Today we’d like to introduce you to Carabella Riazzo.
Hi Carabella, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I kicked off my journey in the fitness world as a personal trainer. It all began with a deep love for fitness, and honestly, I had no clue where it was headed. I started by training people independently and at one point, I decided to get some experience working at Equinox to see how gyms run their show from the inside.
As I was doing that, I had this idea to sell personal training courses online. It was a way for me to have more flexibility with my time. Alongside that, I started creating YouTube videos and saw some real success there. All the while, I was keeping my eyes peeled for a studio of my own.
This year, I put “get my own studio” on my dream board and started manifesting it. But don’t get me wrong; it’s not just about manifesting. I was hustling hard too.
And then, like a dream coming true, a studio became available. It used to be a storage space, and it was just sitting there empty. I grabbed the opportunity and got my hands on it in July. It took me a solid three months to turn it into what we now call bellaTec. It’s been an amazing journey, for sure.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Honestly, it was no walk in the park getting bellaTec up and running. Coordinating with vendors and contractors for the construction was a real challenge. You know, everyone had their schedules booked solid with other projects, and it took some convincing to get them to prioritize ours. We had to keep shifting our initial opening date because different issues kept cropping up.
Then, just a couple of weeks before our first scheduled opening, we had Hurricane Hillary – basically, a massive rainstorm. It revealed an unexpected problem: a leak in the roof. The rain damaged our freshly painted walls, creating water bubbles. That forced us to tear down and redo the walls and repaint, and it set us back quite a bit.
And the struggle didn’t stop there. Getting the sound system installed was a challenge. The IT guy we hired wasn’t too thrilled about installing the speakers I had in mind because they were larger, and he preferred stand-alone ones. But I held my ground – I didn’t want an eyesore in our studio. So, there was quite a bit of back-and-forth during the development process.
What added to the challenges was the state of the space we took over, which had been used as storage. They really did a number on the floors. Getting those floors refinished turned into another mission because they should have been the ones responsible for the damage. I didn’t want to foot the bill for something that wasn’t our fault.
In a nutshell, it was far from smooth sailing. But, as they say, everything happens for a reason. The delays and challenges ultimately led to a strong opening on October 7th, and ever since then, things have been going really well.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
BellaTec is an all-women’s fitness studio based in downtown LA. We’re on a mission to empower women, create a strong community, and offer a safe, welcoming space for ladies of all backgrounds.
Our primary goal is to provide a place where women can not only get fit but also form meaningful connections and feel secure while doing so. We’re all about girl power and women supporting women. We’re not into cattiness or negativity – it’s all about solidarity and collaboration.
At bellaTec, we encourage women to explore movement through fitness, reconnect with their bodies, experience healing, build friendships, and blossom in every aspect of their lives. I’m a firm believer in personal growth, and I want to help the women in our studio thrive – physically, emotionally, and spiritually. It’s not just about fitness; it’s about empowerment.
Our instructors share the same values, and we’re all on our own paths to personal and professional growth. So, you could say we’re all in for feminine growth and female empowerment.
What sets you apart from others?
What truly distinguishes us from other fitness studios is our strong sense of community. Sure, you can find a Pilates class just about anywhere, but what we offer goes far beyond that. I’ve been to gyms myself, and I know the drill – you walk in, work out, and head out without ever really connecting with anyone.
At bellaTec, it’s a different story. We’re all about fostering friendships and building supportive relationships. This isn’t just a place to sweat it out and go home. It’s a place where you’ll come in, make friends, get to know each other, and see familiar faces. We even host members-only events where we can connect, whether it’s grabbing a coffee with the girls down the street or collaborating with the brands we work with.
In essence, it’s about building connections, not just transforming our fitness. We’re all about the community, the relationships, and the support that comes with it.
What are you most proud of with your business?
What makes me the proudest about our business is our team. I’m immensely proud of our dedicated team, our marketing crew who run our events, brand partnerships, and PR. They’ve played a significant role in spreading our message and making it resonate.
I also take immense pride in our instructors. They’re not just teaching, but they’re also instilling excitement and empowerment in our community of women. It’s heartening to see how they uplift each other.
And let’s not forget our members. We’re a relatively new establishment, and their unwavering support means the world to us. They handle any hiccups with grace and understanding, and it’s heartwarming to experience such a supportive atmosphere. It’s exactly what we aimed for, and it’s incredible to see it come to life.
As a woman, having this kind of support is truly special, and I couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve achieved and what’s to come.
What do you want our readers to know about your brand, offering, or service?
I want readers to know that your first class at bellaTec is absolutely free. We want everyone to come in and experience what we’re all about firsthand. Feel the positive energy that fills our studio, get a taste of our exceptional classes, and see how great it can make you feel.
We offer a variety of classes to cater to different interests and fitness levels. From our popular booty boot camps and Pilates to invigorating yoga, heel dancing, and ballet classes, we have a range of options. We also offer HIIT workouts, all thoughtfully tailored for women. Our classes emphasize fluid movement and feminine energy, making them ideal for a woman’s body.
So, whether you’re looking for an empowering workout or simply a supportive community, bellaTec has something special to offer. Try it out, and you’re bound to fall in love with what we have in store.
And what were you like growing up, personality-wise and interest-wise, that led you to today?
Well, growing up, I’ve always had a fiercely competitive personality. I wasn’t the kind of girl who enjoyed sitting in a classroom, studying, or following the rules. I preferred doing things my own way, and I had a strong-willed nature. Sports played a big role in my life, and I was incredibly athletic and ambitious.
At one point, I decided to step away from sports and enter the workforce to gain financial independence and autonomy. That’s always been a driving force for me – the desire for freedom and self-sufficiency.
I should mention that I came from a pretty strict family, so following the rules was the norm. My upbringing instilled in me the idea of taking matters into your own hands and just going for it because, well, life’s short, and you might as well make the most of it.
Pricing:
- Signature Membership: $170
- Elite Membership: $260
Contact Info:
- Website: https://bellatec.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bellatecstudio/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bellaTecStudio
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@bellaTecStudio
