May 8, 2017

Meet Cereza Richeson of Motivate

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cereza Richeson.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I was never an athletic person; didn’t play sports, didn’t dance, and definitely didn’t work out. After I had my third child, I noticed a major change in my body. The physical demands of having three small children was very taxing and I was struggling to have enough energy to keep up. I was drained and just physically unhealthy.

I went to a local gym and had no idea what I was doing. A new Lagree Fitness studio had just opened up in Hollywood and I decided to try it out. I was amazed at how fun and engaging it was! Yes, it was very challenging, but I could do it! Within three weeks, I started to see results. I had more energy, my clothes started to fit better, and the physical strength I was gaining also improved my confidence! I was happier and healthier than I had been in a very long time.

The confidence I gained carried with me into many other areas of my life. I loved the workout so much I soon decided to become an instructor. Seeing my clients grow and change is beyond rewarding. The decision to open Motivate came very easily. Then came the challenge of bringing it to fruition.

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?
Deciding to start a business takes some guts. We took every penny we had saved and decided mom would be trading tasks with dad for a while to get things going. Being a working mom takes a lot of fineness and masterful juggling. Running your own business adds a whole new element of workload as well.

I had to make sacrifices along the way and come to terms with not being there for every school event and not having a home-cooked meal every night with my family. The ability to show my kids (especially my daughters) what it takes to reach your goals and the importance of doing something that you love makes all the sacrifice worth it. There really is nothing that is off-limits in this game of life; it simply is a matter of making the decision to do something, figuring out how to make it happen, and not giving up despite the barriers.

Motivate – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Motivate is a Lagree Fitness studio. We deliver 45 minute classes on the cutting-edge M3 Megaformer. The workout focuses on slow, resistance-based movements that are designed to stimulate fat-burning muscle fibers, torch calories, and sculpt the body from head to toe. Each class combines your strength training, cardio, endurance, flexibility, and core not just in one workout but in each and every move! The workout is no joke. It will push you and make you feel muscles you didn’t even know existed. You’ll leave class feeling a little shaky, definitely sweaty, and completely EMPOWERED!

It was very important to me that the Motivate studios be a welcoming space where anyone, at any place in their health and fitness journey can come and work out. I understand completely how tough it is to get started on a workout routine. I also understand how intimidating the Megaformer can be! We all have to start somewhere, and we always have spot at our table for people to join us!

We are thrilled to be bringing locations to Montrose and Valencia! Both new locations will be opening around April/May 2017.

What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
My proudest moment in my career is seeing the lives changed by something so simple as working out. Being able to be a part of someone’s journey is truly precious. Every day, people make the choice to walk into the doors that I opened because it brings something positive into their life. I’m so grateful for the community and support that has grown within the members at Motivate. And the fact that they get a firmer booty is definitely a nice bonus!

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