Today we’d like to introduce you to Carina Hodgins.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Carina. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I was raised in Syracuse, NY and started out dancing at the age of three. Throughout high school, I had many opportunities with dance and performing that led me to the decision of going to college for it. I always wanted to move to the west coast, so I decided on California. Without a second thought, at 17, I packed my bags and headed west.
I graduated with my B.F.A in Dance in 2015 from California State University Long Beach where I was introduced to Pilates through the dance department. I quickly fell in love with Pilates and set a goal to earn a certification from BASI (Body Arts and Science International). After multiple anatomy tests, long days in the studio, and not to mention 500 observation/practice/practice teaching hours, I was then able to teach. From there I first began teaching Pilates and Barre at HB Pilates (in Huntington Beach) and have had a love for group fitness ever since!
Pilates is not just a stretch class, not just for old people/women, and definitely not a waste of time. There were so many preconcieved ideas that were quickly erased from my mind while my Pilates journey started to take off. Barre is the use of a ballet barre and small props. Again, it’s not just for women. Both are so rewarding and beneficial to the body. Group fitness is something I am truly passionate about and look forward to teaching each day. There are days where I teach more than 60 people, and I couldn’t be more grateful!
Great, 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?
I think with anything in life there are constant obstacles whether they are small or big. If it’s always a smooth road are you really having fun or learning from it? I was fortunate to get certified from the highly renowned BASI program and be in the right place at the right time. However, when I relocated to San Diego, I almost felt I had to start over in the fitness world and definitely struggled with a loss of confidence. Now, I am extremely comfortable with where I am at and my clientele. Life is a constant hustle and I definitely enjoy the pace of my schedule.
What should we know about your business? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I am a group fitness instructor specializing in Pilates and Barre throughout San Diego. I teach for two different studios who both have multiple locations. Barre Body is a barre studio located in Pacific Beach and Tierrasanta. Pilates of San Diego specializes in reformer Pilates and has three locations in San Diego: Downtown, East Village, and Del Mar. I am also the studio manager and master trainer for Barre Body. Training other instructors to teach is something I have found so rewarding.
I am known for extremely challenging classes. I enjoy pushing my clients out of their comfort zone and showing them how strong they really are. You only have one body and it is up to you how you care for it. One hour of your day is sometimes all it takes to give your body the love it deserves. I love inspiring clients to stay active and motivating others in reaching their fitness goals in a fun, safe environment. The sense of community definitely is felt in my group classes whether the person is 18 or 80 and I think I have achieved this by making everyone feel comfortable.
Specifically, I love teaching all sorts of plank variations throughout the class. You will never take a class of mine without a plank!
What I think sets me apart from others is my ability to work well with different fitness levels. You are always going to be stronger or weaker in various exercises in class than others, and I feel I do a great job incorporating modifications/variations to help these different levels. Everyone has a goal at the end of the day, and it is my job to help guide them to that success. Apart from other instructors, I think I truly try to get to know my clients and show them how much I care.
I am most proud of how much I have grown as an instructor over the past three years. I have gained confidence, clarity, improved my visual and verbal instructions/cues, and increased my own body awareness. I am so lucky to work with such wonderful people each day and to teach with such other strong instructors in the fitness industry.
Do you have any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general? What has worked well for you?
In my area of work, I am a mentor for many instructors under me. I look up to the two boss women I work for who own the studios.
Barre Body: Taylor Hollenkamp
Pilates of San Diego: Ania London
Contact Info:
- Website: barrebodyworkout.com and pilatesofsandiego.com
- Email: carina@barrebodyworkout.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/fitbycarina
Image Credit:
Shel Powers (IG: changebeautiful)
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