Growth and Expansion: How HILI Fitness Runs It All with Mindbody

Located in Orlando, FL, HILI Fitness has grown from humble beginnings into a notable, women-owned Pilates brand. Founder Ailsa Navarro discovered her passion for fitness early on—playing sports, pursuing occupational therapy, and later training at a modern Pilates studio. In 2020, at the height of the pandemic, she began hosting workouts in her garage. Word spread quickly, and soon she was training clients for 13 hours a day. Recognizing the demand, Navarro invested in additional equipment and set her sights on opening a business. 

Her vision was clear: create a safe, empowering space where clients of all fitness levels could transform into their strongest selves. Today, HILI Fitness specializes in Xformer modern Pilates and infrared hot mat Pilates, blending high-intensity, low-impact workouts that help clients sculpt muscles, build strength, and gain confidence. "My goal for every client who walks through our doors is that their life is changed forever," said Navarro. 

Choosing Mindbody to power business growth

When it came time to choose a platform to run her business, Navarro turned to Mindbody. She had already used the app to book classes when traveling and heard glowing recommendations from other business owners. "What I loved the most was the process. I still remember who my contact was, Emily. She made everything smooth and easy. She's been with me since day one," she recalled. 

Mindbody provides the seamless technology and real-time support HILI Fitness needs to grow. Navarro explained: "One of the biggest things for me is that I can call on someone at Mindbody, and they'll answer the phone. They will help us solve our problem right away. They'll walk me through the steps of everything that I need." That level of support, combined with easy-to-use tools, has made Mindbody an essential part of their business operations. 

With Mindbody, HILI Fitness has been able to fuel its growth and drive efficiency with features like:  

• Automated reminders – to keep clients engaged and on track with their sessions
• Promoted intro offers – to attract new members and drive first-time visits
• Booking – to make it simple for clients to reserve classes they love
• Integrated marketing tools– to improve retention and win back clients with automated, personalized emails
• Reporting – to deliver clear insights across memberships, class packs, and retail sales to guide data-driven decisions 

Mindbody has made it simple for Navarro's team to learn, adopt, and fully integrate the system into their day-to-day operations. In turn, Mindbody has helped fuel the brand's remarkable growth. "Mindbody gave me the tools that I need to succeed. I've watched my brand grow over 65% just by using Mindbody alone," Navarro shared. "Anything we do, we do it through Mindbody: booking, marketing, changing schedules, adding new trainers. And when we need additional guidance, we have a rep ready to assist." 

For Navarro, the partnership is more than just software; it's a foundation for success. "If you're looking to have every type of tool you need to succeed, you really need to have Mindbody. They'll show you where you're succeeding, where you need help, and they'll give you the marketing tools to reach people you didn't even know you could." 

Scaling with ClassPass

Alongside Mindbody, HILI Fitness partners with ClassPass to expand reach and attract new clients. With 25–30% of their revenue now coming from ClassPass, Navarro called the partnership "life changing." She explained, "I can sleep at night knowing that with just the revenue we bring in from ClassPass, we can pay our rent and keep the lights on. It fills our classes every single day." 

What’s next for HILI Fitness

With eight thriving studios and six more opening soon, HILI Fitness shows no signs of slowing down. The team recently partnered with AdventHealth and Lululemon for a community event, and is planning its first retreat. 

Navarro's advice to other aspiring studio owners? "Remember your why. Why did you start this journey? Never lose that, because if you do, it's going to change everything for you. I think we're where we are because we truly love helping people become their strongest selves." 

For Navarro, Mindbody and ClassPass are indispensable partners. "There's nothing like being able to get on the phone and speak to someone and explain what you're going through and what you're trying to figure out at that moment," she shared. "When clients come to us with questions, we can get the answers for them the same day. That's what sets us apart. Mindbody and ClassPass give us the tools to deliver in every area—and to keep raising the bar for our community."