Episode 66: Female Fridays with Nina Ramirez

Happy Friday, Female emPOWERED listeners! My #FemaleFridays guest this week is Nina Ramirez — my own mom! I was so honored to have her join me on the podcast to share her powerful story as she has overcome so many things that still impact me to this day.

Cuba in the 1950s-60s

My mother was born in Cuba in 1949 and lived there until 1960 when she, along with her 3 siblings were able to flee to the United States. We discuss her childhood in Cuba and what life was like prior to Castro taking over in 1959 when she was only 9 years old along with afterwards.

My mom Nina arrived in Miami in January 1960 with her 3 siblings. They lived there until relocating to New York two years later. Nina shares her experience with the foster care homes and how it was transitioning into American schools. We talk about what it was like to reunite with her parents (my grandparents) in 1962 and how lucky they were to all be together. Finally, we wrap up the conversation discussing her favorite memories from her childhood in Cuba and returning to Cuba someday.

In this episode we discuss:

• [01:37] Meet Nina, my mom!
• [05:00] What life looked like in Cuba in the 50s and 60s
• [08:01] The impact changes in Cuba had on her day to day life
• [12:27] Nina’s mom’s involvement with underground groups
• [15:42] Her uncle’s imprisonment
• [16:38] Peter Pan flights
• [20:36] Preparing to leave Cuba for the United States
• [29:11] Arriving in Miami on January 17th, 1960
• [34:00] Foster care and school in New York
• [40:59] Reuniting with her parents in October 1962
• [47:26] Current state of Cuba and when Nina will return
• [53:37] Nina’s favorite memories of Cuba

This was an emotional interview — one that I hope you listen to and enjoy. I think it’s so important to think about the people who’ve helped us get where we are, and my mom is definitely one of those people.

Looking for advice and resources to help you market and grow your clinic or client-based business? Visit my website or follow me on Instagram!

Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review for the show to help other female fitness and wellness professionals find our podcast!

Interested in being a guest on a future Female Friday episode? Email me at Christa@pilatesinthegrove.com!

Episode 046: Female Fridays with Andrea Trombley

Let’s kick off the weekend with a brand new #FemaleFridays episode, shall we? This week on the Female emPOWERED podcast, I spoke to Andrea Trombley, founder and CEO of Andrea Trombley PT & Yoga in Vermont. Through her practice, Andrea helps older patients maintain a strong, active lifestyle with reduced stress and chronic pain.

Founding her dream business after 50

Andrea has been a physical therapist for 23 years, but she only recently founded her own practice, Andrea Trombley PT & Yoga, in the past few years. Let this be a reminder to anyone wondering if it’s “too late” to go for it and open their own practice!

“I was about to turn 50 a few years ago and decided that if I was ever going to do what I always thought I was going to do, which was open my own business, I’d better get going,” said Andrea. “Turning 50 was really the start of my business career.”

Two years in, Andrea’s physical therapy and yoga practice has completely evolved into something different than what she originally envisioned. While patients immediately flocked to her practice at the beginning, that all changed in May of 2020 because of COVID-19.

Everything in Vermont shut down. With no one coming in for classes or PT services, Andrea gave notice on her practice’s physical space, which meant she’d only have it through the summer. However, she realized that she could offer virtual classes to her patients, so by September 2020, her practice was hosting four classes a week online. Andrea even renovated an unused space in her home where she hosts classes now.

Andrea and I talked about other challenges she faced as a business owner, transitioning to online teaching, her work in Haiti, and much more, so tune in to the whole episode to hear it all!

In this episode we discuss:

• Andrea’s previous work at an out-patient private physical therapy clinic
• What her first year of running her own business was like
• How Andrea pivoted and adjusted her services once the COVID-19 pandemic hit
• What Andrea’s offers for services and classes look like now, including workshops, monthly memberships, and drop-in classes
• Transitioning from hosting small workshops to larger workshops, and how they differed when teaching online
• Andrea’s dream scenario of the future and what her business would look like
• Her work teaching physical therapy and occupational therapy in Haiti
• Where you can find Andrea and her business online

Follow Andrea on Instagram at @andreatrombleydpt and Like the Andrea Trombley PT & Yoga Facebook page!

Looking for advice and resources to help you market and grow your clinic or client based business? Visit my website or follow me on Instagram!

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Andrea Trombley PT & Yoga
• STAND: The Haiti Project
• Haiti Rehabilitation Foundation

Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review for the show to help other female fitness and wellness professionals find our podcast!

Interested in being a guest on a future Female Friday episode? Email me at Christa@pilatesinthegrove.com!

Hi everyone! Welcome back to another episode of the Female Empowered podcast. This week I will be sharing with you how to create and use a tracking system that turns leads into paying clients.
Why I’m Excited About This Episode
I am so excited to get into the details because this conversation has come up numerous times in our Facebook groups and mentorship programs.

For me, I put this in the backburner for quite a time when I started my business. Business owners have a lot on their plate and putting systems in place for leads seems like another thing in the unending list of things to be done that’s why it doesn’t get that much of a priority. Further, understanding how leads work could be a bit intimidating since it involves the technological side of things.

However, coming up with a tracking system is very important in businesses and it’s something that I encourage business owners to do from the get go. In this podcast, you will understand more why that is exactly the case!

Let’s discuss:

• Introduction to this week’s topic
• What is a tracking system for leads
• Why having a tracking system for leads is important
• The key components in a tracking system
• How to get my lead tracker for free
• Statistics surrounding businesses having a lead tracking system in place
• What is a cold lead
• What is a hot lead
• An example of how we track leads
• Personalizing messages when following up with potential clients
• Automating the tracking system process
• Finding out why potential clients go cold
• What are points of contact
• Having a tracking system will show you where is the kink in the chain
• Going after the most promising leads
• Connection and communication over convincing
• Study what kind of follow-up system do you have in place

If you are interested in grabbing the free resource that’s exclusive for my podcast listeners, go to www.christagurka.com/leads then type in the promo code PODCAST so you can get it for free! There is also a video tutorial of how you can use the tracking system I have for you so you can get started on your leads immediately.

Looking for advice and resources to help you market and grow your clinic or client based business? Visit my website or follow me on Instagram!

Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review for the show to help other female fitness and wellness professionals find our podcast!

Interested in being a guest on a future Female Friday episode? Email me at Christa@pilatesinthegrove.com!

Welcome back to another episode of the Female EmPOWERED Podcast! Today’s episode flips the script a bit as Latasha Doyle, founder and CEO of Uncanny Content, takes over as the host to interview me, Christa Gurka! We’re kicking off a special series where we highlight different business stories, and what better way to start than by diving into my journey of building and growing Pilates in the Grove?

In this candid conversation, Latasha and I talk about everything from starting as an accidental entrepreneur to navigating major business challenges like partnerships, rebranding, and scaling a multi-location Pilates and physical therapy business. We also dive into leadership, personal growth, and the struggles of managing a team, especially during difficult times like COVID.

Some of the things we discussed in this episode include...

• Becoming a Business Owner: My journey started unintentionally, but over time, I realized I was not just managing a project—I was growing a real business.
• Lessons from Partnership 'Divorces': When you’re no longer aligned with your business partners, sometimes the best move is to part ways, even if it’s financially difficult. It was a tough but pivotal moment for me to take full control of Pilates in the Grove.
• Overcoming Overwhelm: At one point, I felt like burning the business to the ground. What helped? Therapy, working on myself, and finally hiring a COO who could take over the operational side of the business.
• Scaling and Leadership: Moving from being a service provider to becoming a leader was the hardest transition. I had to learn to let go, delegate, and build a strong executive team around me.
• The Importance of Asking for Help: As business owners, we sometimes feel like we need to do it all. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that it’s okay to ask for help—and that delegation doesn’t make you a bad leader.

Got a question or want to be featured on the podcast? You can now leave me a voice message! Just visit ChristaGurka.com/messages to ask your question or share your thoughts.

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review! It helps get the podcast in front of more women in healthcare, wellness, and fitness.

Thank you for tuning in to this special episode! Keep an eye out for more inspiring business stories in the coming episodes, and don’t forget to subscribe and share this with fellow entrepreneurs.

Until next time, keep empowering yourself and your business!

Welcome back to another episode of Female Empowered with your host, Christa Gurka! Today, I’m giving you a behind-the-scenes look at the Women in Wellness Business Summit, our fourth annual event that just wrapped up, and it was an absolute game-changer. Not only did we sell out for the first time ever with 25 incredible women, but the event was packed with hands-on learning, strategic planning, and powerful insights that left everyone inspired and ready to take their business to the next level.

Here’s a peek at what went down at the summit:

• This year, we focused on giving our attendees personal attention, keeping the event small and exclusive for women who own boutique healthcare, wellness, and fitness businesses. From physical therapy practices to Pilates studios and more, the women in the room were all there for the same reason: to grow and level up in their businesses.
• Expert-Led Presentations:
  • Monica Spolstra taught us how to be our own PR agency and pitch ourselves to the media without paying expensive retainers.
  • Danielle Hayden from Kickstart Accounting shared her expert tips on budgeting for success, including how to project future expenses and ensure your marketing spend is on point.
  • Lauren Hanson from Uncanny Content showed us how to maximize retention and drive sales by nurturing our existing clients—no need for endless TikToks and Reels!
  • Mitch McGinley from Boutique Fitness Broker broke down how to prepare your business for an exit—whether you’re thinking of selling or just want more freedom and flexibility.
• Strategic Planning for 2025: I led the attendees through a full-day session on reviewing their 2024 goals and setting actionable, measurable objectives for 2025. We focused on everything from revenue goals to team dynamics to client retention, and we left with clear, personalized plans to implement right away.
• Small Group Implementation: One of the most valuable parts of the summit was the small group implementation sessions. Attendees had the chance to break into groups and ask specific questions, get feedback, and start implementing their new plans with expert guidance. Whether you’re just starting out or scaling your business, it’s all about taking action!

But don’t just take my word for it—here’s what some of our attendees had to say:

• “This summit was the most actionable event I’ve ever been to! I’m leaving with a clear plan and so many ideas to implement right away.”
• “I feel secure and confident going back to my business with clarity. This summit has helped me see exactly what I need to do to level up in 2025.”

The next Women in Wellness Business Summit is already in the works, and if you want to be one of the first to sign up, make sure to get on the waitlist now. Head to my website to sign up today!
Save the Date: Block off November 6-8, 2025, for the next summit. It’s going to be bigger, better, and packed with even more insights and actionable steps to grow your business.

If you’re ready to take your business to the next level, this summit is for you. We focus on the real challenges women business owners face and provide the tools and strategies you need to overcome them. No fluff, just practical, actionable advice to help you thrive.

Thanks so much for listening! If you enjoyed today’s episode, please take a minute to leave a review and help other female business owners discover our podcast. Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram for more tips and updates!

Until next time, my friend, keep empowering yourself and your business!