Laura sits down with Christie Wang, a San Diego–based classical Pilates instructor and fitness entrepreneur, to talk about her journey from college student to studio owner. After years of self-doubt sparked by a mentor’s harsh feedback, Christie slowly built her business from teaching in her apartment with secondhand gear to running a thriving, modern studio rooted in classical instruction. She shares how she navigated the rigid hierarchies of traditional Pilates, what she’s learned about receiving critique, and why financial discipline matters just as much as physical precision. We also discuss the power of staying curious and how her wide-ranging interests help her balance the demands of her practice.