Choose a place outside of your comfort zone- My husband wanted to go to Cambodia for our Honeymoon. It wasn’t my first choice. I was hoping to go somewhere most people go on a Honeymoon. The irony was that I felt the most at home as soon as we landed in Siem Reap, Cambodia. I knew I would be coming back. Find a unique destination that most people wouldn’t go to and have fun exploring the adventures that can only happen at a place that isn’t in your comfort zone.
The pandemic has shaped the way we travel and live, with a growing trend leaning towards health, wellness, and a holistic lifestyle. More than ever, individuals are seeking not just getaways, but immersive wellness retreats that help rejuvenate the body, mind, and soul. Destinations that provide a serene environment, unique wellness offerings, and an unparalleled experience are in great demand. In this interview series, we are talking to property owners and hospitality companies who are at the helm of these wellness havens. As a part of this series, I had the pleasure of interviewing Lesley Logan.
Lesley Logan is the dedicated owner and founder of OnlinePilatesClasses.com, a renowned platform for Pilates enthusiasts worldwide. With a passion for health and wellness, she has empowered countless individuals to embrace the benefits of Pilates through her engaging online classes and informative content. Lesley’s expertise and commitment to fostering a strong Pilates community have made her a respected figure in the field.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dive into the main focus of our interview, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your childhood backstory?
Iwas always an athlete — a friend invited me to a Pilates class — I thought it was an infomercial workout and couldn’t and wouldn’t do everything it claimed. But I tried it and felt parts of my body working that I hadn’t ever felt. From that very first class, I fell in love with Pilates. From that day forward, I went to mat Pilates almost every day. I moved to Los Angeles and couldn’t find Pilates classes I liked. A friend suggested I become a Pilates instructor — Which I did, of course, and because I wanted to figure out what the foundation of Pilates was all about, I am lucky to say I trained with Jay Grimes, who worked directly with Joseph Pilates. What started as a hobby became my full-time gig- inevitably, I was teaching so many people Pilates because I loved it- I decided to replace my full-time job at Fred Segal with teaching Pilates full-time. The rest is history.
What or who inspired you to pursue your career? We’d love to hear the story.
I was a dedicated runner throughout high school, always pushing my limits. While managing a luxury boutique in college, a friend introduced me to a Pilates class, and that moment marked the beginning of a profound change in my life. Pilates instantly captivated me — it felt like I was engaging muscles I didn’t even know existed, and I fell in love with how my body responded.
To prioritize my newfound passion, I reshaped my work schedule to ensure I could attend Pilates classes regularly. This commitment eventually led me down a path toward certification, a journey filled with challenges and growth. I had the privilege of studying under Jay Grimes, who had learned directly from Joseph Pilates, making me a second-generation Pilates instructor.
Through OnlinePilatesClasses.com, I’ve created a vibrant community, sharing my deep belief that Pilates benefits Everybody. I’ve realized that filling your cup first by engaging in activities that nourish you makes you better at all aspects of life, whether it’s being a mom, a wife, an employee, or pursuing any other role. Pilates has become not just a passion but a way to enrich the lives of countless individuals, and I’m thrilled to be on this transformative journey.
None of us can achieve success without some help along the way. Was there a particular person who you feel gave you the most help or encouragement to be who you are today? Can you share a story about that?
My husband has been my biggest supporter when it comes to my retreats, Pilates business and podcast. First, by helping me break down my big ideas into possible actions. Then, starting in 2020, Saying “I will partner with you to help grow our businesses.”
It has been said that sometimes our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share the funniest or most interesting mistake that occurred to you in the course of your career? What lesson or takeaway did you learn from that?
Mistakes indeed serve as invaluable lessons in our journeys, and I can certainly share a story about a significant one I made when I was starting. In 2018, I embarked on a bold endeavor to launch not one but two products almost simultaneously. I was confident, believing that managing both ventures wouldn’t be too challenging, especially with the existing audience support. However, it didn’t take long for me to realize a fundamental truth: you can’t “boil the ocean.” Splitting my time and resources between building OnlinePilatesClasses.com and another community meant I couldn’t give either the full attention they needed and deserved.
The valuable lesson I learned from this experience was the importance of focus and prioritization. I had to decide which project to dedicate all my time and energy to, allowing it to establish a solid foundation before turning my attention back to the other. While my members may not have directly felt the change, our growth was significantly hindered for eight long months before we could refocus on our expansion efforts. Looking back, if I had the chance to do it differently, I would have chosen to pursue just one of those projects initially and saved the other for a later, more opportune time. This experience reinforced the importance of concentration and quality over quantity and taught me the value of patience and strategic decision-making in pursuing my goals.
Can you share your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Why does that resonate with you so much?
“Done is better than perfect-” I don’t know who said it first but it’s my daily reminder. Nothing ever will feel perfectly ready. But the sooner you get things done and out there the sooner you can learn and get better for the next time.
What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now? How do you think that might help people?
I’m currently working on a project that will be a compilation of some of the workshops I teach on my retreat, some of the work I teach to those who are members of onlinepilatesclasses.com, and some of the messages from my podcast. Eventually, these will be a book, keynote, or a course. It’ll help people ditch perfection and connect their mind and body. And ultimately, to do life better.
OK, thank you for all of that. Let’s now shift to the core focus of our interview about wellness destinations. Let’s dive deeper into these together. Based on your research or personal experience, why do you think travel can lead to better wellness? Can you share a story?
Travel allows us to see the world through another person’s eyes. While we will never actually walk in their shoes. We can explore different cultures. Their food, and how their daily lives go. When I went to Spain, it blew my mind to be in a world that took naps and ate dinner so late. When we travel, it takes us out of our comfort zones and discomforts. It allows us to explore other possibilities. This makes us more empathetic people and possibly even helps us learn something about ourselves we never knew before. On my first trip to another country in 2012, I went alone. I got to test out new morning routines and breakfast ideas, and I got to spend so much time with myself that I came back and made massive changes to my work schedule and routines. Without travel, it’s easy to stay in the same routine year after year.
What are a few things which distinguish your property from thousands of wellness properties around the world?
Most wellness properties take you away from the culture that you’re visiting. Our property is in a local village. And close to the city center. You still get the peaceful nights. But you also get to hear the chickens in the morning, local morning traffic and routines. You are part of what makes Siem Reap beautiful. The people.
What type of experience do you want your visitors to have when they visit?
Our goal is not to just take you to experience beautiful Temples. But to also allow you to experience community, intentional consistent Pilates and connection with your ideal goals and the life you want to live after the retreat. Our retreaters get to enjoy two lifestyle workshops that help them design their dream life with action steps they can take with them when they go home.
What makes your property a beautiful escape for a body and mind recharge?
Living in the jungle, it’s easy to lose yourself in the atmosphere. Our beautiful trees, plants, and yard make it easy to sit and enjoy the sounds of the wind, locals, and even the animals that wander around. Our rooms include a space to cook, read, journal, and get a great night’s sleep!
Can you share any transformative stories or testimonials from guests that visited your property?
One retreater came to enjoy the Temples of Cambodia. During the workshops, she had a vision of the changes she wanted to include when she returned. Within 30 days of being home, she found a new home for her business and attracted several potential clients for her new program. We’ve had multiple retreats sign up for a 2nd time to join us in Siem Reap because of how grounded and connected they felt during the retreat. Another retreater rekindled their Pilates practice and maintained the consistency once they returned home.
Why do you think the experience you offer is so needed nowadays?
Retreats are beautiful and lovely. But if all you do is see gorgeous places but don’t compare your current life to your dream life, you will return home with precisely the same life you had before. On our retreat, immerse yourself in the village. Spending time in breathwork, meditation, and Pilates will offer you opportunities to evolve and invite change into your life when you return.
Do you think travel enhances our mindfulness, optimism, or sense of gratitude? How? Can you please explain with an example or story?
Traveling to other countries allows for more empathy, I believe. It’s easier to see things that you might not do or agree with and understand why that is desirable for someone else. Depending on where you go, you can be more grateful for the things you have. And also realize what you can live without. Travel allows us to step into another person’s shoes and experience their life. Which is a beautiful way to understand what you want and need more in your own.
What are your “5 Habits You Should Develop In Order Make Travel Into An Opportunity For Wellness & Personal Growth?”
1 . Choose a place outside of your comfort zone- My husband wanted to go to Cambodia for our Honeymoon. It wasn’t my first choice. I was hoping to go somewhere most people go on a Honeymoon. The irony was that I felt the most at home as soon as we landed in Siem Reap, Cambodia. I knew I would be coming back. Find a unique destination that most people wouldn’t go to and have fun exploring the adventures that can only happen at a place that isn’t in your comfort zone.
2 . Travel alone at least once- Always traveling with your friends or family is tempting. The problem is that it’s difficult to explore and be curious about your own life and the changes you want to make. You play the role you usually play with those people. So I believe everyone should do a big trip alone at least once. In 2012, I did a solo trip to Brazil. The busy cities and tourist attractions I went to meant at no time was I alone. But it allowed me to do things based on my curiosity. One of the reasons I created a retreat in Siem Reap is that I know many women might not feel comfortable going there alone. But you can come solo on my retreat, be in a community, and still get to explore your curiosities.
3 . Pack less! My friends laugh at me and think I am crazy because I will travel for weeks with only an international carry-on suitcase. One, most places have laundry. Two, the less you carry around, the easier it is to explore, embrace random adventures, and see what you can do with less. We think we need all these things to do life. But you’d be surprised what you can do with less.
4 . Learn some basic phrases. We send our retreaters sentences to practice, such as “Hello,” “Thank You,” “How much,” “No,” and “Yes.” They might not remember right away or when they land. But I find that in most places, if you can say hello or thank you in their language, it feels special. And allows for interesting conversations. Most of my neighbors in Siem Reap, where we live, can speak English. But they love it when we walk by and say, “Good morning, how are you?” in their language. It brings smiles to both our faces. And smiling, of course, is an international language.
5 . Check visa requirements often. Even if you have been somewhere before, double check their visa requirements have not changed. Also, check and see if there are required vaccinations or specific visas based on the order of countries you are visiting. One of my friends had a visa to go to Vietnam and was on her way to visit me in Siem Reap. But didn’t realize she would need one to go back through Vietnam even though she wasn’t leaving the airport. Double-checking these things will ensure your trip is positive from beginning to end.
Based on your experience, where do you see the future of wellness travel heading in the next 5–10 years?
I think more people are going to want to explore it. Many people consider traveling alone more as work becomes used to remote work. You can find unique places to travel to, still get your work in, and have fun doing it.
We are very blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. is there a person in the world, or in the US, whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we both tag them :-)
I’d love to have coffee or a happy hour with Julia Roberts! Since I was a teenager, I’ve loved her laugh and her way of living where she wants to live while still doing what she loves.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
LesleyLogan.co/retreats or @lesley.logan on Instagram
Thank you for these really excellent insights, and we greatly appreciate the time you spent on this. We wish you continued success.
About the Interviewer: Wanda Malhotra is a wellness entrepreneur, lifestyle journalist, and the CEO of Crunchy Mama Box, a mission-driven platform promoting conscious living. CMB empowers individuals with educational resources and vetted products to help them make informed choices. Passionate about social causes like environmental preservation and animal welfare, Wanda writes about clean beauty, wellness, nutrition, social impact and sustainability, simplifying wellness with curated resources. Join Wanda and the Crunchy Mama Box community in embracing a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle at CrunchyMamaBox.com.
