Hey! So nice to speak with you! Can you tell our readers a little bit more about yourself? Where are you originally from and where do you live now?

Hi! We’re Neha and AJ Arora, the husband-and-wife team behind BODYROK Redondo Beach. We originally met at UC Irvine back in 2003, and have been together ever since! We moved to the South Bay in 2020, right in the middle of the pandemic, which in hindsight sounds a little crazy—but it turned out to be one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. We’ve really fallen in love with the community here and feel so lucky to now live and work in a place that aligns so well with our lifestyle and values.

Tell us one thing you love about where you live now?

Orange County is the best place in the world when you factor everything in. The weather, the access, the community. You've got two major airports within reach, the beach, the mountains, San Diego to the south, LA to the north. The optionality is truly unmatched. But beyond the logistics, it's the culture. People here work hard, play hard, and there's a genuine forward-thinking, wellness-oriented energy that makes it a healthy and inspiring place to build something.

Tell us a little bit more about what your company does and how it started? How does it help your customers?

BODYROK is a high-energy, reformer-based Pilates workout that blends strength training, cardio, and endurance into a 45-minute, full-body class. It’s designed to be challenging but accessible, so whether you’re brand new or more experienced, you can get an incredible workout at your own pace. What makes it so impactful is how it helps people both physically and mentally. Over time, clients build strength, improve endurance, and feel more confident in their bodies. But just as important is how they feel after class...it’s almost like a reset. It gives people a chance to disconnect from their day, push themselves, and walk out feeling stronger, more energized, and accomplished. For many, it becomes more than just a workout, it becomes a consistent part of their routine and overall well-being.

If someone wants to start a business, what advice will help them?

If you truly want to start a business and feel passionate about it, follow that instinct. Time goes by faster than you think, and waiting for the “perfect moment” usually just means you never start.

The best advice we can give is to not think of it as just your business. Build a team and share your vision with them. When people feel like they’re truly a part of what you’re building, not just working for you, it creates a stronger culture and ultimately leads to a better experience for your customers and a much greater chance of success.

What was one feedback from a happy customer/client that you won't forget about?

One moment that really stuck with us was when a client stopped us in the parking lot just to share how much she loves our studio. She told us she had tried over 12–15 different gyms, but fell in love with ours because of how welcoming and genuine our team is. She mentioned that our instructors are the best she’s experienced, and that everyone on the team genuinely seems happy and caring.

That really stayed with us, especially coming from someone with so much experience. It reminded us that beyond the workout itself, the energy, the people, and the feeling you create truly matter.

Where do you see your company in the future?

We definitely see ourselves expanding to more locations in the future. We’ve been fortunate to build a really strong team, and a big part of that vision is creating more opportunities for them to grow—whether that’s leadership roles or simply more chances for our instructors to do what they love and teach more classes.

At the end of the day, growth for us isn’t just about adding locations—it’s about building something sustainable where our team can thrive, and where we can continue bringing the same energy, experience, and community to more people.

What is the biggest misconception about your industry?

One of the biggest misconceptions about our industry is that Pilates is only for a certain type of person or physique, or that it isn’t welcoming. In reality, it’s for everyone.

Pilates can be adapted to all fitness levels, body types, and backgrounds—and it’s incredibly effective for both women and men. We’ve seen firsthand how it helps people build strength, improve mobility, and feel more confident, regardless of where they’re starting.

Creating an environment that feels inclusive and approachable is really important to us, because fitness should never feel intimidating—it should feel empowering.

What has been one of your biggest struggles building your business and how did you deal with it?

One of our biggest struggles was patience. It took us a really long time to find the right location. It’s tempting to move quickly and make something work, but we knew how important the right space would be for what we were trying to build.

Instead of rushing, we stayed patient and trusted the process. In the end, it paid off. Finding the right location made everything come together more smoothly and set a strong foundation for our studio and the experience we wanted to create.

What was your favorite music artist and athlete growing up?

AJ’s go-to is Imagine Dragons—he loves the energy and intensity of their sound. Neha’s favorite is Indian music. She loves dancing, so anything with a great beat is an easy choice.

Any shoutouts you want to make?

We’d love to give a shoutout to our entire team. They’re truly the heart of our studio, and everything we’ve built wouldn’t be possible without their energy, positivity, and dedication.

We’d also want to thank our clients and the South Bay community for supporting us from day one. It really means everything to us!