Movement for the Body, Mind, and Soul - Studio Soma

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and fitness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jen Abbott and Katie Clancy, Owners of Studio Soma, located in Durango, CO, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

Studio Soma is a movement and bodywork studio offering Pilates, Gyrotonic exercise, Biodynamic Craniosacral therapy, and deep tissue massage. We emphasize embodiment and empower our clients to discover their own inner health, strength, and wisdom. In each of our private or group sessions, we strive to connect our clients to their own anatomy, their community, and their purpose. We work to create a safe environment for all bodies to thrive.

Our clients are community members, outdoor enthusiasts, and men and women of all ages who enjoy embodied discovery. Some are preparing for surgery or recovering from injuries. Others are athletes who value the cross-training that we offer to support their sport. Still, others are simply humans who enjoy moving their bodies, connecting with their breath and finding more ease and strength in their daily lives.

Tell us about yourself

We are both dancers who lived and worked in NYC before settling in Durango. We are mothers who understand what it’s like to both work and nurture children. Studio Soma was created as a way to take charge of our livelihoods! We knew that we were talented teachers but wanted to grow and challenge ourselves in new ways. Actively participating in our own futures and the future of our industry was inspiring to us.

Our vision was to create a space where healing movement could take place, a sanctuary where people could take a pause from the rush of life and settle into connection with themselves. It is this vision that keeps us coming back every day! The transformations that our clients go through, as well as the gratitude that they express, are grounding and humbling. It is a dialogue between our clients and us; as they learn from us, we learn from them. We frequently have clients say, “I don’t know what I’d do without you!”

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Studio Soma is a community. Our clients show up weekly for what we offer, but they also show up for each other. They support each other through cancer treatments and kids going off to college. Friendships have grown and flourished, nourished by the power of connecting through movement. We laugh and cry together, and clients feel safe being themselves in each other's presence. There is no greater accomplishment for us than to have created such a container.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

Creating time and space to be owners and not just teachers has been a big challenge for us. Our clients know and trust us. They come not just for Pilates, Gyrotonic, or Craniosacral therapy, but for Katie and Jen. Our business thrives because we show up every day and put in the work.

Our edge right now is how to direct more energy away from working one on one with clients and towards growing the business. We want to step more into holding the whole without sacrificing the financial success that accompanies the consistency of hourly teaching. Building that support team who can be as consistent as us has been a challenge.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

1. Get organized. Figure out how this works for you and do it from the beginning. It will save you a lot of time later on.
2. Delegate. You can't do it all, nor should you. Your time is precious; use it to share your gifts with the world. Pay others to share theirs with you.
3. Connect with your community. You never know what you might learn, what support you might receive, or what resources you can gain by knowing those around you.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://somadurango.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/somadurango
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/studio_soma_durango/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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