Today we’d like to introduce you to Ja’Nel Johnson-Phillips.
Hi Ja’Nel, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I began taking Hot Pilates classes during a time when my anxiety was through the roof. I read exercise was an effective way to manage anxiety and depression, so I signed up for ClassPass to try different fitness studios. I tried a Hot Pilates class and noticed I felt calm afterward. I kept going back, and when they announced an upcoming teacher training, I enrolled. I became a certified Hot Pilates instructor in 2018.
I had a great time teaching Hot Pilates at the studio. I learned skills that I still use today. Eventually, I realized I wanted to strike out on my own. Vibing on the Mat officially launched in 2019 after I completed a business incubator for women of color and won the program’s final pitch competition. I created Vibing on the Mat to uplift Black women and girls through movement and community.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I was full of excitement after winning the pitch competition. It came with a $1,000 prize, which was plenty to plan my first Pilates experience. The venue was booked, tickets were on sale, refreshments were ordered and participating vendors were lined up. We were scheduled to vibe on the mat on March 21, 2020. But as I learned more about COVID-19, it was clear that safety came first. So out of an abundance of caution, I postponed the event days before it was to happen. Once California’s stay-at-home order went into effect, I canceled the event and issued refunds. Transitioning to virtual Pilates sessions turned out to be difficult as a new business owner establishing my brand. I was still getting my business off the ground when the pandemic forced me online, disrupting the momentum I had begun building.
Since then, I’ve lived in three different states. Although I stepped away from teaching Pilates for a while, I continued my education and earned my Mat Pilates certification through Black Girl Pilates. I also briefly taught at the YMCA last year, which was a great confidence boost and a reminder that I still had it! I knew I could do this anywhere, but with several moves and major life transitions along the way, it took some time to find my way back to Pilates. Now, I’m excited to establish Vibing on the Mat in Columbus, Ga., and see where this next chapter takes me.
As you know, we’re big fans of Vibing on the Mat. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Vibing on the Mat started with Pilates, but is growing into something bigger. I started the brand in 2019 because I wanted to make Pilates more welcoming and accessible for Black women and girls who haven’t always seen themselves reflected in Pilates.
What makes Vibing on the Mat different is the experience I want to create. I deeply believe in the power of movement, education and community. I want Vibing on the Mat to be a place where Black women and girls can move their bodies, take care of themselves, connect with others, and learn something new while having a good time. I want people to feel like they belong when they step onto the mat.
Pilates is still at the heart of what I do, but I like to put my own spin on it. My classes have an urban, rhythmic and thoughtful feel. They can range from slower, more restorative sessions to higher-energy classes that incorporate cardio. No matter the format, I want people to leave class feeling good physically, mentally, and emotionally.
I want Vibing on the Mat to grow beyond the mat while still keeping movement and community at its core. As I enter this new chapter of Vibing on the Mat, I’m excited to bring my background in journalism into the brand. I envision Vibing on the Mat becoming a source of news, information, and conversations around health and wellness that are relevant to Black women and girls.
I’m also excited to be teaching again at a new Pilates studio here in Columbus and to reconnect with people through in-person classes. This October, I’m bringing those same ideas of fitness, health education, and community together for an event that I’m really excited about. It’s an opportunity to move, learn and connect all in one place.
I’m most proud of creating something that feels authentic to me and the people I want to serve. Vibing on the Mat is about more than Pilates. It’s about making wellness feel welcoming, joyful and accessible – because every class is a vibe.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I was fortunate to connect with Sonja Herbert of Black Girl Pilates during the pandemic. It meant a lot to know that there were Black Pilates instructors all over the world who shared my passion and understood my experience. I deeply believe in the power of mentorship and community. And as a new instructor, I found Sonja’s guidance and support invaluable. I was grateful that she thought of me when opportunities came up, including mentioning me in an op-ed she wrote for The Washington Post and connecting me with the body: a home for love X Outdoor Voices for their wellness week, where I taught a virtual Pilates class.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.Vibingonthemat.com
- Instagram: @vibingonthemat
- Facebook: @vibingonthemat
- Other: vibingonthemat@gmail.com
Image Credits
Steenah Brennen + LaLa Robinson
