Today we’d like to introduce you to Nairi Petrosian.
Nairi, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Throughout my life, I have always tried to stay active; however, working out did not come naturally to me and I definitely did not enjoy it. This was until I found indoor cycling! It got me hooked right away and showed me that although I wasn’t an athlete in my regular life, I could feel like one on the bike. It opened up the world of fitness for me and showed me that I can enjoy working out. I wanted to show others who have always felt like they weren’t naturally athletic that they are capable of being fit and enjoying it. So, after taking classes for many years, I finally got my Spinning certification and found a tiny studio in Eagle Rock called Revolutions Cycling Studio and started teaching there.
At the time, I was working at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory as a Contracts Manager and working on my MBA. I always dreamt about putting my two passions together, business and fitness into owning my own studio. Six months into teaching classes, the owner of the studio decided to close up shop. Although I wasn’t planning on it happening so quickly, the opportunity of taking over the studio was one I couldn’t resist. I took the leap of faith, took over the existing studio and changed the name to Rev Cycle.
The studio was in a small office building with only 12 bikes. I knew that in order to make this business successful, I had to relocate to a better location and get more bikes. In the next year, I focused on building our client base and raising capital to later move into the location we are in now. The new studio has two rooms; the cycle room with 35 bikes and the fitness annex where we have other classes such as Pilates, TRX, HIIT, and Yoga. It has definitely grown into a full fitness facility in the past six years.
It’s been an incredible learning process. I had to teach myself everything from managing employees and instructors to learning about how sound systems work. Seeing this studio grow and my vision come to life is worth every bit of work!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
My biggest obstacle was that I had never run or managed any sort of business before taking over Rev Cycle. I had to be resourceful and learn as much as possible; which I continue to do so till this day. Even though I had my Masters in Business Administration, actually running a business was a whole new beast. I found different online groups and websites, reached out to other local small business owners, and read books on management to try to educate myself further. I never turned down an opportunity to learn.
My biggest advice to young women starting a new journey in their career is to have grit. Owning your business takes a lot of physical, mental and emotional work and is non-stop. There will always be times you want to give up but that’s when that grit comes into play. No matter what, you just have to keep going! Lastly, I would say that it is ok to have fear as long as you don’t let it get in the way of making decisions and actions. Take risks, follow your gut and do something exciting with your life. Worst case scenario, it doesn’t turn out exactly how you had planned, but then you just do it all over again!
What should we know about REV CYCLE? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Rev Cycle’s mission is to combine quality fitness classes with a welcoming and inclusive environment. We work hard to bring the best people that fit in with Rev’s culture into the studio. This includes our front desk staff and the instructors. Our mission is that everyone who walks into the studio to feels welcomed and accomplished when they leave. We want Rev Cycle to be a second home for our clients.
Our mission is to not only have a positive impact on the live’s of our clients but also our community. We do fundraising events for different charities at least once a quarter. Our largest one is our annual Ride for the Rescues event. Our classes on that day are all donation based. We are fortunate enough to get massive support from local businesses by way of donations of products and services. With that, we hold a large silent auction and raffle. In the past years, we’ve been able to raise thousands of dollars for the rescue and this past year all five dogs that came to the event were adopted!
Looking back on your childhood, what experiences do you feel played an important role in shaping the person you grew up to be?
Coming from a long line of entrepreneurs, growing up, I always thought I’d do the opposite. My grandfather owned his own construction business. Both my parents own their own businesses. I watched how hard they worked and how they never had any days off and thought to myself that I would never do that. It looked exhausting! I tried the 9-5 job for many years but realized it just wasn’t for me. I craved creating something of my own and having a hand in the outcome of a company. I guess I just couldn’t fight what was inherently in me!
Pricing:
- New Client Special: 1 Month of Unlimited Cycling & Fitness Classes for $59
- Single Class: $20
Contact Info:
- Address: 1457 Colorado Blvd. Suite 101 & 103
Los Angeles, CA 90041 - Website: www.revcyclingla.com
- Phone: 323-403-0522
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/revcycle/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RevCycle/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/RevCycleLA
Image Credit:
Jess Nurse
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