Meet the Team: Jaclyn Forrester
If you haven’t been to one of Jaclyn’s classes, (which really, you should), then you have likely heard her encouraging others in a class somewhere else in the studio. Before you hear her voice coaxing clients to find their full teaser, you might hear a jam band over the studio speakers and you will know—Jaclyn Forrester, Niche’s founder, is in the building.
You likely already know about Jaclyn’s love for animals, being at the water (whether that is in Irvington or the beach), and you are definitely familiar with the way that Jaclyn lovingly guides you through your hardest work-out of the week with a smile and a good laugh. Her classes are creative, sneaky hard, and you’ll find yourself taking the amplifications without second guessing because she instills a confidence in you that you didn’t know was there. Regardless of how familiar you are with Jaclyn and her teaching style, read on below to get a glimpse into some of her favorite memories and her love for all things movement!
Core Pilates memory:
I remember walking into a Pilates studio for the first time in 2007. It was Balance Pilates, owned by Kimber McQueen. She was a STOTT training center and I had been doing my research on where to get certified and went to meet with her. As soon as I walked in I thought to myself- this is like an adult playground and I want to be part of it! Kimber and I connected immediately. For years she was a friend and mentor. Kimber is no longer with us, I hope she’s somewhere, able to look down and crack jokes (as she always did!) and I hope she knows how many lives she touched. Her clients and all of her students. I wouldn’t be here without her.
How did you come up with the name “Niche”?
It took me a LONG time to find the appropriate name. I felt very connected to the mission of the studio and the goals for our team, but I was uncertain about how to choose a name that conveyed our message clearly & quickly. I love classic tools, so I turned to the thesaurus. I searched and searched, and had a spreadsheet (surprise, surprise) with a list of names and why I liked or disliked them. But as soon as Niche popped up I thought… that is good. I shared the idea with my husband & the designer who created our first logo and website and both agreed. That was it.
Where do you find inspiration for your classes?
I have three primary resources: 1) The team for sure! That’s the best for me. Whether it’s during our full time instructor weekly workout, attending a class or an impromptu brainstorming session or one of our videos online. I’m constantly inspired by the team. They teach me moves I’ve never done before. That’s the beauty of Pilates, you can never get bored because there’s always something new you can try! 2) Of course— online! I watch and save videos that inspire me. Instagram makes that fun because other instructors and I can send fun videos to each other. YouTube and Pinterest are good resources as well. (Psst,check out our own Youtube and Pinterest pages if you are looking for inspiration that has been vetted by the Niche team.) 3) Continuing education—if I’m learning something new about injury prevention, mobility, even yoga (I’m doing a workshop series now on arm balances) those moves can be applied and adapted to moves on various pieces of Pilates equipment. I like to mix things up & toss yoga, strength or traditional mobility exercises into my Pilates classes. As long as it fits within the Niche class flow- I’m game to try it!
Favorite Richmond restaurant?
Hands down—Celladora! Megan and Bridgette are my fav. I love that dinner starts by tasting sips of their flight of wines for the evening. It’s fun to learn about them. Try something totally different and before you pay for a full glass you know you’re going to like it. The food is incredible & it’s shareable plates, which I love. No matter how often I go, it’s always a memorable experience.
Favorite place you’ve traveled?
Wow—that one is tough. I love to travel. I’ll go with a few favs—we took a trip to France several years ago and went to Paris, Bordeaux and Nice and that was magical. I also love to be out in nature & be active. For my 40th birthday we went to Zion National Park, Antelope Canyon and Sedona. The beauty was overwhelming. Around every corner was another soaring mountain, wildlife and open spaces. The energy in Sedona is a feeling that sticks with you. Each November I go with my oldest friend (we’ve been friends since second grade) and our highschool friend that moved to our town in 9th grade to New York. I cherish this tradition. A few days with friends that are all completely comfortable with each other. You can say anything, do anything, be funny and ridiculous and there’s no judgement, only laughs and love.
What is your next big goal for Niche?
I’ve always got something brewing. Education has played a primary role at Niche from the beginning. I started the journey as a Balanced Body educator, created an indepth mentoring program and in 2021 created my own instructor training - Niche Instructor Training (NIT). Since then, I’ve trained over 100 students. It’s incredible to watch them succeed. Several have joined the team and grown with us as part time or full time instructors. A couple have opened their own studios or incorporate Pilates in their Physical Therapy practice. Some have moved and but still teach, and we cheer them on through instagram. It’s a special feeling to watch how students use their training. We learn a lot from our students who have gone through the training and from those who inquire about our training—about their wishes for the program and what feels accessible to them. With that, we have a lot in the development stages for NIT and we can’t wait to share more, but for now, we hope that you will join us for our in-person Reformer training this September!
The Niche experience is made possible by the entire team at Niche (our instructors, our client experience team, even our members!), but at its core, it is a reflection of Jaclyn’s original intentions for the space: a place to retreat, to ground, and to connect with yourself and your community. Next time you see Jaclyn in the studio, connect over your most recent travels or the best vegan sandwich in Richmond.
