Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and fitness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Katie Thacker, co-owner and manager of Third Space Movement, located in Victoria, BC, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Third Space Movement is a multi-disciplinary movement studio seeking to disrupt common fitness norms. We offer an array of movement types that are meant to remind you that movement and exercise can (and should) be a way to invite fun, play, and connection into your life. We strive to educate each of our students on how their bodies are unique and how exercise can be adjusted to suit their needs. Our small group classes offer an intimacy that fosters connection and friendship. Our class types range from yoga and kettlebells to adult gymnastics and partner acrobatics to mobility and more.
We are also home to a Recovery Clinic that is host to a range of Health Professionals, including acupuncturists, chiropractors, naturopathic doctors, counselors, and more. The name Third Space came from the Third Space Theory, which states that we spend our time in 3 main spaces. The first space is your home, the second space is your work, and the third space is where you go for a deeper connection to yourself and to others. We are a community-driven space seeking to improve the health, wellness, and quality of life of each person who steps through our doors.
Tell us about yourself
I was a competitive gymnast for most of my youth, and yet I never anticipated my career to be centered around movement and exercise. I hold a degree in Environmental Science and worked in that industry for a few years out of University. I started teaching yoga around nine years ago and left my environmental career behind as I realized I could make a larger impact on people's habits through yoga. I then began teaching partner acrobatics.
My husband, Brandon, and I built up a wonderful community for partner acrobatics which was our main motivation for opening a studio. Once we got connected with a few others to form our Owner's team, we knew we had the right group to move forwards with creating a multi-disciplinary space. Fast forward to now, and we have a fully functioning studio and clinic with over 15 volunteers, 15 coaches, ten practitioners, four staff, and more.
I am motivated each day by the amazing humans I get to work with. My community is so important to me. To be able to support one another to grow and improve is one of the most satisfying aspects of my life.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Surviving the COVID-19 pandemic was the biggest accomplishment by far. We opened our studio three weeks before the first shutdown due to COVID-19. Over our first two years of business, we were closed due to government mandates over eight times and operated under some form of regulations for the entire two years. We are now operating without any restrictions for the first three weeks of our studio's existence. We are still not recovered from the financial toll that the shutdowns took on our business, but we trust in our vision and believe that our services are deeply needed.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
For me, one of the most challenging aspects of owning a business like ours is finding a balance between financial success and accessibility to the community. We are always striving to ensure we have a sustainable business model, and we are still ensuring that our services are accessible to people from all walks of life. One of the big steps we have taken to satisfy this is offering $5 drop-in Community Classes and a volunteer program that allows those who have more time than finances to trade 3 hours per week for access to our services.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Ensure that you are truly passionate about the business you are developing. Times can get tough, and that passion is great motivation to keep striving even in times of challenge.
- It is probably going to be more work than you expect. Ensure that you have the time and space in your life to step into it.
- Value the connections and friendships you make along the way. Even if the business doesn't last, the relationships will.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.thirdspacemvmt.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thirdspacemvmt
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thirdspacemvmt/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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