomy instruction, on all apparatus. We include the Reformer, the Cadillac, the Tower, the mat, low chairs, Yoga Wall, high barrel, arc barrel and other props. We have the absolute best massage therapist in the city. Brianne works with the Bulls, the US Womens Soccer Team and Hubbard Street Dance Company, as well. What sets us apart from other studios is our attention to detail. When you walk in the door, you are immediately part of our Frog Temple family..our community. We are kind, warm, caring and have a lighthearted way of getting you to work hard and have a great time doing it. We don’t take ourselves too seriously, yet we dig deep. You will work out hard, and leave with a big hearty smile on your face. We love to share our favorite recipes, restaurants, music, movies, favorite hair dressers and dermatologists. Students hang out after class and exchange numbers, chat it up, go for a walk or meet for a glass of wine. We are a true, loving hard working community at a time when we need community, in my opinion.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
My favorite childhood memory was playing kick ball in the street with all our neighbors and yelling CAR when a car came and we had to scramble.
I also remember riding bikes everywhere, gathering friends as we rode uphill on Summit St to the 7-11 for slurpies and candy, all to ride downhill the whole way home.. well worth the uphill climb.
I also remember sitting at the piano next to my brother who is 9 years older than me. I was 7 or 8 years old and he was in high school. He would play the piano and we would sing together. We sang all the songs from all the broadway shows.. Pippen, Godspell, Jesus Christ Superstar, Grease, Hair.. I knew all the words and I still do today!
Pricing:
- Privates-$100-$125
- Group Equipment-$40, 5 for $190, 10 for $370
- Group Mat-$25, 5 for $115, 10 for $220
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.frogtemple.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frogtemplechicago/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FrogTemple
