After Studio Shuts Down In NYC, FL Business Owner Tries Again
ST. PETERSBURG, FL — In July, Colette Delangre, 31, accepted that there would be no quick, miraculous changes that let businesses operate as normal in New York City after five months of hope that her Pilates studio would get clients back during the coronavirus pandemic.
Saddened and scared, on March 16 she left for her hometown of Asheville, North Carolina, to stay with her mom as she and other business owners across the country weighed their options and decisions.
"Months went by, and New York was still shut down," Delangre said in a Patch interview. "I had to make a decision to shut down completely, because I was racking up rent, which was $7,000 a month. I had lost 80 percent of my clients. I just couldn't keep doing it, so I told my landlord that I had to leave, and couldn't do it anymore. That's when I was like, 'I'll move to Florida, because that's always been a dream of mine.'"
After almost three years of running a Pilates studio in NYC, Delangre was forced to close because of things she couldn't control — a move accompanied by a lot of crying. She relocated to St. Petersburg, searched for a business space and opened Rare Body Studio in the Edge District.
Its grand opening is Thursday from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Delangre and her staff, who are certified and experienced Pilates and yoga instructors, will be available to talk to anyone who is curious about the benefits that the exercises provide.
"I think Pilates would be a great way for people to just come back into the world again, because we are 6 feet apart, and we do make sure that we all keep our distance," she said. "You must wear a mask when you come in, and you can take them off when you sit down on your reformer. We wipe down all the equipment after every single client."
Six students are allowed per class. Separate from the Pilates room is a yoga room inside the studio.
"Pilates is low-impact and you're not jumping, it's slow movement," she explained. "You're connecting through your core, doing a lot of lengthening."
Delangre, who was recently diagnosed with arthritis in her knees, said Pilates is gentle enough that she doesn't have to worry about injuring herself with high-impact exercises.
At Rare Body Studio's grand opening, local vendors will also be set up. Delangre believes in small businesses doing all they can to support one another during these times, and thinks this is a good opportunity.
"We're all in this together," she said. "We're all just trying to survive, put food on the table and a roof over our head. We can't survive alone. We have to stick together. I wish I could allow more vendors but because of social distancing I could only do 12."
First classes are offered for free at Rare Body Studio, 21 Dr. MLK Jr. St. S. The first Sunday of the month, free Pilates mat classes are offered at the Pier at 10 a.m.
If you are interested in finding out more information, visit Rare Body Studio.
This article originally appeared on the St. Pete Patch
