The instinct to build something significant often begins in the moments when life demands something more from a person than their own expectations. When Sue McCarroll, a holistic health coach, came across that instinct, she transformed it into her calling. As the founder of Opal Wellness Studio, a Pilates boutique, entrepreneurship has always been about creating an impact in the most personal sense. It was exemplified in helping people, especially women, reconnect with a sense of worthiness that she believes can too often get buried beneath responsibilities, self-doubt, societal expectations, and the relentless pace of everyday life.
McCarroll witnesses again and again how women excel at caring for everyone but themselves. "They never miss their child's appointment, yet hesitate to commit to a single hour for their own wellness," she says, reflecting on her own experience of juggling her responsibilities as a mother of three and her job, which left little time for her well-being. According to McCarroll, women may intend to prioritize movement or rest, yet interruption might feel more deserving of attention.
"The biggest hurdle in people taking care of themselves, particularly women, is that they don't feel worthy of putting time in for themselves," she says. Her mission became clear: wellness should not feel optional. It should feel non-negotiable, easily accessible in the messy reality of life, and rooted in a mindset of viewing rest, wellness, and taking up space as a prerogative, not a privilege.
Her conviction emerged from a long personal journey. Once a dedicated ballet dancer, McCarroll grew up immersed in movement, yet struggled with debilitating personal challenges that held influence over her early decisions. She double majored in dance and nutrition, not to solve her problems, but to better understand how to manage and maintain control. Education, however, became her turning point. "Learning what I was putting my body through helped me heal," she recalls.
Over the years, she would teach dance, discover Pilates as a transformative healing practice, and lean into the holistic approaches that helped her function as a highly sensitive person navigating a sensory-intense world. "Everything clients experience at Opal is something I've practiced on myself first," she says. "Every offering is grounded in that lived experience."
Motherhood remains the biggest catalyst for her mission, a pivotal stage of her life that allowed her to deeply understand how easily women can lose themselves in caregiving. "Reclaiming that power took a lot of introspection, personal growth work, and the uncomfortable but necessary commitment to speak for my needs," she says. Even now, 16 years later, after entering motherhood, she often stumbles on her journey and finds herself back to the starting point, yet she emphasizes the power of always showing up for oneself.
Her 13th season of the Opal Podcast, Well2You, openly explores the work of returning to oneself. "Just because I do this for a living doesn't mean I don't have to start over often," she says. What matters, in her view, is not perfection; it is the willingness to choose oneself again and again, even after setbacks, interruptions, or long stretches of neglect.
Opal Wellness Studio was built on that philosophy. Located in the heart of downtown Haddonfield, New Jersey, the boutique space is intentionally intimate. Equipment classes hold up to four people, while mat classes are for 10. McCarroll wants every client to feel seen, supported, and welcome, whether they arrive in leggings or old sweatpants.
The environment centers nervous system regulation as much as physical strengthening, with offerings like FLOWpresso, ion cleanse detox footbaths, breathwork, and meditation complementing the classical Pilates foundation. "Your body is designed to heal itself," she says. "But our world makes it harder for the nervous system to relax. We need movement to burn the stress hormones that are racing through our bodies every day." At Opal, movement is celebrated as a functional, restorative, and deeply human activity.
McCarroll's dedication to quality extends to teaching future instructors. She developed a comprehensive Pilates teacher training program rooted in classical technique and modern application, emphasizing precision and adaptability. True to her ethos, she strives to achieve certification at every modality she offers in the studio before teaching her students.
The Well2You Podcast adds another dimension to her mission, giving listeners a place to feel connected, informed, and less alone. "For me, the podcast is a true labor of love," she says. "It is driven by my desire to keep learning and sharing insights with my listeners."
Impact, for Sue McCarroll, is created one person at a time. It lives in restored self-belief, strengthened bodies, calmer minds, and the radical act of choosing oneself. Individuals like her, those who place genuine emphasis on mindset and transformation, are reshaping the wellness space in ways that endure far beyond the studio walls.
