A new pilates studio will open its doors soon at the site of the former Scoops on Main Road in Cutchogue.
According to the owner of the property, Dawn Bennett, Scoops is “not closing,” just moving to as-yet undisclosed new location.
Meanwhile, Mattituck resident Dot Raynor is ready to launch Dottie’s Pilates Plus, LLC within the next few weeks; she’ll be renting the east part of building, with the west side of the space still available for retail use.
Opening her own space is a dream come true for Raynor, who has been subletting space at Cutchogue’s NoFo Wellness Center for the past four years.
A certified personal trainer and holistic lifestyle coach for years, Dottie’s Pilate’s is Raynor’s first time venturing out on her own.
“It’s very exciting,” she said.
Having searched for the perfect space, Raynor feels the Main Road location is the perfect fit. Raynor, who has regular private clients currently, said she will be setting up group classes, which will be listed on her soon-to-come website. The website, she said, will be interactive, allowing clients to book online.
Her vision, Raynor said, is to help people become “holistically healthy.” Raynor also attended the Institute for Integrated Nutrition. Her new business, she said, “is all about wellness.”
Raynor, who is also a certified medical assistant who works at STAT Health urgent care in Cutchogue on weekends.
“I have a strong medical background,” she said.
Her passion for Pilates was born after Raynor was in a car accident 20 years ago. “I was broadsided from behind,” she said.
The devastating accident left Raynor with herniated discs in her cervical and lumbar spine. “It didn’t affect me until a year later when I bent over to pick something up and I couldn’t get back up.” Despite seeing a chiropractor, “the pain never went away,” she said.
After two years of debilitating pain, Raynor began teaching Pilates mat classes, and that helped her to move and function. But still, she said, “I had pain every day.”
It was only when she found a physical therapist that Pilates apparatus, the Pilates Reformer, that she found relief. “After a few sessions, I had no pain. It opened up my spine, the bulging disc went back into place — that’s what sold me. I said then, ‘I will do this for the rest of my life.'”
Becoming as learned as possible in her new passion, Raynor said she’s thrilled to be able to share Pilates with others. “I’m taking what I’ve learned on my journey and helping other people,” she said. “It really helped me, and I know what it can do to help you.”
For additional information, call 631-680-2778.
