Today we’d like to introduce you to Misha Bechtolsheim.
Hi Misha, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
After suffering a severe knee injury in college (straining all 4 ligaments, tearing the patellar tendon and meniscus and dislocating the knee cap), I was determined to rehab fully without surgery and return to a rigorous dance schedule.
In order to recover, I was introduced to the Pilates Reformer and fully rehabilitated in 8 short weeks. A passion for Pilates ignited within along with a burning desire to help as many others suffering from injury, ailment, or disease.
After years of supporting my clients’ wellness journey, there was still something missing. In 2006, I started incorporating brain-based fitness and providing intelligent application of movement for clinical rehab to athletic performance with a neurological lens.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I opened my first studio in San Jose in 2009, at the height of the Great Recession. I focused on education, client results, and building community. Starting a business required working 14hours a day, accepting the 6am client on Sundays, and being the janitor, accountant, marketing department, and trainer.
After a few years, the studio grew quickly, but the definition of success was muddled. At that time, I thought lots of employees and providing weekend teacher trainings defined success. But this left me using my personal savings to cover monthly bills and missing time with my family on weekends. Hard decisions had to be made to stay afloat.
I then opened my second studio in Pismo Beach in 2016, commuting weekly between the two studios for a few years. That ended on March 18th 2020, when the world spiraled with the pandemic. The studio in San Jose was closed for the majority of 7 months. With management changes, rent increases of 212%, and the heavy loss of clients during the shut down, I closed a the studio, remotely, after 13 years and only returned over the Christmas holidays to empty the building!
Since 2020, I have enjoyed growing Central Core and supporting not only the local community, but continuing my virtual sessions for clients around the nation and athletes and trainers around the world.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Central Core aims to holistically enhance the wellbeing of clients by providing expert instruction on purposeful equipment in a stimulating environment.
Competent pilates and strength instructors provide clients with individualized and goal-oriented programs taking place in private or group settings, in studio and virtually. Instructors continually work to provide fresh and innovative programs in a non-intimidating atmosphere.
In addition, the neuro based programing, Brain Body Approach, is an online program that offers courses for individual purchase, or with a membership subscription. Each course teaches exercises that focus on cognitive movement training, breathing practices, visual drills, and balance challenges, while providing neurocentric context and information in order to alleviate pain, improve performance and productivity, and boost mood.
How do you think about happiness?
Pilates, pups, sunsets, movement, camping, helping others feel better, a spicy cup of chai!
There’s very little that gets me down… not to say there are not times of anger, frustration, sadness, and overwhelm, but I have found many ways to manage my stress and mindset.
A regular practice of gratitude creates changes of the medial prefrontal cortex. This means, it helps boost mood, lose weight, increase recovery time, and fosters cognitive reconstruction! Celebrating the little things. Showing kindness and gratitude to others, and keeping a positive perspective have helped me tremendously.
Pricing:
- New Client Special $75 for 3 Sessions plus free gift of Pilates straps
- Pilates 50min $320 for 10 sessions
- Express 25min $160 for 10 sessions
- On demand programing $299
- $9/month Weekly Neuro Drills Membership
Contact Info:
- Website: https://BrainBodyApproach.uteach.io
- Instagram: @brainbodyapproach
- Youtube: @centralcorebba
- Yelp: https://yelp.to/6Ys4rwX4Ld
- Other: IG @centralcorepb
