DO YOU KNOW: Buffy Riesberg Gillespie

The Post and Courier

Buffy Riesberg Gillespie

DATE AND PLACE OF BIRTH: September 1973, in Mountain View, Calif.

RESIDENCE: West Ashley.

OCCUPATION: Pilates instructor/studio owner in Summerville.

FAMILY: Husband, Matt.

MY PETS: A golden retriever, Jesse, Walker hound Maggie and Jack Russell terrorist (ha!) Georgie.

EDUCATION: B.A. in English, College of Charleston, 1995.

MY JOB DESCRIPTION: Help people achieve balance, flexibility and strength for mind and body by practicing Pilates.

MOST FULFILLING ASPECT OF MY JOB: Teaching people how to connect with their bodies and see how their quality of life improves as a result.

MOST CHALLENGING ASPECT OF MY JOB: Educating people on what Pilates really is. You can't really know until you try it for yourself!

WORDS THAT BEST DESCRIBE ME: Honest, confident, caring, genuine, driven.

TALENTS/HOBBIES: My work is my hobby and my hobby is my work.

AN UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT IN MY LIFE: Breaking my arm while snowboarding in Colorado.

FAVORITE TELEVISION SHOW: "The Office."

FIRST JOBS: Baby sitting and mowing lawns.

MY PHILOSOPHY ON LIFE: Moderation encourages balance.

SOMETHING IMPORTANT LIFE HAS TAUGHT ME THUS FAR: The law of attraction really does work!

ACCOMPLISHMENT OF WHICH I AM MOST PROUD: Creating a Pilates business and seeing it grow with all the awesome teachers and clients that work with me.

PET PEEVES: Dirty nails and teeth. Misuse of the word "myself."

MUSIC THAT'S IN MY CD PLAYER: None, I listen to XM radio.

A DAY OF MY LIFE I'D LIKE TO RELIVE: April Fools Day 2006, my wedding day, in Summerville.

WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, I WANTED TO BE: An attorney.

SOMETHING MY PARENTS ALWAYS TOLD ME: Whatever you do in life, be happy.

WHERE ELSE IN THE LOWCOUNTRY I WOULD LIKE TO LIVE AND WHY: Summerville, everyone is so genuinely friendly.

THREE THINGS THAT BRIGHTEN MY DAY: Doing my job well, my dogs greeting me when I get home and snuggling with my husband.

FAVORITE BEATLES SONG: "I'm Only Sleeping." When I was a teenager, my dad dedicated this one to me.

FIRST THING I NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE: Their posture.

TOUGHEST CHALLENGE I'VE HAD TO FACE THIS YEAR: How to effectively expand my business.

-- Edward C. Fennell