Hidden Gems: Meet Taylor Piper of Scottsdale Pilates

Today we’d like to introduce you to Taylor Piper.

Hi Taylor, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I was working in HR for a big corporation & I was very unhappy. I had big dreams for myself & I gave up. I thought HR was it. It took a huge toll on my happiness, health & relationships. I knew that couldn’t be it. I had been taking Pilates & the instructor told me she thought I’d be a great Pilates teacher. I thought about it & convinced my mom to do it with me. I was certified in Mat 1 & LOVED it. I excelled that weekend. I was so happy.

I knew I wanted to continue. I continued with apparatus training while teaching mat to any & everyone. After completing the apparatus training, I was fully certified in my own business. I truly believe in the Pilates method & I believe everyone should be doing Pilates. It changed my life – honestly, I think it saved me from a life of regret.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, my experience has been far from smooth. Covid played an impact on a few vital weekends & delayed my certification. Additionally, my mentor gave up on me throughout the process. I was belittled, given false information, called names & hurt by a person I thought wanted me to succeed. She knew I would be great but didn’t want me to be better than her. All it did was make me stronger. Pilates can be a very competitive industry & this was my first taste.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
SCOTTSDALE PILATES focuses on classical pilates derived from Joseph Pilate’s practice. We have a wide range of clients from ages 7-80+ while prominently focusing on professional athletes. Each workout is tailored to your specific needs. We believe the taller you are, the more you NEED pilates. Within our first year, we have had several professional athletes trust us with their bodies.

They have made connections they never knew they could have & enhance their game. SCOTTSDALE PILATES wants to help people & leave clients happier than when they started their session. Every client that has ever tried us has come back & I think that speaks volumes.

Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I’ve taken a few big risks. Becoming a Pilates teacher was a risk in itself. Everything about Pilates is expensive – from private training, education & equipment it is a lot of money. Who jumps into an expensive craft as a recession is about to hit? ME. My partner has always told me “do what you love & the money will follow”.

Along the way, I took more risks. When I started my business, it was not named SCOTTSDALE PILATES. It had been up & running for a few months & I wasn’t in love with the name. I had a logo, website, business cards, merch, etc. I was driving down the road & I realized how bad of a name it was… SCOTTSDALE PILATES stood out in my mind & immediately changed my company’s name. I wasn’t concerned about the expenses – I knew I had a brilliant idea & I acted on it. It was a big financial risk but the name is iconic.

Contact Info:

• Website: theSCOTTSDALEPILATES.com
• Instagram: @SCOTTSDALEPILATES
• Twitter: @SctsdalePilates

Image Credits
5 Star Media