Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Quinlan.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Fitness has always been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, but back when I started I had no idea it would actually become my life… When I was little, my mom would take me to her aerobics classes held at a local elementary school and I was instantly sold on the concept of group fitness. I loved watching her interact with her friends, I loved trying to keep up with the instructors and dancing around with my friends, and when we had to leave, I couldn’t wait to go back next week. It was infectious to me from the start.
From there I played every sport under the sun, was a total busy body and never sat still. I had a pretty devastating injury when I was a junior in high school that immediately pulled the plug on my dreams of playing field hockey in college. After that, I needed to find a new outlet to blow off steam, get those infectious endorphins, and just sweat. Enter spin.
Riding a stationary bike was the first physical activity I was able to do after my surgery, and after a while of doing it on my own, I started showing up for the spin classes at the YMCA. I loved the feeling of being back with a group, being able to push myself, and walking out an hour later completely exhausted, drenched in sweat, and looking forward to the next day when I could do it all over again. I felt a little bit of myself come back.
My passion for spin continued to grow and I knew I had found my calling. After a little while, I had one of those moments people tell you about. “Find something you love to do, then find a way to get paid for it”. At first, teaching spin was just a side hustle in addition to my full-time job, until one day it became my whole life.
Someone had approached me about the need for this type of workout in my hometown of Andover, and to be honest, after the seed was planted there was no way I wasn’t going to make it happen. Naturally, I went back and forth with the “what ifs” and questioning if we would be successful or would it be a total disaster. I couldn’t stop thinking about and talking about it and finally, my dad said to me “Jenn, you are young enough to make a mistake, if you flop, you have time to pick yourself back up”. That was all I needed. September 8th, 2015 WheelHouse opened its doors and it has been the best ride ever.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Our doors are still open and our bikes are still filled so I’d say it has been pretty smooth sailing but is every day perfect? No way. It is still totally a learning process, but I think that is part of the fun. Boutique fitness has really come to life and blown up over the last several years, so making sure your riders stay happy and feel appreciated enough so they won’t just go to the next place is probably the biggest struggle.
Every studio says it, and every studio probably believes it, but we truly feel as though our riders are our family. We know about their kids, their vacations, their fitness journey’s and everything else. Making sure they know we are here for them and that they are not just a dollar sign to us, is the main goal. It is impossible to make everyone happy all the time, but we do whatever we can to make sure they at least know we hear them and work to resolve any issues they have as best we can.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
WheelHouse is truly your local neighborhood small business. You walk in and you see your neighbors, your teachers, your students, your friends, your family, and total strangers who become your fit buddies. One of the questions I get asked a lot is if on-demand workouts or systems like Pelton threaten my business, and the answer is complex.
Yes, it totally has the power to take riders out of my saddles because they can work out at their convenience, but to be honest, I think people walk through our doors for more than just their workout. They are there to be held accountable, feel supported, and take a little time for themselves where they don’t have any outside distractions. The camaraderie in the studio is really something that is at the top of our priority list and something that we pride ourselves on. Spin itself can be an intimidating workout to those who have never tried it, but we do the best we can to make sure the vibe of WheelHouse is anything but.
During your 45 minutes in the saddle, you will work against yourself, pushing your limits to the best new music, exciting remixes, and some good old throwbacks. It is a true all levels, full body workout that will get your legs burning, engage your core and torch your upper body with the use of our 4-pound body bar. No 2 classes will be the same, but each time you can count on sweat, heavy breathing, and a total mental and physical release.
What were you like growing up?
If you ask my family, they would probably have one-word answers. My dad would most likely say I was a ‘ham” and my brothers would probably say “annoying”. Personally, I think both of those qualities are what makes me good at what I do. You can’t be a timid fitness instructor, and as a kid, I never was one to shy away from the spotlight. These days I like to be a little more behind the scenes, but when I turn that mic on and dim the lights, I can’t control it, the annoying ham definitely comes back out.
I was an extremely independent kid and pretty much would always find a way to do things on my own, (I basically forbid my parents from walking me to the bus stop on my first day of kindergarten because I knew I could do it myself) but I have always been someone who loves to be part of a group. I started out as a gymnast and an ice skater and quickly realized I was better suited for group sports and was better with the support and energy of other people. That has not changed. I will very rarely ask for help, but I am at my best in a group.
Contact Info:
- Address: 26 Essex Street Andover, MA 01810
- Website: www.whcycling.com
- Phone: (978) 475-2739
- Email: info@whcycling.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wheelhouse_cycling/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WheelHouseindoorcycling/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/WH_Cycling
Image Credit:
Nick Cosky, Sarah Jordan Photography
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