Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Holmes.
Chris, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I have always been active my entire life! From playing almost every sport, I fell in love with swimming in the 7th grade. Having swam all the way through high school and was being scouted by the University of Alabama I was unfortunately in a car accident that blew my chances of being on a collegiate team. After graduating, I fell into the medical field back home in Florida and was a part of that community for two years. I realized that I wasn’t really fueling the fire that I had inside because I was, unfortunately, helping the doctors more than the patients. Which pushed me in the direction of being involved in the fitness industry. I started my journey with Orangetheory Fitness in Houston, Texas where my husband and I had moved back in 2017 for work opportunities. I fell in love with my new career. I enjoyed the fact that I was actually helping individuals who really wanted to live a healthier and happier lifestyle by pretty much being their motivator and account manager. At the beginning of March last year, my husband and I were told that we would be moving again and our new home with be beautiful San Diego! We were so excited as we have always wanted to live in southern California. Having arrived here at the end of March, I applied for a position with CycleBar Hillcrest and luckily enough I was offered the position which led me to where I am today!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It definitely was not the smoothest of a journey to be where I am thankful today. When I decided to leave my very well paying job in the medical field and deciding to pursue something I didn’t even know would be attainable really scared me. But with the support of my husband and also my family, I pretty much just let fate decide what would happen. Essentially, I had to start all the way over from the bottom and work my way up. But having the experience that I had definitely helped me get there faster. When I started with Orangetheory, I was also working as a part-time server and part-time educator with Lululemon. I had to work two full-time jobs for a year and a half, talk about a strain mentally and physically. But I knew the goals that I wanted to achieve and after six months with Orangetheory, I was given the opportunity to step into the management role and fully focus on my management practices and building the business.
CycleBar Hillcrest – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
CycleBar is a HIIT spin studio where really anyone can come and ride and feel like they can focus on their journey without judgment on their experience in the fitness world. We are based on classes lasting 45 minutes to an hour-long ranging from rides such as classic, performance, and connect. All of which are a mix of strength, endurance, challenges, hills, and drills all while upbeat music is playing. You follow along with the instructor, adjusting your gear and RPM to the settings or range they give you. We are located in The Hub shopping center off of University Ave in Hillcrest. I am the general manager of the studio so I always want to make sure that for our new riders, and also our current members that they have the best experience every time they come to sweat, while also giving my employees a place where they can come and connect with their community and enjoy their time they are here as well. We really are known for our amazing community that we have built here, as well as our amazing instructors, I feel like they are the ones that really set us apart. Amenities are always a plus when buying a membership but the connection they are able to have with the riders is really unique to see and that’s why we have the success we do. I would say that I am most proud of the community that we have built inside this studio. Everyone who comes in the door really looks forward to coming in and seeing each other, whether it be in the early 5 am class or at the end of the workday. We aspire to have this place be a safe place where they can come and release all the outside struggles life puts on us sometimes. When they leave smiling dripping in sweat we know we gave them what they needed.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I like to maintain a consistent level of productivity and take both my successes and failures in stride. I try to learn from both and apply that knowledge to future situations. I personally feel that I feel successful in different ways. At work, it is meeting the goals set by my owner and my fellow workers. I tend to view success also incrementally. As someone who is invigorated by new, complex challenges, I never want to find myself in a situation where I feel like there is nothing left to learn or achieve. If over the course of my employment, I can leave work each evening satisfied that I’ve learned something new or useful, then this counts as success to me.
Pricing:
- We offer to all new riders who are from the San Diego area a $10 ride
- Specials change month to month
Contact Info:
- Address: 1040 University Ave B213 San Diego, CA 92103
- Website: hillcrest.cyclebar.com
- Phone: 619-832-2955
- Email: chris.holmes@cyclebarhillcrest.com
Image Credit:
Instagram @katkrafel
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