Today we’d like to introduce you to Lynne Maloney.
Hi Lynne, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I worked in advertising sales and management for many years in the newspaper industry. I worked for several community newspaper groups and then started working at The Washiington Post in national advertising sales, which felt like a dream come true at the time. I loved what I did and was proud to represent The Post.
I also attended group fitness classes for most of my adult life and when I was 45 years young I certified to become a Jazzercise instructor. I also studied and earned a personal training certification, while still working at The Washington Post. I taught Jazzercise classes on evenings and weekends and started gaining a few personal training clients as well.
I started to have this burning desire to open my own boutique fitness studio to include exercise classes across many different modalities (i.e., yoga, Pilates, strength & conditioning classes, barre classes, etc), which didn’t really exist in my local area, so I thought I might have a shot at making it work. I did a lot of research and thought of what I’d name this studio and just really started manifesting it to happen. I networked and reached out to other fitness studio owners to ask them how they got started, etc. I took a day off work to attend a Women in Business conference which was hugely helpful to me.
With my realtor husband’s help, I eventually found a space in a professional complex about two miles from my home. I attended classes at the county community centers to find instructors . . . I asked people to introduce me to instructors so that I could start building a team.
My sales, marketing and advertising experience came in very helpful to get the word out about my studio. Breathe Body & Mind was born on July 5, 2016. Our team of instructors and our offerings grew and then Covid happened in 2020. We immediately added online options and lots of other little marketing retention ideas to keep people motivated and interested. We survived the pandemic and slowly started to rebuild. I was able to take on the vacant unit next to mine and two weeks after we renovated the additional space (were able to add an actual lobby and another practice room) the more established yoga studio in the shopping center next to our little professional complex went out of business. Their misfortune was actually a blessing for us, as so many of their members (and many teachers from that studio!) came to our studio and, thus far, the majority of them have stayed on with us. We’ll be celebrating our 10th anniversary on July 5 and I couldn’t be more blown away and grateful that this little dream of mine came to fruition.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Owning your own business is definitely not for someone who just wants to try to make a quick buck. I would still do it all over again, but it is WORK. Constant work. Covid 19 was the biggest struggle, of course. It was really scary and I thought several times about just shutting down but I was determined to make it work. The other struggles would be just the headaches of occasional personnel issues, the times when the AC unit leaks and we panic and have to cancel classes due to this. Of course we started live streaming classes via Zoom during the pandemic and that stuck. Some people have gotten used to that convenience so we still offer the majority of our classes streamed live. When something happens with Zoom and people can’t connect due to power outages or bad Zoom links etc, that’s extremely stressful. Also, it’s no fun when we scramble to try to find subs for some of the classes when the regular instructor is unable to teach. About three or four years ago I hired a studio manager (who was a member who was already helping out a bit with day to day issues) to help me manage the studio and she is absolutely amazing and really cares about Breathe and has my back so she helps with these challenges.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Today I am a yoga/fitness studio owner and operator, a group fitness instructor, a 200-hr registered yoga teacher and a certified personal trainer. As part of my personal training certification I am a Functional Fitness Specialist and a Senior Strength & Conditioning Specialist. I have worked with most of my clients for many many years, which I’m proud of.
I like to make exercise fun, whether it’s leading a group class or working one-on-one with clients. I’m of the strong belief that if you don’t enjoy it you won’t do it. I’m known for my great playlists in my group fitness classes! 🙂
I’m definitely most proud of the fact that I pursued and achieved this dream and was (and continue to be) diligent and determined to keep the community that has developed intact and to continue to grow the studio. I think what sets me apart is my determination and drive that I was just apparently born with.
Over the years I’ve realized what I’m good at and best suited for — and what I’m NOT as well suited for — and the fact that I have a dedicated team of professionals that all have their unique gifts which is what helps to make this all happen.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
Ohmigoodness, I honestly think about this frequently . . . all of the many people who have directly (and in some cases indirectly) influenced me . . .my mom and dad deserve huge credit for being such good and decent people and instilling important values in me — like those of hard work, honesty, respect, kindness and more. My dad has a tremendous work ethic and has been very successful and my mom is a natural born salesperson and has so many good friends, so I think I inherited a little bit from each of them. I got so lucky with those two.
I’ve also worked for and with various people both before and after I opened my studio who I see as strong mentors and influences in my life . . .my dear friend Kathleen who was the General Manager of one of the community newspaper groups I worked at (and whom I later worked with at The Washington Post) who taught me so much about management. I still to this day will sometimes think “What would Kathleen do?” if I have an issue I’m having a hard time with. Also some friends in the fitness industry, fellow Jazzercise instructors who inspired me and taught me a lot over the years, a fellow yoga studio owner who has been and continues to be a big mentor to me and whom I learn so much from — about managing a studio as well as navigating LIFE in general.
I have a ton of cheerleaders — my husband (who continues to be a huge help in supporting me, cheering me on and helping me with various needs at the studio (i.e., technical issues, handyman issues, etc), my daughter helps with some marketing needs from time to time and is a big cheerleader, my three sisters, my parents (who are still both just rockin’ it at the age of 91) and lots of good friends. I am blessed.
And so much credit goes to my team. My studio manager, Lisa, is just amazing. She is extremely supportive and smart and no nonsense and we work well together — as well as our marketing manager, Marion, who does a great job with our social media and talking through ideas and is very supportive of the studio and of me. As well as the super knowledgeable, smart and just all-round wonderful gals who help to lead our Yoga Teacher Training program. And there are many instructors on our team who keep our members happy and who really do step up to help out when needed.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.breathebodymind.com/
- Instagram: @breathebodyandmind
- Facebook: Breathe Body and Mind
- Yelp: Breathe Body and Mind
