Passion, Purpose, Pilates: How Karla Turned Her Dream into a Trailblazing Career

Karla Daly graduated from her Matwork course with us in 2019. Recently, she had a baby, and her journey as a student of Ritual inspired her to become a teacher herself. Here’s her story in her own words:

"Receiving the scholarship to study Mat Pilates at Ritual in 2019 was easily one of the highlights of my life. I remember receiving the email from Rose and Sophie and crying in my car (thank god I wasn't actually driving), knowing that it was meant to be and this path was calling me. I'm a CODA (Child of Deaf Adults) and have a strong connection to the Deaf Community, which is part of the reason I applied for the scholarship, so I could serve this niche community through Health and Wellbeing. I can't thank Sophie and Rose enough for supporting me through this journey too."

"Upon graduating was around the time COVID-19 hit, which is when I began putting on free Zoom sessions for the Deaf community and to my surprise, the word spread very quickly. Not long after that I was asked by a Deaf organisation to teach every Friday on Zoom for their employees. This was my first paid job. Months into this, I then created an Online Auslan (Australian Sign Language) Pilates Program, which now has over 40 people registered across Australia. I also now teach face-to-face Auslan classes at Ritual and a Deaf Gym in Brisbane. But even more exciting, I’ve now been asked to travel to different locations across Australia to host Auslan Pilates workshops for the rest of the year. I am the first Pilates teacher in Australia that can teach in Auslan and incredibly grateful that this is now my career."

"My advice to kickstart your career? Consider your niche and brand. In a world where we are inundated with information for fitness and wellbeing, having a niche can definitely make you stand out and has been the biggest benefit for my business. For example, working with pre/postnatal women, working with disabilities, youth, kids, men, seniors, LGBTIQA+ or BIPOC. Or maybe it's your style that is niche, whether you're a power-blaster teacher, a soft and nourishing teacher, or a body-positive teacher. Own that through your branding and use keywords and language when describing who you are and what you have to offer. Then also translate that through your graphics, including colours, fonts, and photos for your business. If you keep this consistent, people will gravitate towards that and you will stand out. This also makes you stand out when wanting to work with Pilates studios and host classes."

"Use Instagram and Facebook to educate. Don't shy away from offering free 'mini-series' on how to do certain exercises or 'engage your core'. For every little series I have offered for free, it usually leads to one person signing up to my online program or wanting to attend my face-to-face classes. Make sure to hashtag these and use keywords from your niche too."

"Expand your offerings. Get creative and think of how you can expand your Pilates business, online courses, webinars, events, retreats, visiting schools or organisations. I recently held a Pilates workshop for Deaf Men and it included having a beer afterwards. There are countless options to make Pilates fun and engaging."

"Instead of striving to be the 'best' Pilates teacher, strive to be a compassionate one. I believe this is why I have a strong relationship with my clients. I am raw and real and reassure them that even as a teacher I still can't excel the Teaser exercise yet. I let them know that I too have one side of my body that's weaker than the other. I reassure them that their injuries or contraindications do not make them 'flawed'. When I'm real about this, clients feel safe, supported and valued. It inspires them to continue their practice with joy no matter what their ability level is and continue working with me."

Karla’s journey is a powerful reminder that following your passion, finding your niche, and leading with authenticity can open doors to a career you never imagined. One that creates impact, connection, and joy.