Faye Bradley for Atma
We speak to Aryan Rashed, the founder, and CEO of boutique Pilates studio chain, TREMBLE.
Aryan Rashed has always integrated fitness into her life. From a young age to now, she would always dedicate time for exercise and explore different forms — which soon led to her passion for Pilates. Rashed founded her first studio in Miami, where working out is the norm. TREMBLE is a community of individuals composed of leaders, organizers, warriors, movers, and athletes, looking for a challenge. Workouts here are intense but so rewarding. Yet with the unprecedented pandemic hard-hitting all industries, including TREMBLE, Rashed found a way to strategize to cope with the ongoing closures. We speak to her about her story behind TREMBLE, how her team adapted to the COVID epidemic, and what to expect when booking a workout at TREMBLE.
Q: Could you tell us your story? How did TREMBLE come to life?
A: I am an academic at heart, with a passion for fitness which helped keep me grounded throughout my entire life. I was raised in Maryland and moved out to California to attend the University of California at Berkeley for my undergraduate studies. I went to Stanford for my graduate studies and then to the University of Miami for law school.
Fitness was always been a part of my personal and professional life. I fell in love with Pilates and wanted to share my personal and physical journey with the community. Shortly after opening our first location, I realized that, as a team, we have the ability to have an impact on peoples’ lives and had the vision to continue to do so. TREMBLE now has five operating locations (with a few more on the way shortly), and we have a larger long-term plan. I’ve always said that I’m not in the business of fitness, I’m in the business of people. This mentality is really what has allowed us as a team to sustain the business and think bigger.
Q: TREMBLE stands for Together, Resilience, Energy, More, Bold, Leadership, Everyday — how important are these core values during today’s unprecedented times?
A: These values came to light more than ever during COVID, because for the first time ever, our studios and world had to shut. We realized that, as a team and community, we needed to figure out a way to stay connected and focus on our mental and physical health as well, while remaining safe and stringent to protocols. We quickly switched over to digital platforms to keep the communication lines going and had our team execute home-based and live workouts over the months. It was a collaborative effort on all fronts and it was an incredible thing to see the community come together during a difficult time. Every person who works at TREMBLE is a team player and a leader, so to see each member step up and participate and help the community stay connected was an important moment for the business, and personally as well. Tougher times definitely command the essence of our core values.
Q: How have you adapted as a team during COVID?
A: We faced a lot of new regulations and had to try to figure out how to best execute new strategies, while keeping the client’s safety as a top priority. These were definitely new waters to navigate for us. While we were in full shutdown, we moved over the live platforms and went outdoors for workouts as well. When we were allowed back indoors, we implemented a few tactics to ensure health and safety. At the studio, we:
· Cut down on capacity
· Increased spacing between stations for working out
· Changed the flow of how people moved around in the studio to avoid contact
· Got much better at verbal cueing to avoid physical contact with clients
· Pivoted our business model to accommodate a lot of smaller group and private classes to keep clients safe which is something we will continue to do even post-pandemic
We also researched and executed much more stringent and elevated sanitary standards and still require masks until we can fully pull out of this.
On the team side of things, we learned to communicate swiftly and as a united front in our messaging that safety was the most important part of the client experience during the pandemic. We also wanted people to have an outlet during a difficult time. Seeing clients engage virtually was an amazing experience and one we will continue to curate post-COVID. Our team stepped up in numerous ways from holding doors for clients to taking temperatures to elevating their teaching techniques without any contact, and simply have the patience to be kind and empathetic to each and every person. Undoubtedly, this was a challenging time, with lots of emotion for the entire world. We learned how to deal with fear in a new way.
Q: What does wellness mean to you?
A: Wellness is not just about physical fitness. It’s a holistic approach that includes mental health as well. It’s a true mind and body connection, intention, and approach in our daily lives. We can aspire to look certain ways but by itself, it’s an empty approach to long-lasting results, health, and happiness. Wellness is also about how we feel and creating goals that allow us to live, long and healthy lives. I approach wellness from a point of strength, endurance, gratitude, resilience, and certainly having the right mindset.
Q: What can a guest expect on their first experience at TREMBLE?
A: To be sore. Just kidding…(kind of). The type of Pilates we offer is a different modality. It’s a high-intensity, low-impact class that combines the best of strength training, cardio — Pilates inspires all-in-one movements. Though it’s a full-body workout, every aspect of it commands a core focus. You should expect a fun experience — with a great instructor, music, and friends — while being around a community of people who enjoy working out as a part of their daily routine. One of TREMBLE’s biggest pillars is service, so we are excited to serve the community and make you forget about all the worries you walked in with for those 50 minutes. We are a family so we move together.
Q: You have worked with a variety of clientele from Victoria’s Secret models to professional athletes. How do you help them to achieve goals?
A: We treat everyone the same at TREMBLE and that also means that everyone is special in their own unique way. Our experience is that this workout is a challenging one whether you are a beginner or professional athlete or supermodel. The key is to come in with an open mind, no ego, and be ready to test your limits. We can customize programming to meet the athletic needs and performance of individuals, particularly in private class settings. Athletes in particular have a special drive to conquer new techniques so it’s extra fun. We train professional football players, basketball players, Olympians, professional boxers, soccer players, runners, you name it. Pilates definitely evens the playing field.
Q: Who are your biggest inspirations/influences?
A: My biggest influences and inspirations are my parents, my teammates at work, and Marc Mega, an ex-pro athlete who co-owns a wellness center called Anatomy — we currently have a business partnership with them, and it teaches me about business and culture daily. I also confide in my business group who meets monthly to talk about all things entrepreneurship. I love education and learning so these people help facilitate that in my daily life.
Q: How do you unwind after a long workout?
A: I love to read or listen to a great business podcast. Sleep and recovery are also essential to physical fitness and results.
Q: What are your top tips for someone looking to buckle down and start their fitness journey?
A: Just START! Trust me, that’s the hardest part.
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