Sometimes a community starts with just one person showing up. For Olivia Santelli, a whole community movement started with a simple invitation in Chicago: bring a mat to the shore of Lake Michigan for a free Pilates class. Twelve people came. Then hundreds. Then thousands. That single invite grew into Rise Pilates Club, a thriving community rooted in connection, consistency, and care.

Now, Olivia is also building Within, a digital platform offering tools for both physical and mental wellness. In our conversation, she shares the lessons of following your spark, how she stays grounded while leading others, and why saying yes before you feel ready can change your life.

What You’ll Hear:

• The first Rise class at Lake Michigan (08:10)
• Saying yes before you’re fully ready (15:25)
• Building community by showing up consistently (22:15)
• Mental health practices that extend beyond the mat (29:30)
• The mental health tools that anchor Olivia’s work (38:50)

Olivia opens up about the courage it takes to start before you feel ready, the power of consistency, and the role mental health plays in her life and work. If you’ve ever had a whisper of an idea you couldn’t shake, Olivia’s story will inspire you to follow it.

You can watch this interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/a8dDwN4kfe8 

For a full transcript and more, check out our blog post: https://www.lindsaycz.com/show-notes/olivia-santelli-15 

Check out more from Olivia Santelli: 

Connect with Olivia on Instagram: @Olivia.Santelli or follow the @risepilatesclub.

You can also see the upcoming events of the Rise Pilates Club HERE. Or check out the Within platform HERE

Rise Pilates feature on the Today Show: “How a Free Pilates Class in Chicago Went Viral on Social Media”

Mentioned in the Episode

Glitter Freckles and Grit with Aliett Buttelman from Episode 8

The Pressure of Live Sports with Rebecca Lowe from Episode 12