We were lucky to catch up with Kaylei Ibarra Blackmoon recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Kaylei, thanks for joining us today. Do you have any thoughts about how to create a more inclusive workplace?

Rhythm and Release came from the desire of wanting to bring diversity into the fitness space. The field has come a long way, but I believe we are just starting to scratch the surface. I’d like to believe we have been a part of its growing success here in Miami. putting action behind our words; especially as minority business owners, and by being a woman. In my own journey I encountered people who would try to “dim the light” of myself and others by making them feel small or less than for a multitude of reasons. But beyond those encounters we see it everyday on our social media pages. Look a certain way you go viral, sound a certain way and suddenly its the only way to sound. I didn’t journey into fitness until I saw someone who looked like me teaching a class, and I thought to myself “I can actually do this.” It is part of what we love to see come through our doors at our studio. Creating a welcoming environment from coaches of all walks of life to the members that have joined us along the way. Cycling is for everyone, fitness is for everyone, and really that’s the bottom line.
There isn’t any wrong answers once you decide to show up for yourself.

Kaylei, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Hi Team, if you’re new to my journey you can bet that what led me here today is pure ambition. I officially started this career path in 2018, and excelled through a variety of modalities simply because I fell in love with making others feel good about their bodies. We began our business “Rhythm and Release in 2022” with a limited outdoor schedule while building out our brick and mortar location located in the citadel building of little river and Miami shores. Our doors officially opened June of this year allowing us to create a full time schedule seven days a week offering indoor cycling, strength and conditioning, and stretch based recovery classes. We pride ourselves on being a “no screen studio” not focusing on the calories burned, the miles, traveled, or the weight lost, but rather about how we feel once we get it done. I am most proud of sharing our belief with others who have never tried group fitness classes before and have fallen in love with it and themselves. Our bodies are capable of so much more when the work we do becomes less about racing to the finish line. We don’t workout against each other, its with each other, and that is how you build community.
Our classes are rhythmic based, we ride and move to the music. “Rhythm” being in the name our instructors pride themselves on being music lovers and providing the best sounds. The “release” comes after, its natural, and its based on a feeling. Movement is medicine, it should be fun!

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I think we all can relate to having to pivot in life due to the pandemic of 2020. The year prior I became a mom, and after returning to office work from maternity leave, I decided to take a chance on myself and expand my horizons in the fitness industry. In addition to my office job, I was teaching indoor cycling classes, and I had another side business managing an Airbnb portfolio. I gave up my full time office job to obtain my personal training license and take on clients at the end of 2019. Shortly after the pandemic began I lost all streams of income including my Airbnb portfolio as everyone was locked into their homes. Determined, this didn’t deter me from continuing to learn about the industry and eventually start a woman’s outdoor workout program with a close friend who had the idea to social distance and still be able to find and provide movement to others. It was challenging to try something new and uncomfortable at times, but it was an opportunity to find growth, empowerment, and build with other women facing their own day to day struggles. What came out of it was comradery and confidence to keep going.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

“Growth isn’t linear.” Funny enough I spoke about this to one of my classes today before starting this interview. Growing up I was always taught that there was going to be a step after the step we completed before. And ideally that step moves in a direction that will continue to propel you “forward” in life. You finish high school, you go to college, you get a steady job with income and live happily ever after etc etc.
That is just not how it happens. Not in my experience anyway.
In 2015 my husband and I shortly after getting married, moved to New York hoping to experience the big city life and fulfil our dreams. We moved into a 200sq ft apartment with no jobs, no prospects, and no money. At times it seemed impossible but somehow we managed and we made it work. That success was in no means linear. While it took me 7 jobs to find the right fit my husband quickly made his way into real estate; a career he is still successfully in today.
From the outside it looked like an overnight success story, but the truth is there is no linear path.
There are no wrong answers team!
We eventually made our way to Miami, another ambitious jump, and life went back and forth.
Sometimes you have to take two steps back, pause, and restart in order to take that one step forward. Its frustrating, The growth isn’t linear as long as your learning along the way.

Contact Info:

• Website: rhythmandrelease.com
• Instagram: kayleidee