Today we’d like to introduce you to Deanna Companion.
Hi Deanna, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
When I look back on my life, Movement has always been an integral part of my world. As a child, I was involved in every type of dance (my first love) and sports of any kind. I went to an art school in Seattle, Washington, Cornish College of the Arts, and got my BFA in Theatre with a performing Arts emphasis. While in college, I got in a car accident, totaled my car, and had a back injury.
My physical therapist at the time suggested I do Pilates. That was my introduction to Pilates and I have practiced it ever since. Without knowing it at the time, that would be the start of my journey into fitness and wellness. But it would not be till about ten years later, when I was on a trip in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico, that I would pivot from working towards a career in Theatre/Film/Television to Pilates. I was standing in that beautiful blue/green ocean and I looked up to the sky and said a prayer asking for something different to do with my life besides being a struggling artist/bartender. And clear as day, there was a whisper in my head “Pilates” That was it! I flew back to New York, and as soon as I got home, I went on Craigslist and found a listing offering a Pilates certification at a studio in Dumbo, Brooklyn. The best part was that it offered work-study, which was such a blessing and relief since I had no money at the time to pay for it. That is when I knew it was meant to be and my new career path started.
Since then, I have grown as a teacher and am always continuing to learn more about the body and movement. I truly believe that you should always be a student of life and that includes your career. After getting certified in Pilates, I went on to teach all over New York and take from other teachers to keep learning. While teaching at a studio in Brooklyn, Streamline Pilates Studio, I had a client tell me that my hands-on stretching reminded him of a Thai Yoga Massage. I was intrigued… so I scheduled one for myself and fell in love! I had to learn to do this for others.. this ancient healing art, that is a combination of yoga stretches, acupressure, and massage resulting in a relaxing yet energizing full body treatment. So I got my certification and added that to my offerings. I moved from NY to Tampa, Florida in 2011 and while there got certified in X-tend Barre and TRX. After four years in Tampa, I moved to Atlanta in 2015 and taught at Studio Lotus in Druid Hills, which is now Activcore. While there, I was introduced to Redcord, a multi-suspension tool that can help activate and strengthen the stabler muscles in the body that may be weak because of past injuries, trauma to the body, lack of use, or imbalances in the body from everyday movement patterns.
I continue to learn and grow to be a better teacher and healer of the body and spirit. Last year I branched out on my own and started CompanionWellness. I offer in person at home training; virtual privates, semi-privates, and classes; and teach at two different studios, BridgeBody Clinic and Training in Kirkwood and Strength and Stamina Gymnasium in Brookhaven that offer the Pilates and Redcord apparatus. I feel blessed every day to be doing something I love and that I can help people every day to be their best selves physically and mentally. Movement and Breath is life…
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
My biggest struggle along the way has been my own fears and self-doubt. Can I do this, will I be good enough, can I financially support myself, will I be successful…. these are the questions that have constantly been a mantra in my head at times. But I have always felt that I do not want to make choices or not make choices based on fear. When I look back on my life, I want no regrets or “what if’s”. So each time that self-doubt would creep in, I would push it away and move forward. Being a fitness and Pilates Teacher requires you to build a clientele, which takes time. And so, when you first start out, it is a struggle financially till you can ‘build your books” When I was In NY, I taught in 3 0r 4 studios in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens at any given time to have enough clientele to make it work. I was also still bartending to keep with all the bills. I would bartend on the weekends and come home at 5 or 6 in the morning and during the week, I had to be up in the morning 4:30am to teach my first client at 6am.
My sleep schedule was so off. But I have always been about my hustle and with any success in life, you have to work hard and find that drive within yourself to not quit. So I pushed on. Then in 2012 I moved to Tampa, Florida and had to start all over again. Again that self-doubt and fears strutted to creep in, but I started teaching at South Tampa Pilates and within 6 months, I was fully booked, teaching 30+ hours. I lived there for four years and then in 2016, I moved again to Atlanta. I interviewed at three different studios and got hired at all three. I chose to teach at Studio Lotus because the energy fit mine. Again, I had to start over and again within six months, I was fully booked. Last year I decided to venture out on my own and work for myself. That self-doubt and fear of failing keep rearing its ugly head but I refuse to give in. I remember taking a class where I saw the quote… “If you fail, never giver up because F.A.I.L means “First Attempt In Learning”.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a Pilates Teacher, Fitness coach, and Thai Yoga Massage Practitioner. I would consider myself a movement specialist. Besides from Pilates, I specialize in RedCord, Barre method, and Stretch Therapy. What sets me apart from others? Well, I have been told by clients that they love that I am so hands-on and that I can meet them where they are at on any given day, depending on how they feel physically and mentally. People always ask me if I plan my classes or sessions. I do, but loosely because I need to be able to change what I teach if a person comes in injured or needs a different type of physical movement that day. That is why I am constantly learning new modalities so I can create a session or class based on everyone’s personal needs and goals.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I love how much nature there is… I was so surprised when I moved here and discovered how green it is and the variety of terrain. I love the outdoors and Atlanta has so many opportunities to explore the landscape. Nature preserves, Biking, Hiking, boating, tubing, rock climbing, camping, white water rafting… I LOVE the outdoors, so Atlanta is a perfect place for a nature lover like me. What I like least about Atlanta is that it is landlocked … My “happy place” is on the beach looking at the ocean and letting the sound of the waves was over my soul… So I wish that the coast was closer, but I suppose then everyone would want to live here…
Contact Info:
- Website: companion4wellness.com
- Instagram: @companionwellness
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/deanna.companion
