Built Different: How Jess Schindler Is Redefining What It Means to Lead in Boutique Fitness
Today, with three thriving studios and a loyal client base, Jess continues to set a different standard—one rooted in structure, care, and accountability for both clients and her team.
“I would give the shirt off my back for my instructors—and sometimes I’ve come pretty close.”
Jess isn’t exaggerating. She’s been known to personally fix flat tires in the parking lot so team members could finish teaching without stress. She’s offered to cover moving deposits and apartment expenses for staff starting fresh. She even kept her old car—paid off and perfectly drivable—just so instructors would have access to a vehicle when they needed it.
During the COVID-19 shutdown, Jess quietly made sure her most underserved team members had grocery money in their Venmo accounts. And when Citizen Pilates received PPP funds from the SBA, she used that money to pay back every single employee their full wages for the two months the studios were closed—a move few business owners were bold or principled enough to make.
While other studios offer little more than class perks, Citizen Pilates remains the only independently owned Pilates brand in Houston offering full medical benefits to instructors who’ve chosen to make fitness their full-time career—and a 401K retirement program for all employees, including those with freelance or nonprofit day jobs who wouldn’t otherwise have access to one.
“Our studios are clean, professional, and structured—but what makes Citizen special is what happens behind the scenes. We take care of people here.”
Leadership That Changed Direction
That philosophy of care expanded in 2017 when a long-time client and friend gave Jess a book that would reshape the course of her leadership. It was Take Care of Your People by Paul Sarvadi, the CEO and founder of Insperity. The copy was autographed.
“It changed everything,” Jess says. “Not just how I saw myself as a business owner, but how I saw my role in supporting the full lives of my team.”
That moment sparked a complete reframing of Citizen’s culture—from a place where instructors simply “teach and leave,” to a system where team members are supported across mental, social, financial, and professional dimensions. It reversed the old archetype of instructors as gig workers and set a new standard for what boutique fitness careers could—and should—look like.
Professional Standards with Purpose
And that standard has never been higher. As part of a long-planned strategic transition, Citizen Pilates is expanding its team of full-time instructors across all three studios. The result: a more consistent client experience, fewer disruptions, and the elimination of unnecessary distractions caused by those unwilling to contribute at a high level.
“Working at Citizen isn’t for everyone,” Jess says. “If you lack professional bandwidth or don’t respect our defined framework, you won’t thrive here. And that’s intentional.”
This isn’t change driven by turnover. It’s change driven by vision—a decade of continuous refinement toward operational excellence and team-first values.
Giving Back, Year After Year
And those values extend far beyond the four walls of any studio. Citizen Pilates proudly contributes over $25,000 annually to Houston-area nonprofits, including:
- Kids’ Meals – delivering meals to end childhood hunger
- Girls Empowerment Network – building confidence in young women
- Animal Justice League – advocating for and rescuing vulnerable animals
- Local public schools – supporting campuses in the Heights, Garden Oaks, Oak Forest and Spring Branch communities
This is a business built on movement, generosity, and integrity—with a founder who believes your company culture should never be an afterthought. Every part of Citizen Pilates reflects that belief.
“People may not always see what happens behind the scenes,” Jess says, “but if you’ve ever been to a Citizen class, you’ve felt it.”
