Meet Alexa Idama of lowimpactfit in Gwinnett

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexa Idama.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My journey into wellness/fitness started as a teen in Cameroon when I would coach my friends in high school through Jane Fonda style workouts, that I had seen my mom and aunt’s do at home.

Fast forward a few years later the campus gym at University was looking for aerobics instructors and I got my first certification so I could teach there. That was the beginning of a 17+ year journey through which I have worked as a Personal Trainer and Yoga Teacher before finally getting into the world of Pilates.

I was introduced to Pilates by a colleague. From my first Pilates session with her, I was hooked. All the missing pieces I had not been able to find with other forms of movement and fitness finally came together. Joint issues that I had struggled with for years just went away. My body finally moved as a whole with more awareness. I knew after a couple of sessions that I needed to get certified as a Pilates teacher so that I could share this healing movement system with others.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Being a Pilates teacher/ trainer can be a hustle. I have worked at studios where getting clients to sign up to sessions and commit long-term felt like a constant struggle. Right now, I am in a good place with a fairly consistent schedule and client base.

Another blessing in disguise was the COVID quarantine period. The first couple of weeks I was so demoralized. It felt like I had finally built up my business and in an instant I lost almost all my clients without the certainty of how I would reconnect with them or get them back.
For a minute I considered going back into a corporate role where I would have more job security, with the option to work from home. The thought was depressing as I truly love being a Pilates teacher.
I realized that I needed to step up when it came to my online presence and make sure I had a system where I could seamlessly transfer sessions from in-person to virtual. I won’t lie, it was not easy or comfortable. However I have learned a lot and opportunities I was not even aware of are presenting themselves to me online.
The quarantine period also gave me time to work on building my presence on social media and I have picked up clients from all around the world who I train with virtually on a regular basis. In addition, becoming more active on social media has allowed me to connect with and collaborate with other professionals in the fitness industry.

lowimpactfit – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I am a classically trained Pilates teacher which means that I specialize in teaching the Pilates method based on the original sequences and exercises as taught by Joseph Pilates.

My focus is on helping everyone who works with me to find the healthiest version of themselves. Using the Pilates system, I work with my clients to correct imbalances in their muscular and skeletal systems that are impairing the optimal functionality of their bodies. I am known for not focusing solely on weight loss or singular body parts but for taking a holistic approach when training my clients. Put simply, I help people feel stronger, more balanced and able to live life more fully.

While I welcome everyone to Pilates, I do aim to create a space where Black and Brown people especially, feel welcome to practice. Pilates can feel very exclusive, most of the teachers and imagery are white. I hope to help change this narrative and by showing Black and Brown people that Pilates works just as well for them too. At this point, I am most proud of using my voice within the Pilates community to help start these changes.

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success comes for me in many forms. Of course, being successful financially is nice as it eliminates other headaches.

More importantly from a personal perspective having positive relationships within my family with my husband and children is success for me. If I can raise my boys to be kind, caring men and maintain a close relationship with them in the process, I consider myself successful.

From a business perspective, success would mean creating a space within the Pilates community where everybody feels welcome. Pilates can be a very exclusively white space. However, “everybody”, no matter what race, gender, orientation, ability level, age or size, can benefit from incorporating Pilates into their life. Part of my mission is to help change the current image of the Pilates community so that it reflects a variety of individuals, especially black and brown people. If I can be part of the movement that changes the current images that pop up in your Pilates google search, I will have been successful in my endeavors.

Pricing:

• Private sessions $70
• Duets $90
• Trios $105

Contact Info:

• Website: lowimpactfit.com
• Phone: 6787551762
• Email: lowimpactfit@gmail.com
• Instagram: @lowimpactfit
• Facebook: @lowimpactfit
• Twitter: @lowimpactfit
• Yelp: @lowimpactfit
• Other: Tic Toc: @lowimpactfit

Image Credit:
Amy Dey photography

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