Meet Missoni Lanza | Owner of Movement Bottega, Movement Specialist, Certified Pilates Instructor

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

Hi Missoni, how do you think about risk?
Truthfully, I see risk a catalyst for any great endeavor. Risk is always part of the equation if you want to scale your growth in any category of your life. I’m a true believer in this and live my life fearlessly when it comes to pursuing various endeavors. With this being said, I think in order for a risk to work in your favor, you need to commit to it with everything you have. This means rolling up the sleeves, having the discipline to put time and grit into it. No matter the outcome, that risk is always going to be productive in your pursuits or your personal growth. 
One of the most challenging decisions I have ever made in my career was walking away from my first thriving Pilates Studio. My business partner and I grew the studio from a boutique one on one studio to one of the most talked about Pilates Studios in the area. Our first retreat sold out, majority of our classes were waitlisted, and we were in the process of talking about expanding the studio once again. However, my business partner and I were not compatible with our communication styles and view points. We were in business together for four years and we could not get to a place where there wasn’t some kind of tension. I confided in a client and friend that I was considering walking from my business and she offered to invest in me to buy my partner out of the business. This business was my heart and soul and was my entire life at the time. I turned down the offer, and decided to walk from my business only taking my equipment with me. At the time, I was terrified- I had no idea what I was going to do or where I was going to teach. With one signature I signed away the dream I dedicated myself too for the past four years. It was one of the most heartbreaking experiences that I have gone through, yet, I had trust that I made the right decision. 
Several months later, by chance, I came across a loft studio space. As soon as I walked in the room I could envision myself working with tennis players and golfers on their performance goals and helping individuals alleviate their pain and improve strength. At this time, I left almost all of my clients at my previous studio and told them I left the business to focus on my craft. At the time, I did not have enough clients to sustain the studio myself, but I knew I would regret it if I did not take the leap of faith. I negotiated a deal with the property manager if I could have a three month trial period to test the waters to see if there was a need for my business with an option to renew for a 3 year term. It was not long till my studio was waitlisted for the entire season through word of mouth and referrals alone. This is my third year in my space and I am currently in the process of expanding my services to help rotational athletes improve their performance and improve longevity in my clienteles overall wellness. 
If I did not trust my gut and take this risk, I would not be in the position I am today. At the end of the day, it comes down to perseverance, dedication, and your genuine compassion to give value to others. If you align with that mindset, you’ll be unstoppable and make a difference in a lot of individual’s lives.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Please tell us more about your business.
Movement Bottega is a destination for innovative and transformative Pilates and Movement Training in-person and online. Our flagship studio is located on El Paseo in Palm Desert, CA. We provide Private, Duet & Semi-Private Group Training along with Tennis and Golf conditioning implementing gait patterning techniques and the Pilates Method to improve performance goals for professional rotational athletes. We also provide our world-class movement experiences for boutique hotels, luxury resorts and corporate events.

We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others,
At Movement Bottega, believe in the integrity and the quality of the movement. Each session and experience is thoughtfully curated to best support you and your lifestyle. We incorporate the core principles of the Pilates Method, gait patterning techniques, neuro-fascial & fascial release techniques, MET techniques, primal movements, martial arts, yoga, and apply cutting-edge research in movement science in all of our programming. We stand firmly in our beliefs in building a strong foundation to support your body’s longevity. Movement Bottega houses compassionate instructors who are continuously expanding their knowledge and studying the latest research in exercise to best support our clientele. If you are someone who likes to be challenged physically & intellectually and see transformation in your overall wellness, Movement Bottega is your hub.

what you are most proud of or excited about.
I’m excited for how well received Movement Bottega’s method and concepts has been received. Due to the demand, we have decided to expand our services at Movement Bottega and are onboarding more trainers in our methodology. Movement Bottega’s flagship studio is currently being remodeled and adding new equipment. We will re-open October 2023 and will introduce our Semi-Private Group Equipment Classes. We will also be adding specialized classes for golfers and tennis players. I’m also excited about The Practice, Movement Bottega’s pop up movement experiences, being featured in more resorts and boutique hotels.

How did you get to where you are today business-wise. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges?
A lot of grit, perseverance, dedication, discipline, trust, and the innate desire to create beautiful experiences for others. It has taken me twelve years to get to this point my career of endless studying, teaching long hours, and spending majority of my free time dedicated to the growth of my business. I have accomplished a lot in a short amount of time, but it came with a lot of sacrifices, struggles, and risks. This pursuit has felt so natural and organic, however it was not easy and did present a multitude of challenges. What kept me pushing through and fighting for this business is my desire to share this method with others. This method has changed my life and has taken me out of pain. My driving force is my genuine desire to help as many people as I can out of pain, feel confident in their bodies, and be inspired through movement and their lives.

What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way.
Some of the biggest lessons that I have learned along the way are that you can not dictate time. Time has a mind of it’s own and you just have to keep placing one foot in front of the other till things work out. Another lesson is some of the most profound changes happen in the most subtle experiences: may it be through movement, your career, or your personal life. I think we have this preconceived notion that great change comes with force, however I have learned that the most subtle adjustments create the biggest ripple effects over time. Lastly, get comfortable with making people uncomfortable. The more confident you become and the stronger you stand in your beliefs, the more likely you are to ruffle feathers. It has nothing to do with you, never lose your focus on your purpose and who you are serving, that’s all that matters.

What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
Sharing this method means so much to me for it changed my life. I grew up involved in various sports and movement practices. Yet, I wish I knew what I know now about the body, for it would have saved me so much grief. Through poor movement practices, the after effects of a head-on collision, and a series of injuries, my body fell apart. I was debilitated for 2 years and gained 100lbs for I was not able to get out of bed without my partner pushing me up. I was not able to work out and doctors were suggesting I had spine surgery to help relieve the symptoms that I was experience. I met my friend Heidi Byrnes and she opened pandora’s box for me on spine health and looking at the body as a whole. I started seeking out the smartest people I could find in every facet of the body that I could work with. Through this collected wealth of knowledge I am now pain free, I am stronger than I have ever been before, and I have never felt so proud and confident in my body. I’m so passionate in sharing this collection of tools that I have learned from the smartest people I know and through my own practices and years of experience. These concepts have changed my clients lives and my purpose is to help as many people as I can.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
This is such a hard question! I grew up in Palm Springs, CA and there are many places that I love and frequent. If you’re wanting to do a relaxing retreat in the desert, I would recommend staying at Two Bunch Palms. Between the hot springs hidden under a canopy of palm trees, the clean and fresh meals at the restaurant, and luxurious services, there is no better way to take in the desert’s healing powers. If you’re wanting to stay closer to the desert attractions, I would recommend The Sands Hotel, Korakia or Luxbox Agency’s 1948 Desert Casita’s. I would personally recommend making it a priority to get coffee at Varraco Roasters. They source their beans from the Philippines and bake their pastries and roast their beans in house. In my honest opinion, it is the best coffee in the desert. Another new local spot that just opened is Baby’s Marche’, which is a butcher shop and Parisian inspired deli. Everything on the menu is exceptional. Some other restaurants I personally believe are must visits are Bar Cecil, Farm (my personal favorite), El Mirasol, Workshop, Norma’s & Pink Cabana. I am also a huge fan of Il Sogno (darling cafe and bakery), and La Fe (fantastic wine bar). We have some beautiful hiking and walking trails to take in the beauty of the desert. Some of my favorite trails are Art Smith Trail, Coachella Valley Preserve Trails, Andreas Canyon and Murray Canyon. You can also take a day trip to Joshua Tree and enjoy the beauty of the national park, grab lunch at La Copine, and end the evening with a sound bath in the Integatron. If sound baths are not your thing, you need to check out Pappy & Harriets for some live music. Idyllwild is also a great day trip which is located just up 74. They have so many great trails and its so spectacular up there. They also have a fantastic restaurant called Ferro’s. It is fantastic and when the weather is nice they have live music outside on the weekends. If you’re looking for music, you need to keep your eyes peeled for Michael Keeth (contemporary acoustic), Barry Baughn (sounds just like Marc Broussard), and the Hot Club (gypsy jazz). For shopping, my absolute favorites are House of Lolo, HT Shoppe, Rancho Relaxo, Mojave Flea, Thick as Thieves, Vetiver Shop, Just Fabulous Palm Springs, the local boutiques inside Flannery Exchange, and The Shops at Thirteen Forty Five. If your wanting a taste of the good ‘ol Palm Springs, you need to walk around Old Las Palmas, have a martini at the piano bar in Melvyns, or have dinner at Spencers. If you are wanting some fantastic people watching, The Nest is definitely the place. If you plan on going, I recommend making dinner reservations, having dinner first and then enjoy the bar after. If you don’t have dinner reservations, you will end up waiting in a line that wraps around the block. Other destinations are The Living Desert, Palm Springs Art Museum, and Sunnylands. I must preface that I am not the kind of person that goes out that much, I prefer quiet and intimate moments with good people or going out to listen to music. I am not the best person to ask where the best party scene is.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
We are all influenced by the company we keep. Whether we are conscious of it or not, each individual that comes into our lives leaves some kind of impression that influences our decisions, perspectives, and reactions. I am so grateful for the network of inspiring individuals that are in my life. They have made such an impact in my life to provide guidance, encouragement and helped me grow as an individual and entreprenuer. The biggest influences in my career would have to be Heidi Byrnes, Madeline Black, Laura Hausler, Linda Robertson, and Brian Nova. 
Heidi Byrnes is one of the most brilliant movement specialists I have ever come across. She has opened my eyes to new facets of movement and challenged my perspectives on approaching movement. Her unwavering stance in the integrity of the practice inspired me to dive deeper in my practice and is the reason I am the teacher I am today. Madeline Black, an international leader in movement and exercise education, is truly brilliant. She has been one of my biggest mentors and keeps challenging me to think outside of the box and think creatively on problem solving. Madeline changed my life with her guidance and mentorship and has been a key player into my growth as a Movement Specialist and Pilates Instructor.
Laura Hausler, my dear friend, colleague and confident. Laura is one of those individuals who is wise beyond her years and is truly ahead of her time in movement science. I have so much gratitude for Laura in my life and all the conversations discussing ideas, challenging various movement concepts, and the genuine support we show each other to continue to grow as movement leaders.
Linda Robertson has been a longtime client and dear friend to me. She is the kind of woman we all aspire to be: intelligent, poised, collected, charming, and dependable. Linda has taught me so much by example and I would not be the woman I am today without her friendship, guidance and support.
Then there is Brian Nova, whom, truthfully, was terrified by every decision and leapt into. However, Brian was the one who opened my eyes to new possibilities. Through our longtime partnership, he introduced me to new beautiful experiences, introduced me to new cultures and art, and introduced me to a network of profound individuals that welcomed me in intellectually stimulating conversations that expanded my mind. I would not be who I am today without Brian in my life.

Website: www.movementbottega.com and www.missonilanza.com

Instagram: @missonilanza and @movementbottega

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/missonilanza

Image Credits
Main photo of me on couch and white backdrop photos are by Jess Castro. Photos in my studio are by Ruth Marie Photography. Photos teaching in Hawaii are by Julian Mendez and Shelly Lynn.