We had the good fortune of connecting with Risa SHEPPARD and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Risa, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
Success comes with loving what you do, along with a lot of grit and tenacity. One has to overcome many obstacles and keep moving forward. I pride myself on bringing heart into my teaching method and workouts. I want everyone to feel special and have a positive experience. Every body and every client is unique and everyone should feel their best! The Sheppard Method has been described as classical Pilates with a personal touch.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I fell into teaching Pilates naturally. It was like I was guided. When I graduated from college I wanted to be a famous actress. (Ha! Ha! Doesn’t everyone in LA?) However, I also loved movement and dance. I discovered Ron Fletcher’s School of Contrology, which he brought to Los Angeles from New York. Ron was a disciple of Joseph Pilates. I fell in love with the Contrology/Pilates form of exercise. It allowed me to “be a dancer,” merging my two loves, fitness and dance. I learned everything that I could from Ron, and within a short time Ron asked me to work at his studio and teach for him. At the same time, I started getting a lot of work on television as a “fitness expert,” sharing my knowledge with others. Developing a method of integrating fitness, exercise and dance was well received, the Sheppard Method was born, and I never looked back. I love teaching. It’s truly my niche; rewarding and fulfilling. My boutique Pilates studio provides one on one personal attention. Every student gets individual attention which sets us apart from larger gyms. When you’re here, you’re family.

Any great local spots you’d like to shoutout?
In this time of Covid-19 there are not many places to go! But, I love the beach. It’s beautiful, calming ad healthy, so that would be the first place we would head to if we could, followed by a delicious and intimate dinner in one of my favorite restaurants in Santa Monica or Malibu, outside dining, of course. A daily workout at my Westwood Studio, The Sheppard Method, is a must to start and energize the day. Museums in Los Angeles and shopping in Beverly Hills would top off the trip, along with discovering new and fun places that I may not yet have had a chance to try.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I have been fortunate to have a lot of support from family and friends. My spiritual beliefs have continued to guide me, I always believed we had a higher consciousness that we could tap into, and as my mentor, Joseph Pilates is quoted saying, “It is the Mind that controls the body.” Keeping connected with mind, body and spirit is a road map to success.

Website: www.sheppardmethodpilates.com
Instagram: @sheppardmethodpilatesla
Linkedin: Risa Sheppard
Twitter: @sheppardmethod
Facebook: Sheppard Method Pilates

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