Today we’d like to introduce you to Alison Taber.
Alison, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was an overweight child and young adult, constantly struggling with my weight, food, and exercise. After my second child reached the age of two in 2010 and I was constantly exhausted from trying to keep up with 2 toddlers, I decided it was time to lose the weight once and for all. I went with a friend to a Zumba® Fitness class that was held in a dance studio. It was a small group and I stood in the back hoping to not be noticed. Once the music started, I didn’t notice anyone else except the instructor and how much fun I was having. I was hooked. I went back week after week, my escape from the trials of motherhood and something just for me, that I enjoyed and made me feel good.
After a few months, (and some pounds lighter) the instructor approached me and said, “You are pretty good at this, have you ever thought about becoming an instructor?” UMM…NO! But then I got to thinking, this could be a way for me to spread my new love for fitness with others and help them find the fun in fitness. So off to Zumba Instructor training I went in March of 2011, landed my first job at a YWCA 3 months after that (which my instructor mentor help me land) and studied my butt off to pass the Group Exercise Instructor certification through AFAA in September of 2011. My classes began to grow, from teaching 2 classes a week to 10 at several different locations, teaching several different fitness formats. I received my Personal training certification 2 years later in 2013 and began seeing clients one-on-one. As much as I loved my classes at gyms and studio’s I taught, I didn’t love some of the atmosphere at those places. So I decided to step out and start my own studio in 2014.
I wanted a space to feel more personal and connected to the members, as well as a judgment-free safe space for beginners to feel welcomed and that their needs would be met also. Fitness is more fun with friends, and part of my new space would be about building a community. I rented a 1,000 square foot space in the basement of a mill that had no real heat or AC. But classes continued to grow, as did my personal training clientele. In February of 2017, after 2 and a half years in my basement space, and my impending 40th birthday looming…I decided it was time to grow, personally and professionally. An indoor cycling studio in my town came up for sale and I decided to take a leap and purchase it. While the sale was underway, I got certified to teach Spin® through Madd Dog Athletics.
On May 1st, 2017, I moved into my new space at the cycling studio, and boy was I overwhelmed! Suddenly, I was in charge of a much bigger studio, using the software I didn’t know how to use and had all these additional responsibilities I wasn’t used to liking payroll, staff, and marketing. But my vision was bigger than my fear. Classes are growing, members are happy, and we were just voted Best Athletic Gym in The Millbury-Sutton Chronicle Reader’s Choice awards for 2017!
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?
Definitely not a smooth road! I think the biggest struggle is stepping outside your comfort zone, and past your fear. The first struggle was getting up in front of people to teach that first class. Thought I was going to vomit all over the gym floor! But I didn’t let my fear stop me. I got through it and each class became easier to teach and I found my groove. Small victories give you the courage to take bigger risks. I was teaching a fitness class at a dance studio when the management decided to increase our rent, which I could not afford. I was given a week to come up with the increased rent or leave. So I left and had to scramble to find a new location to rent so that my students could still have a class. It was another catalyst that sparked the idea to start my own space… To be able to call all the shots.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
We are a small fitness studio specializing in indoor cycling but have expanded our programming to include TRX, Pilates, Muscle Conditioning, Barre, and a new format that I have created called Flex, Core, Stretch. Since the majority of our classes are indoor cycling, this new class format focuses on strength training the upper body muscle groups (flex), the abdominal, obliques, and back (core), and then we finish the class with stretching to help increase flexibility and mobility.
I’m most proud of the community we have built, and the atmosphere of the studio. We are there to have fun, get fit, cheer each other on and most of all, keep any ego, judgment, and negative energy at the door. We know our members by name, their story. We care about their results and helping them reach their goals, not just collect a monthly membership and not care if clients show up. I think that is what sets us apart from other studios or gyms.
What were you like growing up?
I was a shy, plump kid. I had few friends, but they were true friends. I’m an introvert, which most people can’t believe, since I get up in front of people and teach classes with lots of energy and openness. I enjoyed more creative endeavors like art, music, and theater. And perhaps a bit of an over-achiever…HAD to make honor roll, National Honor Society, etc. I played softball in high school, but that was the extent of my athletic ability. I only had to hit a ball and run 60 feet…that I could do. Never in a million years would I have thought I would become a fitness instructor and business owner!
Pricing:
- 6 month contract 2x a week membership (8 classes a month) $79/month
- 6 month contract Unlimited membership $115/month
Contact Info:
- Address: 50 Howe Ave
Millbury MA 01527 - Website: https://www.noalibifitness.com/
- Phone: 508-865-3016
- Email: ali@noalibifitness.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/noalibifitness/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NoAlibiFitnessLLC/
- Twitter: @NoALIbiFitness
Image Credit:
Melissa Shaw
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