Alex Ignacio, left, and Leci Langille, right, have purchased Blue Sky Pilates from Mary Lutes, center. Lutes will continue to be involved with the business as an instructor. Courtesy photo BUSINESS News:
Mary Lutes, founder of Blue Sky Pilates, is excited to announce that ownership of the studio has transferred to “two amazing, energetic highly motivated individuals, Lecie Langille and Alex Ignacio, both from Santa Fe.”
The transition of ownership began Aug. 15, 2016, and will be completed by the end of the month.
Lutes decided to sell the studio due to medical issues.
“I am giving up my ‘baby’ to give myself much needed time to work on these medical issues,” she said. “I am excited that I will still be involved with the studio as an instructor for the clients and for new instructors. I trust that Lecie and Alex will instill energy into the current programs being offered at Blue Sky Pilates. I know that they will help the studio grow and continue to offer the community of Los Alamos a beautiful, fully equipped Pilates studio.”
Much gratitude goes out to the community of Los Alamos for embracing Blue Sky Pilates, Lutes said. She wants to take this opportunity to thank the clients for their dedication to their practice.
“Thank you for all the referrals from the medical community, especially Medical Associates of Northern New Mexico, New Mexico Orthopedics, all the physical therapists in Los Alamos, New Mexico Spine and Pain, Pam Risley, and everyone else who has said, ‘Go see Mary, she’ll help you feel better!’ Keep those referrals coming! I also want to send a huge thank you to my family for your constant love and support. I couldn’t have accomplished this without your help. Chris Lutes, Samantha Fitzgibbon and William Rich – you are the best!”
Lutes began her Pilates’ journey 12 years ago as a way to ease chronic pain caused by fibromyalgia and arthritis. Pilates helped so much she felt like her life had been given back to her, and had to share this amazing form of exercise with whom ever she could. This dream became a reality when she opened Blue Sky Pilates five years ago.
With a six month lease, ten mats and completed training in the Pilates Mat program, Lutes started Blue Sky Pilates, not sure how the community would embrace this form of exercise.
“Well, not only did the community embrace it, it was a huge success from the very first month of operation,” Lutes said. Classes filled rapidly and requests for more types of Pilates came from so many clients. Ms. Lutes continued her training and is now certified a the highest level of certification the Pilates world has to offer, she is a Pilates Method Alliance Certified Pilates Teacher (PMA-CPT), having completed over 600 hours of training.
With all this training Ms. Lutes was able to offer much more to her clients. The studio now offers private sessions, duets, and a full range of classes including Mat with props, Reformer, Chair, Trapeze, and MOTR. CoreAlign ® and the Bodhi Suspension System are on the list of new equipment to be added to the studio. Also, plans are in place to implement a teacher training program at the studio. This program will offer a comprehensive Pilates teacher training program.
“This studio is truly a gem in the community of Los Alamos, offering something for everyone, no matter what the person’s physical abilities are,” Lutes said.
A successful entrepreneur and health enthusiast, Alex Ignacio is extremely excited about the opportunity to continue the work that Lutes began with Blue Sky Pilates. He’s even more excited about Lute’s continued presence and assistance going forward in helping Blue Sky Pilates with both the ownership transition as well as upcoming ambitious plans and projects.
Ignacio is co-founder of Narrative Media, a visual marketing studio in Santa Fe that specialized in professional photography, video, and online services. He hopes to bring those skills and talents to Blue Sky Pilates to create engaging and beautiful photos and videos to share with the Los Alamos community and build energy around the Blue Sky Pilates studio.
Ignacio is also a partner in Uplifted Fitness, a boutique kettle bell gym in Santa Fe, where you can often find him, “ working out and gasping for air.”
“The decision to purchase Blue Sky Pilates was one that came together very quickly,” Ignacio said. “We met Mary Lutes, immediately felt a warm connection, and saw a win-win situation – to help Mary in her efforts to regain her strength and health, as well as a fantastic business opportunity continuing a thriving Pilates studio in a wonderful community.”
A long time Pilates instructor, Lecie Langille comes from a professional ballroom dancing background. She has competed and performed all over the world, and she brings a wealth of experience to Blue Sky Pilates, having completed her comprehensive Pilates training with Balanced Body. Langille grew up in Santa Fe, and after her travels, has come back to pursue interesting opportunities.
She couldn’t be more excited about purchasing Blue Sky Pilates and working with Lutes, she said.
Langille is also a yoga instructor, as well as the CEO of Visions, a health case management company based in Santa Fe.
“We originally came to visit Mary about purchasing one of her reformers and we ended up with a whole lot more!” Langille said. “It was a unique can’t miss opportunity and we’re so happy we were able to make it work out. Blue Sky Pilates is an amazing studio and we’re thrilled to join the Los Alamos community.”
With new ownership, Blue Sky Pilates will continue to thrive, offering Los Alamos and surrounding areas a beautiful studio with knowledgeable, fully certified instructors where anyone can walk in the door and experience everything that Pilates has to offer, Lutes said.
“We look forward to seeing you at Blue Sky!” she said.
