More Than a Workout: The Story Behind The Routine in Ventura

If you’ve ever walked into a workout class and instantly felt out of place, you know how intimidating fitness spaces can be. That’s exactly what Karen, a Ventura College alumna and owner of The Routine in Ventura, wanted to change.

Karen didn’t always plan on opening a Pilates studio. She actually owned a beauty business in downtown Ventura for about 10 years, spending long days doing lash extensions. Over time, the work became physically demanding and pushed her to look for new ways to move and feel better.

So she started trying different ways to move her body going to the gym, taking group classes, doing yoga. But nothing really stuck until she found Pilates. She said she immediately loved it. It didn’t just feel like a workout it made her feel good, energized, and actually excited to move. The only problem? The closest studios were far away.

So instead of settling for that, she decided to bring Pilates to Ventura herself.

When she first opened Routine, it wasn’t perfect and she knew it wouldn’t be. Teaching was new, and things didn’t go exactly how she expected. But she leaned on her community, built a team, and now about nine instructors are still with her today. She strongly emphasized how important her team is to her, and how much they’ve helped shape Routine into what it is today.

What really makes Routine stand out isn’t just the workouts it’s the environment. It’s supportive, safe, and welcoming. People start recognizing each other, building real connections, and it begins to feel like a second home.

Now Routine is expanding to Santa Barbara, something her clients actually pushed for. For Karen, it’s about stepping out of her comfort zone and bringing something new to a different community. She said what excites her most is connecting with new people and making their day better.

At the end of the day, her story is simple: don’t wait for perfect. Believe in your idea, take the risk, and don’t be afraid to fail. Because sometimes the best things start with just trying something new.

Follow her journey here: