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

Hi Rachel, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I knew I wanted to start a private Pilates business after feeling lost in a group class. I remember going to a big studio and feeling like everyone knew each other and lost in the movements. Years later after getting my certification, I knew I wanted to create a space where people could come and feel at home. I did not want to create a space where it felt like a business operation in which the customer was always being sold to.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I own Forever Young Pilates, an exclusively private and semi-private personal training and Pilates business. After 10 year and four locations, I have met so many amazing people who make what I do worth it.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
The first thing I usually do with friends from out of town is go to Fryman or Griffith. My favorite dog beach is in San Diego, so sometimes we’ll do a drive to Coronado. My favorite restaurants are on the East side mainly, so I’ll take them to M Grill for Brazilian or Ktown for Korean food. The Ktown saunas or Voda in WeHo are also a must.

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?
The Body Keeps the Score by Dr. Bessel van der Kolk changed my view on the way we should respect the body. This book explains the theory of how trauma acts on the body. He explores the extreme connection between the body and mind, and how victims of trauma are physiologically changed as a result. We should not punish or mistreat our bodies, but nourish them with respect. I aim to take this philosophy with me in my career as a trainer every day.

Website: www.ForeverYoungPilates.com
Instagram: @foreveryoungpilates
Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/forever-young-pilates-studio-city

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.