Today we’d like to introduce you to Vinny Rico.
Hi Vinny, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’m the co-owner of VV Fit Studio, a fitness studio that my sister, Valerie, and I started in 2020. VV Fit was founded to fulfill one of our lifelong dreams of owning a business together. We wanted to create a company that highlights our values and showcases the talents of others, and of course to have the chance to work together as the unstoppable brother-sister duo that we are. My sister and I grew up as dancers, and our morning alarm was our dad blasting an 80s power ballad or a freestyle mix, of course, with our dad singing along. This served as the background–really soundtrack–for our whole childhood, so to say that music and movement was a part of our lives would be an understatement. Music and movement shaped our identities. After graduating college and being away from the dance world, I needed to find creative outlets to move my body. In 2011, I found yoga and fell in love with a new physical challenge, and found solace in the unification of body and spirit. In 2012, I completed my 200-hour yoga certification; I also became certified in hot yoga, yoga-lates, and yoga sculpt. After teaching yoga and leading several yoga teacher training programs, I ventured into the land of barre fitness and began teaching barre in 2017. Fitness, dance, and music all in one? It was my dream come true. In an effort to marry all of my passions–dance, yoga, barre, fitness, people–my sister and I created VV Fit Studio. This was an opportunity for us to not only exercise (no pun intended) our fitness passions but to also work with some of the best instructors in various industries.
Alright, 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?
You’re right. It has definitely not been obstacle free, but it also has not completely been smooth sailing. I would say there have been some speed bumps along the way. Of course navigating being a new business already comes with its challenges. How do we market? How do we pay our instructors? How do we do our taxes? How do we compete with large gyms and established studios? And navigating this on top of an ever-changing public health landscape–phew! It has been a learning experience for sure. However, doing this alongside the talent and drive of my sister, Valerie, and having such a strong team of dedicated instructors has helped smooth over the rough terrain.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about VV Fit Studio?
At VV Fit, we commit. VV Fit Studio is a team of dedicated, inspiring, top-notch instructors, who we call our “Committers”. We currently teach three different forms of fitness: yoga, barre, and sculpt. We believe that all three fitness classes complement each other so well. Looking for a way to burn calories and tone your muscles? We have sculpt! Wanna feel the beat, get in some cardio and perk up your booty? Dance in our barre class! Need to stretch, calm your mind, and also feel strong? Roll out your mat and take a yoga class with us. Our classes are currently offered online through Zoom. We are also partnered with a local meditation studio, MDitate, to use their space for our in-person classes. In the future, our plan is to offer more in-person classes and eventually grow into our own studio space.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
This is a humbling question because I, too, need to be reminded of my own journey. I would say three things have contributed to our success. (1) Remembering intentions.(and writing them down)! Whether you’re looking to start a new career, or start your own business, or embarking on a new life adventure, always root yourself in your personal values. It’s easy to get caught up in the extraneous distractions that ultimately might not even matter. You can always look at what you wrote and know that what you are doing aligns with your intentions and your values. (2) Aligning and surrounding yourself with those who understand and support you. We all need cheerleaders, and we also need reality checkers. People who truly support and love you serve both roles. And finally (3) trusting and believing in yourself.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.vvfitstudio.com
- Instagram: @vvfitstudio
Image Credits:
Priscilla Tan Kristen Rico
