We were lucky to catch up with Alisha Cochran recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Alisha, thanks for joining us today. Any thoughts around creating more inclusive workplaces?

I have a passion for creating a more inclusive workplace which stems from working at places that I have experienced isolation and bureaucracy which caused a hostile environment. I believe many employers have good intentions in creating inclusive environments, they hire the right type of people but however do not know how to integrate these new employees into the corporate culture of the company. With my business, Swerve Dance and Fitness Complex, I built an inclusivity factor which is one of our founding principles. Inclusivity isn’t something that we accidentally stumbled upon it’s something that we intentionally focus on and attract. When you come in to Swerve you may see individuals of different ages, races, genders, sexual orientation, and culture all in one environment. The reason for this is because each individual can relate to a member that may come in feeling uncomfortable in the beginning because they’re curious too if this is a good fit for them. Once they see an individual staff member or even another member that looks similar to them with similar interests they become more confident and feel like this is a place where they belong. Outside of just physical appearance we make it a part of our culture to include those that may be new to the studio or may seem disconnected, or shy at first. We try to get to know individuals names, a little bit about their background, and invite them to be a part of our culture at our studio. Through this we’ve been able to add numbers and consistently receive five star ratings because we treat others the way they would like to be treated. We include those and make it a point to speak to every single person get to know members as much as we can and include them into our Swerve fitness family. I’ve heard feedback like, “this is where I belong, this is my home, they made me feel so welcome,” and that is the goal of our studio and how we incorporate inclusivity into our fitness culture. My advice to business owners and corporations is to not just hire people of different backgrounds, but to become a family and to make every single person feel like they belong and are valued.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I began my career as a dance fitness instructor in 2013, I’ve always been a dancer and athlete growing up however it wasn’t until I stumbled upon a Zumba and hip-hop class at a local gym that reignited my passion for dance and fitness. I started with an interest in hip-hop choreography which was not a huge industry in Columbus Ohio, however it was popular in California and in larger cities. I was very interested in the combination of dance and fitness. The combination help me to satisfy my dance urge while exercising and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. It wasn’t just the combination of dance and fitness but was more so the community that came along with it that made me feel like this was a trajectory that I should pursue. I learned from many different instructors that had different styles and observed how they taught classes performed and how they manage their presence in general. This gave me a foundation of how to become an instructor. I sought out an opportunity at a local gym and they stated that I needed at least one year of experience as a instructor before I could teach there. I was appreciative of that information and went out to a small studio to gain that year of experience. I had a very small class in the beginning however once I receive the year of experience I left the small studio and reapplied to the larger gym, and got the job! I started teaching at two large institutions where my classes grew exponentially and I began to teach at many other facilities as well. I became a better instructor, dancer, listener, friend and leader in which those qualities propelled me into where I am today. The problem that I solve for my clients is that they’re looking for a comfortable space where they can exercise and grow as a person, cultivate friendships, feel like a home environment, and feel valued where they attend. We’re not just focused solely on fitness but the whole person. Another aspect that makes us unique is not just a diverse staff but a diverse class member base. So many individuals are looking for a full service experience where they can dance and workout and experience new formats like belly dance, barre, boxing, etc., and because of this our expansive class offerings, we have a large reach to many people.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

What has helped me build my reputation in the market was to volunteer to teach demonstrations at community events. I would put myself out there in places that had large exposure to individuals that were looking for dance and fitness classes, for example health fairs, fitness expos and conferences, small community events and schools that were looking for dance instructors and almost anything that could give me exposure. I was asked many times to perform short fitness demonstrations in front of large corporations, I’ve taught classes and put myself in positions where I can be seen to build my brand as reputable instructor in our community. Through this I have built relationships over a decade in which the same individuals contact me year after a year to partner with their organization, this has built my reputation as a seasoned instructor in the community with an effective programs with consistent proven results.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

One lesson I had to unlearn through my journey is to have an abundant mindset. What I mean by abundant mindset is that there are two types of people in this world, one mindset is focused on lack, where every opportunity is held closely, because of the fear that it might not happen for them again. The other mindset is having an abundant mindset, with a belief that things, people, and opportunities will continue to choose to be attracted to you and what is for you will gravitate towards you eventually. I had a mindset where I felt that I was lacking and did not have an open mind to partnerships and new experiences because I felt that it would take away from my program. I unlearned this lesson and began expanding my brand through creating new collaborations with other fitness instructors, dancers, influencers, and business partners which expanded my network and created new and vibrant experiences for my clientele. Through that I learned that collaborations and partnerships can expand your business and with effective communication to your members can provide an extraordinary experience for them. Partnering with people that have strengths where you may have weaknesses only increases and leverages your ability to help more people.

Contact Info:

• Website: Swervehiphopfitness.com
• Instagram: @SwerveDanceandFitnessComplex
• Facebook: Facebook.com/SwerveDanceandFitnessComplex
• Youtube: Swerve Hip Hop Fitness

Image Credits
Robb Shirley Photography- ( professional picture with blue shirt)