A 10 Year Celebration!
It is hard to believe that our studio's 10-year birthday is nearly upon us. December 1, 2023, marks 10 years of Get emPowered Fitness Studio serving our community and making an impact in our emPeeps’ lives. Knowing this special date is quickly approaching, has prompted me to reflect on the past 10 years. Where we started, where we are now, and all the things in between. The wonderful celebrations and the unbelievable challenges. And most of all, THE PEOPLE! All the people I have had the privilege of working with, meeting, serving, and with whom I’ve created relationships.
Ten years ago, I took a leap of faith to open Get emPowered Fitness Studio. Certainly not my plan but God’s plan. I wanted the word empowered in the name to describe the energy I believed could be created in this space. I envisioned a safe place to train clients physically, mentally, and emotionally. To give everyone who walked through the door, the freedom to train their bodies at their level with encouragement and empowerment. After a long search, we came up with Get emPowered Fitness Studio, rented an 1100 square foot space, and opened the door. We called 666 Baldwin home for 5 years. The quote “If you build it, they will come” was accurate. We hosted 52 people in our very first class, squeezing everyone into our 800 square foot group room. We grew out of our tiny space within a couple of years due to the love and uniqueness we offered. It took another 3 years to find our new space. We landed in Hudsonville in a new strip mall with over 3500 square feet to grow into. We were excited to be able to design our own space and quickly called it home. Most of our emPeeps moved with us. And with the new location, we quickly settled in with our veteran clients and gained new clients from the area.
We were growing fast until the pandemic when everything came to a halt. We were going under. BUT YOU wouldn’t let that happen. With our emPeeps' generosity, we could keep the doors open. You were on board with the outdoor and Zoom workouts, all the safety and cleaning protocols, as well as the grid on the group room floor. Then 2022 hit us with increased costs, pandemic loans due, and pure exhaustion. With help from a business coach, my trust and surrender to God, and the unwavering support of my team, we were able to make some VERY DIFFICULT changes that have us moving in the right direction. We have come a long way, baby! Get emPowered Fitness now has an amazingly bright, successful future!
Over the past 10 years, many team members have come and gone. I started with 4 courageous friends, Stacy, Kendall, Erin, and Flor as team members. When we moved to Hudsonville, we gained Administrative Assistants, Personal Trainers, and additional Massage Therapists. I am so proud to state I have the strongest, most talented team ever right now and great things are in the works for the future with this team!
We are truly blessed with an incredible fitness family. Everyone who walks through our doors here is full of light and compassion. People don’t just come to work out or get a massage, they come for the community and support. They come to support one another and be supported by one another. Empowerment is an action in this studio!
As a fitness family, we have supported each other through marriages, pregnancies, new babies, divorces, medical procedures, and even death. Everyone holds a special place here at the studio including those we have lost, Flor, June, Dave, and Lori. They were all bright lights that illuminated our space and will never be forgotten. They are missed and always remembered. Once a family member, always a family member.
My vision of what Get emPowered would look like and the impact it would make in people's lives didn’t come close to the reality this studio has made not only in my life but the lives of our team and community. I am so proud to be a part of such a positive, life-empowering facility. Again, it’s not just the physical fitness you gain here, but the mental fitness, emotional fitness as well as total life awareness that comes from participating in our services.
With that stated, we invite YOU to join us as we celebrate these past 10 years of business on Friday, December 1 from 6:30-8:30pm for an open house. Light snacks and beverages will be offered along with wonderful stories, photos, and conversation. I’m anticipating a lot of laughter and tears. All are welcome to this free event. Come hear our stories, share a story, and help us create a new story! I can’t wait to see you there!