Greetings Village,
Happy 5th Anniversary to Village Health!
In April of 2020, my life course shifted dramatically.
In April of 2021, I documented this shift in one of my Village Health monthly newsletters (that used to come via my personal email account):
A Note from Lesley…
As I sit down to write this month’s newsletter, memories from a year ago keep coming up…
A year ago I was helping my kindergartener and 4th grader with distant learning
A year ago on April 6th I was let go from my job
A year ago I was settling into new territory working with clients virtually under my new business, Village Health LLC
A year ago on April 21st my dad died
A year ago I was in survival mode
There’s many emotions and memories I could unpack here, yet I am going to highlight my growth within Village Health’s over the past 5 years.
One of the biggest takeaways from my Health Coaching Graduate Program, was this idea of “trying things on.” And as in life, in business, this is a great opportunity for growth. In “trying things on,” my mantra was and is to keep creating new classes and workshops, and networking with different people and places. Over the years some creations and relationships have been successful, and some, fell off the radar. I never see it as failure, it just didn’t fit and that’s that.
In the first years, the Health Coaching side of my business was, in my mind, separate from Pilates. I often marketed Health Coaching private sessions, small group sessions, and workshops. (Back to how I market in a moment…)
Now, even though you could schedule a private Health Coaching session with me, I consider any work I do, to be a combo of Pilates & Health Coaching, as I am sure many of you experience when you work with me.
In the first years, I also taught myself about social media marketing, and spent countless hours making Canva designs, and scheduling them for Facebook and Instagram posts. Honestly, a waste of time for my demographic.
The most powerful marketing I have found is:
Word of mouth, fliers throughout the City of Minnetonka buildings, and reaching out personally when I think a class or workshop may benefit you or your village.
So what has stuck and been successful?
In-Person Private and Semi-Privates in Long Lake
I continue to have a loyal following, that rarely cancels, albeit travels and leaves an opening here or there on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
Virtual Pilates Private Sessions and Small Group Intermediate Mat Classes
Again, another loyal group, that from all over the United States, “Zoom in.” There is always more room in the Small Group Sessions of Breathwork, Foam Roller, and Intermediate Mat.
My Beginning and Intermediate Pilates Mat Classes at the City of Minnetonka (for those close to 50 or above)
These classes are never at capacity (so try them out!) and I am adding loads of functional movement to strengthen upper & lower body, balance, and coordination.
And my new creative collaborations with Embody Health & Performance at The Marsh (see below for all the offerings). I am so excited about this!!!!
Thank you for joining me these past 5 years! I am so happy to have you a part of Village Health, a part of MY village. I promise to keep learning, keep trying new things, and sticking with what works.
Cheers to 5 years and many more!
Warmly,
Lesley