Corrigan spent summers growing up visiting her father in Dayton in the Oregon District.
“I’ve always felt like this is my home.”
What the business does: Corrigan started her business Dayton Pilates in 2011. She teaches classes out of her home and offers either personal sessions or "Duets," an hour long session involving two people.
“Sometimes couples come in or two friends or sisters or even spouses,” she said. “I can also match people up that have physical similarities.”
Corrigan’s Pilates sessions involve spring tension equipment, which is a bit different than traditional “mat” based Pilates.
“There are no heavy weights or straining,” she said. “It’s all a flowing movement and the body is completely supported by equipment and challenged at the same time. We focus on concentration and control.”
How the business started: Corrigan runs her business out of her home in the Park Place Lofts, across from Fifth Third Field. She started training in Pilates shortly after college and became interested while taking dance and visual arts courses.
“I had already been practicing for five years and quality training was available in New York City so I went there for a year,” she said.
Corrigan went through a highly intensive 400 hours of training, during which she learned anatomy and how the body works. She also learned Pilates techniques not only on mats but on the devices she uses today.
“I am one who believes that you aren’t truly doing Pilates unless you are using the whole system, including the apparatus,” she said.
Future plans: Though Corrigan continues to offer classes in her home studio, her eventual goal is to open a storefront in Dayton.
“I hope to expand my business to encourage more people to try Pilates,” she said.
Corrigan also hopes to publish a book about the work she has done in Pilates over the years.
“I’m frantic about it because the way I approach this work is unique,” she said. “I’ve never read or heard about any else’s approach like mine. I’ve devoted my entire adult life to this practice.”
Contact information: www.daytonpilates.com or call 937-838-4792.
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