November 21, 2023 • 15 mins
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In this emotional episode, I share why I closed Pop Fit Studio, a fitness space that was more than just a business for me and for many clients. This episode is not just about the closing of a brick-and-mortar business, but the complexities and emotions that come with such a huge change, and the reality of operating a fitness studio in the face of unprecedented challenges brought on by the pandemic. Also shared: a different approach to fitness and food this holiday season.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to episode 93 of the Breaking Body Biases
podcast.
This is Christine here, andthis is now a video and audio
podcast.
So if you're listening to thison wherever you listen to
podcasts, whatever app you use,know that there is a video of
(00:21):
this as well.
My attempt right now is to makea deeper connection for those
that I don't get to see on aregular basis, because I do have
a very big update and anexplanation, if you will, for
why you haven't heard a newpodcast in quite a few weeks.
So, if you don't know, I haveclosed PopFit Studio.
(00:46):
For those that are clients,we're clients of PopFit Studio.
You obviously know that we'veclosed the studio as of the end
of October, and this was a veryhard decision.
This wasn't something that Idid very lightly.
We invested a lot into thestudio, not only financially but
emotionally all my time andenergy, and it's been home for
(01:07):
not only myself but for myfamily for the last five and a
half years really, six and ahalf years, because we spent a
lot of time building out thisspace and creating what I like
to refer to as my dream studio,and the transition has been
challenging for many clientsI've heard from, and for myself
(01:29):
as well.
It's been hard on Nico too, whohas known the studio to be his
second home for all of his life,and it's been challenging and
it was a hard decision to makesomething.
Again, I did not make thisdecision lightly because of how
much we have put into the studio, but at the end of the day I
(01:52):
had to decide what would be bestfor myself, my family, for our
future.
And it just became toochallenging During the pandemic
being open but not open during atime when everyone was
struggling.
I understand that, but being ina fitness space where people
(02:16):
weren't running right back togyms and studios to work out
during the pandemic.
First of all, we weren't ableto be open for many months, and
that's challenging.
And many of our modalitiesweren't able to do online can't
do bungee online and for thosethat did not, we'd only had so
many pieces of pump and otherequipment pieces like TRX or
(02:39):
like trampoline.
We had to loan out only acertain number of pieces of
equipment, so not everyone hadthe ability to do at-home
workouts.
Plus, not everybody wanted todo at-home workouts.
Not everyone had the space orthe desire to work out at-home.
A lot of people came to PopFitStudio because we had a space
(03:03):
and a community there and, whileit was the best decision for my
family to close the studio andnot struggle financially with
having a brick and mortar space,it's hard to let the space go
and that's why, for many months,we just kept pushing forward
and saying we're just gonna keepgoing and going and eventually
(03:24):
we'll dig ourselves out of this.
But unfortunately, after many,many months post-pandemic, it
just wasn't adding up to what wewanted it to be.
So unfortunately, we had tomake that hard decision and
again, not based on emotion andnot based on anything other than
just really crunching thenumbers and knowing that it's
(03:47):
just not sustainable what we'redoing.
We made the hard decision toclose.
So, that being said, I also hadto take some time away from the
podcast because it was reallyhard closing the studio.
So much stuff.
So in our physical studio spacewe started to really collect a
lot of stuff over the years and,although it was really easy
(04:08):
once all the clients bought alot of our equipment and our
merchandise and a lot of thestuff started to leave the
studio, it was so much likelittle things and it was a lot
of work, and that last week, thefirst week of November, when we
were in there.
It just took forever to clearout that space and it was
exhausting and it's emotionalbecause, again, I didn't
(04:32):
particularly want to close thestudio.
It was the best decision for us, but I had a lot of emotional
connections to the studio andthat week became more
challenging as a result.
So all these emotions that I'mdealing with, the grief, and
just change in general.
Anytime I've changed facilitiesthat I was teaching at or
(04:52):
changed jobs.
It's a transition and it's beena transition this past month.
In getting into a new routine.
I've been able to spend somemore time with Nico, more
quality time, because I thinkwhen I was running the studio, I
was working all hours and I wasstressed, and Nico can sense
(05:14):
that.
So instead of listening to himplay his drums, I was too
worried about getting an emailout or replying to someone or
making sure certain things wereworking correctly or making sure
classes were covered.
So again, now I'm much morepresent and we've had some
really great moments and I'mlooking forward to the time
(05:36):
ahead.
So what's happening now?
So I haven't settled on whereI'm teaching next, so if you
have suggestions, please let meknow.
I'm not really interested inrenting a space and subletting
it.
I've been there, done that.
I just want to go in and teacha class and see people again and
(05:59):
get movement in, and there'slots of different modalities
that I'm interested in teaching.
So I'm exploring all that rightnow and leaving my holiday
season open to be able to bepresent with Nico and family so
that way I can really enjoy theholiday season.
This year I already have apretty full schedule.
(06:19):
Even though I don't have a fullschedule, I'm really looking
forward to this holiday seasonand I'll have some pop-ups.
I have that information for youin the next episode of the
podcast, but I also wanted toshare with you.
Since we are approaching theholidays, I'm releasing this
episode right before theThanksgiving holiday.
(06:39):
If you're in the US, I know thatthis time of year can be really
challenging.
It can be a time of year wherewe're stressing over seeing
family members that we haven'tseen in a while and the topic of
our bodies becomes the topic ofconversation, and it shouldn't
be.
We shouldn't be talking aboutpeople's bodies, so shutting a
(07:02):
lot of that down can be reallychallenging.
And then it's also challengingfor us to be thinking about food
and enjoying the holiday seasonnot just Thanksgiving, but this
whole holiday season that'supon us and thinking about food
and movement, and there's beenthis connection for many, many
(07:23):
years.
We have connected our food toexercise and it's a problem
because you don't have to earnany food that you eat.
You don't have to burn off thefood that you eat.
Why not just go into a holiday,or any meal for that matter,
and just enjoy the food that'sin front of you?
(07:45):
Exercise can provide us with somany different benefits.
Right, it's not just burningcalories why we exercise.
Many people, that is the mainreason why they exercise.
But, in all honesty, exercisingmovement or workout classes or
(08:07):
just working out in general, allthat provides us with so many
more benefits outside of justcalories burning or calories in
and calories out, kind of idea.
So what can we focus on when wework out, as opposed to
focusing on all?
(08:27):
Right, did I burn off what Ijust ate last night?
How about focusing on all theother great benefits of movement
Feeling energy, getting a goodnight's sleep, feeling stronger,
greater flexibility andmobility?
I know that is a main reason whyI work out is for my mobility,
(08:49):
so as I get older, especiallybeing an older mom, having that
mobility is to be able to playwith Nico, get up off the floor
and be able to run around.
I know that during these coupleof weeks that Nico and I have
spent more time together, I'vereally noticed that he has a ton
of energy and he is very mobile.
So how can I continue to havethat?
(09:11):
So that way I can have fun withNico and Nico wants to have fun
with me.
So there's so many reasons towork out Feeling less stressed.
I know, as a mom especially, Idon't want to be angry all the
time or stressed because thiskid is driving me bonkers right,
and especially for me.
I'm going through perimenopauseand feeling these moments of
(09:37):
anger and lack of patience andfrustration over things has
really shown me that my exerciseroutine really helps, that I
feel stronger, I feel morecapable, I feel more confident.
So there's so many reasons toexercise, well beyond just that
calorie in, calorie out theorythat we've been taught over the
(10:01):
years.
So as you approach the holidayseason, remember that movement
is way more than what's on yourplate.
Then, on top of that, as youlook down at your plate, whether
it's for a meal or this holidayseason.
I want you to remember that,yes, food is nutrition.
Food is gonna give you energy,food is gonna give you fiber and
(10:23):
vitamins and nutrients and allof that.
And food is pleasure.
Food is tradition, food is yourculture, food is memories.
Can you think of foods thatremind you of a certain time of
(10:44):
year or a certain familytradition or family member or so
many things with our food aretied to our heritage and our
culture and our family and ourmemories and traditions?
And again, pleasure.
And you deserve to enjoy food.
(11:05):
So, as you look down at yourplate, please enjoy every bite.
Please don't look at it asyou're being naughty or you're
being bad.
Food is more than just fuel.
It is life.
It is to be enjoyed.
So, as you go into again thisholiday season or any meal that
(11:28):
you're having, enjoy your food,enjoy your workouts.
Think about all the reasons whyyou wanna enjoy the food that
you do and why you move the bodythe way that your body, the way
that you do, and continue toseparate those things.
You don't have to earn yourfood, you do not have to burn
off your food.
And, on that note, I want toshare with you that I will be
(11:52):
posting some pop-ups so that wayyou can enjoy some shame-free
and guilt-free, judgment-freeworkouts with me in the month of
December.
And if you are looking forsomething online, I do have an
on-demand library that you canaccess for free right through
the end of the year.
In the new year there will be asmall fee that, if you do wanna
(12:13):
pay and have continued accessto this online site, you'll be
able to dance workouts, barworkouts, bounce workouts,
boxing workouts all kinds ofdifferent workouts that are
shame-free, that are giving youthe energy and the strength and
the support that you need inyour workouts, without, again,
(12:34):
shame and judgment andcomparison and all the
negativity around fitness thatbecomes toxic and the reasons
why we don't generally want towork out, especially around the
holidays, because we're feelingthis heaviness of feeling shame
and guilt around what we ate orwhat we drank or what we didn't
(12:57):
do, meaning we didn't do ourworkout because we were at a
holiday party.
So shame on us.
So let's remove all that thisholiday season.
Will you do that for me?
Will you celebrate family andfriends and food and joyful
movement?
And if you have suggestions,please let me know.
(13:18):
If you liked this episode,please rate and review this
episode.
It helps new listeners find usand helps me know what kind of
content to put out there for you.
I have some great new episodescoming your way.
Back to weekly episodes whereI'm gonna be sharing interviews
with some amazing fitnessprofessionals and other wellness
(13:39):
practitioners that are helpingto destroy diet culture and
change the conversation aroundmovement and food, so that way
you can live the most abundantand joyful life without shame
and guilt and judgment right,and that's what we do here at
Breaking Body Bias.
So if you know of a great guest, please send them my way.
(14:01):
Go to breakingbodybiascom.
I'd love to interview them.
I have some importantannouncements coming in next
week's episode, because I can'tquite share it yet a big update.
So stay tuned.
And again, thank you for tuningin today and I can't wait to
share a brand new episode withyou next week.
Bye.
Welcome to episode 93 of the Breaking Body Biases
podcast.
This is Christine here, andthis is now a video and audio
podcast.
So if you're listening to thison wherever you listen to
podcasts, whatever app you use,know that there is a video of
(00:21):
this as well.
My attempt right now is to makea deeper connection for those
that I don't get to see on aregular basis, because I do have
a very big update and anexplanation, if you will, for
why you haven't heard a newpodcast in quite a few weeks.
So, if you don't know, I haveclosed PopFit Studio.
(00:46):
For those that are clients,we're clients of PopFit Studio.
You obviously know that we'veclosed the studio as of the end
of October, and this was a veryhard decision.
This wasn't something that Idid very lightly.
We invested a lot into thestudio, not only financially but
emotionally all my time andenergy, and it's been home for
(01:07):
not only myself but for myfamily for the last five and a
half years really, six and ahalf years, because we spent a
lot of time building out thisspace and creating what I like
to refer to as my dream studio,and the transition has been
challenging for many clientsI've heard from, and for myself
(01:29):
as well.
It's been hard on Nico too, whohas known the studio to be his
second home for all of his life,and it's been challenging and
it was a hard decision to makesomething.
Again, I did not make thisdecision lightly because of how
much we have put into the studio, but at the end of the day I
(01:52):
had to decide what would be bestfor myself, my family, for our
future.
And it just became toochallenging During the pandemic
being open but not open during atime when everyone was
struggling.
I understand that, but being ina fitness space where people
(02:16):
weren't running right back togyms and studios to work out
during the pandemic.
First of all, we weren't ableto be open for many months, and
that's challenging.
And many of our modalitiesweren't able to do online can't
do bungee online and for thosethat did not, we'd only had so
many pieces of pump and otherequipment pieces like TRX or
(02:39):
like trampoline.
We had to loan out only acertain number of pieces of
equipment, so not everyone hadthe ability to do at-home
workouts.
Plus, not everybody wanted todo at-home workouts.
Not everyone had the space orthe desire to work out at-home.
A lot of people came to PopFitStudio because we had a space
(03:03):
and a community there and, whileit was the best decision for my
family to close the studio andnot struggle financially with
having a brick and mortar space,it's hard to let the space go
and that's why, for many months,we just kept pushing forward
and saying we're just gonna keepgoing and going and eventually
(03:24):
we'll dig ourselves out of this.
But unfortunately, after many,many months post-pandemic, it
just wasn't adding up to what wewanted it to be.
So unfortunately, we had tomake that hard decision and
again, not based on emotion andnot based on anything other than
just really crunching thenumbers and knowing that it's
(03:47):
just not sustainable what we'redoing.
We made the hard decision toclose.
So, that being said, I also hadto take some time away from the
podcast because it was reallyhard closing the studio.
So much stuff.
So in our physical studio spacewe started to really collect a
lot of stuff over the years and,although it was really easy
(04:08):
once all the clients bought alot of our equipment and our
merchandise and a lot of thestuff started to leave the
studio, it was so much likelittle things and it was a lot
of work, and that last week, thefirst week of November, when we
were in there.
It just took forever to clearout that space and it was
exhausting and it's emotionalbecause, again, I didn't
(04:32):
particularly want to close thestudio.
It was the best decision for us, but I had a lot of emotional
connections to the studio andthat week became more
challenging as a result.
So all these emotions that I'mdealing with, the grief, and
just change in general.
Anytime I've changed facilitiesthat I was teaching at or
(04:52):
changed jobs.
It's a transition and it's beena transition this past month.
In getting into a new routine.
I've been able to spend somemore time with Nico, more
quality time, because I thinkwhen I was running the studio, I
was working all hours and I wasstressed, and Nico can sense
(05:14):
that.
So instead of listening to himplay his drums, I was too
worried about getting an emailout or replying to someone or
making sure certain things wereworking correctly or making sure
classes were covered.
So again, now I'm much morepresent and we've had some
really great moments and I'mlooking forward to the time
(05:36):
ahead.
So what's happening now?
So I haven't settled on whereI'm teaching next, so if you
have suggestions, please let meknow.
I'm not really interested inrenting a space and subletting
it.
I've been there, done that.
I just want to go in and teacha class and see people again and
(05:59):
get movement in, and there'slots of different modalities
that I'm interested in teaching.
So I'm exploring all that rightnow and leaving my holiday
season open to be able to bepresent with Nico and family so
that way I can really enjoy theholiday season.
This year I already have apretty full schedule.
(06:19):
Even though I don't have a fullschedule, I'm really looking
forward to this holiday seasonand I'll have some pop-ups.
I have that information for youin the next episode of the
podcast, but I also wanted toshare with you.
Since we are approaching theholidays, I'm releasing this
episode right before theThanksgiving holiday.
(06:39):
If you're in the US, I know thatthis time of year can be really
challenging.
It can be a time of year wherewe're stressing over seeing
family members that we haven'tseen in a while and the topic of
our bodies becomes the topic ofconversation, and it shouldn't
be.
We shouldn't be talking aboutpeople's bodies, so shutting a
(07:02):
lot of that down can be reallychallenging.
And then it's also challengingfor us to be thinking about food
and enjoying the holiday seasonnot just Thanksgiving, but this
whole holiday season that'supon us and thinking about food
and movement, and there's beenthis connection for many, many
(07:23):
years.
We have connected our food toexercise and it's a problem
because you don't have to earnany food that you eat.
You don't have to burn off thefood that you eat.
Why not just go into a holiday,or any meal for that matter,
and just enjoy the food that'sin front of you?
(07:45):
Exercise can provide us with somany different benefits.
Right, it's not just burningcalories why we exercise.
Many people, that is the mainreason why they exercise.
But, in all honesty, exercisingmovement or workout classes or
(08:07):
just working out in general, allthat provides us with so many
more benefits outside of justcalories burning or calories in
and calories out, kind of idea.
So what can we focus on when wework out, as opposed to
focusing on all?
(08:27):
Right, did I burn off what Ijust ate last night?
How about focusing on all theother great benefits of movement
Feeling energy, getting a goodnight's sleep, feeling stronger,
greater flexibility andmobility?
I know that is a main reason whyI work out is for my mobility,
(08:49):
so as I get older, especiallybeing an older mom, having that
mobility is to be able to playwith Nico, get up off the floor
and be able to run around.
I know that during these coupleof weeks that Nico and I have
spent more time together, I'vereally noticed that he has a ton
of energy and he is very mobile.
So how can I continue to havethat?
(09:11):
So that way I can have fun withNico and Nico wants to have fun
with me.
So there's so many reasons towork out Feeling less stressed.
I know, as a mom especially, Idon't want to be angry all the
time or stressed because thiskid is driving me bonkers right,
and especially for me.
I'm going through perimenopauseand feeling these moments of
(09:37):
anger and lack of patience andfrustration over things has
really shown me that my exerciseroutine really helps, that I
feel stronger, I feel morecapable, I feel more confident.
So there's so many reasons toexercise, well beyond just that
calorie in, calorie out theorythat we've been taught over the
(10:01):
years.
So as you approach the holidayseason, remember that movement
is way more than what's on yourplate.
Then, on top of that, as youlook down at your plate, whether
it's for a meal or this holidayseason.
I want you to remember that,yes, food is nutrition.
Food is gonna give you energy,food is gonna give you fiber and
(10:23):
vitamins and nutrients and allof that.
And food is pleasure.
Food is tradition, food is yourculture, food is memories.
Can you think of foods thatremind you of a certain time of
(10:44):
year or a certain familytradition or family member or so
many things with our food aretied to our heritage and our
culture and our family and ourmemories and traditions?
And again, pleasure.
And you deserve to enjoy food.
(11:05):
So, as you look down at yourplate, please enjoy every bite.
Please don't look at it asyou're being naughty or you're
being bad.
Food is more than just fuel.
It is life.
It is to be enjoyed.
So, as you go into again thisholiday season or any meal that
(11:28):
you're having, enjoy your food,enjoy your workouts.
Think about all the reasons whyyou wanna enjoy the food that
you do and why you move the bodythe way that your body, the way
that you do, and continue toseparate those things.
You don't have to earn yourfood, you do not have to burn
off your food.
And, on that note, I want toshare with you that I will be
(11:52):
posting some pop-ups so that wayyou can enjoy some shame-free
and guilt-free, judgment-freeworkouts with me in the month of
December.
And if you are looking forsomething online, I do have an
on-demand library that you canaccess for free right through
the end of the year.
In the new year there will be asmall fee that, if you do wanna
(12:13):
pay and have continued accessto this online site, you'll be
able to dance workouts, barworkouts, bounce workouts,
boxing workouts all kinds ofdifferent workouts that are
shame-free, that are giving youthe energy and the strength and
the support that you need inyour workouts, without, again,
(12:34):
shame and judgment andcomparison and all the
negativity around fitness thatbecomes toxic and the reasons
why we don't generally want towork out, especially around the
holidays, because we're feelingthis heaviness of feeling shame
and guilt around what we ate orwhat we drank or what we didn't
(12:57):
do, meaning we didn't do ourworkout because we were at a
holiday party.
So shame on us.
So let's remove all that thisholiday season.
Will you do that for me?
Will you celebrate family andfriends and food and joyful
movement?
And if you have suggestions,please let me know.
(13:18):
If you liked this episode,please rate and review this
episode.
It helps new listeners find usand helps me know what kind of
content to put out there for you.
I have some great new episodescoming your way.
Back to weekly episodes whereI'm gonna be sharing interviews
with some amazing fitnessprofessionals and other wellness
(13:39):
practitioners that are helpingto destroy diet culture and
change the conversation aroundmovement and food, so that way
you can live the most abundantand joyful life without shame
and guilt and judgment right,and that's what we do here at
Breaking Body Bias.
So if you know of a great guest, please send them my way.
(14:01):
Go to breakingbodybiascom.
I'd love to interview them.
I have some importantannouncements coming in next
week's episode, because I can'tquite share it yet a big update.
So stay tuned.
And again, thank you for tuningin today and I can't wait to
share a brand new episode withyou next week.
Bye.
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