Today we’d like to introduce you to Asha Lee.
Asha, 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 been involved in sports. Growing up, I watched my father play professional cricket and travel the world with his team. I loved the team environment from an early age and while I tried ballet, dance and other sports, soccer was the one that I gravitated towards. I played competitive soccer from the age of 7 through college. In college is where I found the love of health and fitness after a devastating injury ended my soccer career. I worked out regularly, running, taking fitness classes and fell in love. I graduated and found that working in sports was the career path I wanted to pursue. I worked in professional sports for many years and loved every minute of the demanding job. Timing is everything and the perfect opportunity came with Pop Physique San Marino. A small-town community with a business tailored to health and fitness was the perfect combination I was looking for in a job and fulfilled my passion and career all in one. I have been lucky to finally find something that allows me to fulfill a passion and call it work.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Owning a boutique fitness studio does have challenges. Clients have so many options these days for gyms and classes and it seems like there is a new one on every corner. I have had to adjust with the times and make sure that our workout is unique and effective. People don’t just belong to one studio anymore. They jump around but we keep them coming back for more with balanced classes and amazing instructors. Pop Physique has had many locations over the years and Pop San Marino is one of the few that has survived mostly in part to being independent and creating our own unique brand in our community. Pop San Marino keeps our workout changing and has a wide range of instructors that fit all client’s needs. Some clients prefer the traditional barre workout, while others like high-intensity intervals throughout the class. We have something for everyone.
The Coronavirus has been the biggest challenge for everyone. One day we are open and offering 7-8 classes per day and the next, we are completely shut down. The shift to virtual classes was difficult but we pulled it off. We started with IG Live free classes but then quickly realized that this was not just closing for a few weeks and we had to shift to something sustainable. I have great instructors that adjusted and adapted quickly and I am so happy that clients were able to adjust as well. Business is not even close to back to normal, but I will not give up. The emails, texts and calls that I receive about how happy people are to have Pop Physique during quarantine keep me going. We will keep adjusting the business to make sure we survive. New outdoor classes and whatever else needs to be done to keep people healthy during the COVID-19 era is what we will do.
Pop Physique San Marino – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Pop Physique San Marino is a boutique fitness studio that is unique in that we are independently owned and operated from other Pop Physique locations. We are a fitness studio that anyone can attend. You don’t have to have any experience when you set foot in Pop Physique San Marino. Just come and be ready to work out every muscle group in 1 hour. It’s not a lot of cardio and we provide modifications for any current or past injuries that may affect your workout. We even have pregnant or new moms that attend and rave about the results they see after coming to class regularly. Each class is different so you won’t get bored and you will get the results you want. We keep our prices low so that it is affordable for anyone to take classes. We strive to make sure every client feels good about themselves when they leave our studio. Pre-COVID, our lobby has been known to be a post-workout hangout for many of our clients.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Early in my career, I would have said awards or promotions, but these days the proudest moments are when I receive emails, calls and texts from clients that rave about the classes and how they make them feel.
Pricing:
- First Class for New Clients – $10
- 1 Week All Access to Unlimited Classes – $30
- Pop 5 Class Package – $55
Contact Info:
- Address: 2134 Huntington Drive
San Marino, CA 91108 - Website: https://popphysiquesanmarino.com
- Phone: 626-300-6600
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/popsanmarino/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PopPhysiqueSanMarino
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/pop-physique-san-marino-san-marino
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