Health & Wellness
Juliana Fabio
in Santa Barbara, CA
Pilates is at the core of Juliana’s dreams. This year, Erin Griffin and Juliana opened their instantly successful, Aligned Pilates Studio in Santa Barbara. Since teaching Pilates classes at the YMCA, she has spent years building her skills, while motivating women to get fit and healthy. Building off her B.A in Psychology from UCSB and Masters in Social Work from NYU, she has built a power house list of certifications and training, which is a testimony to her dedication to her craft. She is a NASM certified Personal Trainer, trained as a Lagree Fitness Trainer, completed the Body Arts and Sciences International Pilates training course, became a certified Pilates Method Alliance teacher, and to top it off, she is BASI certified in injuries and pathologies. Juliana, I Admire U for your commitment and passion to help others reach their fitness goals, while raising two kids, and still finding time to exercise and eat healthy.
Juliana in her own words...
1. You believe in the quote, “Build your own dreams, or someone else will hire you to build theirs.” - Farrah Gray. Do you feel you’ve accomplished this by opening your studio? What gave you the confidence to build it?
I feel that I am always building my dreams, that they will never be complete because they always change. I see this as something positive. Once we stop dreaming we lose hope. I am unsure whether it was confidence or necessity that caused me to want to open a studio. I was unable to see all of my clients in the spaces I had available to me. I really needed more space. It just made sense to open the studio.
2. Since opening six months ago, Aligned Studio is booming! What do you think you and Erin are doing differently that makes your studio such an instant success?
Erin and I already had a client base before opening. We just needed more room. With that more room came more clients. Also, having two people running the business keeps us accountable to each other and keeps motivation high. When one of us is unable to do something the other picks up the slack. We complement each other and are always open for compromise and change with having a similar big vision for the studio.
I feel that I am always building my dreams, that they will never be complete because they always change. I see this as something positive. Once we stop dreaming we lose hope. I am unsure whether it was confidence or necessity that caused me to want to open a studio. I was unable to see all of my clients in the spaces I had available to me. I really needed more space. It just made sense to open the studio.
2. Since opening six months ago, Aligned Studio is booming! What do you think you and Erin are doing differently that makes your studio such an instant success?
Erin and I already had a client base before opening. We just needed more room. With that more room came more clients. Also, having two people running the business keeps us accountable to each other and keeps motivation high. When one of us is unable to do something the other picks up the slack. We complement each other and are always open for compromise and change with having a similar big vision for the studio.
 |  |
3. You originally started doing Pilates because of chronic back pain. What nuggets of advice would you share for someone who has an injury and is considering Pilates?
Pilates was founded on injury rehabilitation. Joseph Pilates started doing Pilates with injured soldiers during WWI. Pilates will correct your imbalances and help you get stronger if you have an injury.
4. What form of fitness do you believe compliments Pilates the best? What are the two biggest misconceptions about Pilates that you come across the most?
Any form of cardio activity - running, swimming, biking, for example, will complement Pilates.
Biggest misconception about Pilates I have come across is that it is all about doing abdominal exercises, particularly crunches. The abdominals are always involved since it is your core, but there are so many exercises with Pilates. The other misconception I get when people see the equipment we work on is that they look like torture devices. The equipment looks a bit menacing, but once you get on it you don’t want to get off. A third would be that only super fit people can do pilates. Because it is based on rehabilitation almost anyone should be able to do Pilates.
"Once you listen to your body you can move it more effectively."
5. You shared, “I utilize my degree in social work in a different way now. Emotions are held in the body. I try to help people connect with these emotions through thoughtful movement and breath.” What exercises does this involve? What is a recent success story?
There aren’t particular exercises for helping people deal with emotions through movement, however just by getting people to connect with their breath, it calms them down and allows them to be present. I always start with a breathing exercise that incorporates movement. Once you listen to your body you can move it more effectively. Many people carry tension in their shoulders and feet. Just by having them relax in these areas and move from the correct place the tension can fade. I also end up having very deep conversations with my clients. I usually see them several times a week for a hour at a time, so you get to know someone very well. Many times what they are feeling comes out in their body movements. I treat all conversations I have with my clients the same way I did when I was a therapist. I listen, let them lead the conversation, make it about them and keep confidentiality.
6. Before opening your studio, you posted on-line fitness challenges. Two hundred people accepted your challenges. What about them do you think made them so popular? Do you think you will start them up again?
The online challenges made it possible for others to workout with accountability. They also had an online community to talk with. I will do it again, but I don’t know when. It takes a lot of time to set it up, keep track of everyone and respond to all the comments. It is great fun and I want to allow enough time to do it right.
There aren’t particular exercises for helping people deal with emotions through movement, however just by getting people to connect with their breath, it calms them down and allows them to be present. I always start with a breathing exercise that incorporates movement. Once you listen to your body you can move it more effectively. Many people carry tension in their shoulders and feet. Just by having them relax in these areas and move from the correct place the tension can fade. I also end up having very deep conversations with my clients. I usually see them several times a week for a hour at a time, so you get to know someone very well. Many times what they are feeling comes out in their body movements. I treat all conversations I have with my clients the same way I did when I was a therapist. I listen, let them lead the conversation, make it about them and keep confidentiality.
6. Before opening your studio, you posted on-line fitness challenges. Two hundred people accepted your challenges. What about them do you think made them so popular? Do you think you will start them up again?
The online challenges made it possible for others to workout with accountability. They also had an online community to talk with. I will do it again, but I don’t know when. It takes a lot of time to set it up, keep track of everyone and respond to all the comments. It is great fun and I want to allow enough time to do it right.
Keep the celebration of everyday women ALIVE,
LIKE I Admire U on:
7. You work out every day, run up to six times a week, and do Pilates five times a week. You do this as a mother of two and as a new entrepreneur. How in the world do you find time to squeeze this in? How long do you work out for?
I get up really early. I am up at 5am almost every morning. Otherwise, I would not have time to work out. I actually enjoy getting up early. There is something about being up before everyone else. It feels like extra time. I run for about an hour and then I do pilates for about an hour at the studio when I can squeeze it in. Some days I can only get in 15 minutes at the studio.
8. Along with daily exercise, you are committed to clean eating, less processed food, and treats once in a while. You follow Michael Pollan’s philosophy, “Eat food, less of it, mostly plants.” What does a typical day of meals look like? Does your family eat the same food?
I eat greens with every meal. I will either have a salad or shake with greens for breakfast. I have a salad for lunch and a meat, veggies, complex carb, and salad for dinner. My family eats similar to me since I am the one preparing the food. I even have my mom eating salads every morning.
"Once we stop dreaming we lose hope. I am unsure whether it was confidence or necessity that caused me to open a studio."
9. You recently “accidentally” ran your first marathon. I’m curious, what’s next for you?
I just want to make sure I weave fun and social time into my work, personal life, and exercise schedule. That way it doesn’t feel like work, even when it is. Usually this pushes me to be better than I thought I could be.
10. I Admire U, who do you admire?
Mara Sweeney
I just want to make sure I weave fun and social time into my work, personal life, and exercise schedule. That way it doesn’t feel like work, even when it is. Usually this pushes me to be better than I thought I could be.
10. I Admire U, who do you admire?
Mara Sweeney
RSS Feed