We were lucky to catch up with Angie Cohen recently and have shared our conversation below.

Angie, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you share a customer success story with us?

The best client success story is an attorney, Bill, who is 55 years old. Bill came to StretchLab with such limited range of motion in his shoulder, he could hardly move his arm above his head to comb his own hair without excruciating pain. He suffered with this type of “frozen shoulder” mobility for 5 years and in 5 short weeks of coming to see his Flexologist (stretch professional) twice a week at StretchLab, Bill regained his range of motion completely, can comb his own hair with no pain, is now back to playing basketball! His wife will tell you, “Bill is BACK to his old, sweet self again since he is not in pain!”. I am so proud of Bill’s quick and early life changing results he feels and continues to see. Now, Bill is working on improving his basketball skills, and strengthening BOTH shoulders so he can remain pain free, active, and with neatly groomed hair.

There are so many reasons why I love owning a StretchLab in my local community, it was hard to pick just one client success story since who benefits from the stretching and flexibility services the most is really, everybody and every BODY. My favorite part of owning an assisted stretching studio is watching the clients move better, feel better, and experience the StretchLab motto, LIVE LONG. The stories are plentiful when it comes to clients seeing progress and results. We help clients as young as a 6 year old competitive dancer who is seeing better control of her limbs and injury prevention for her growing body to one of our our oldest clients who is 89 years young, still golfing 2 days a week, so he is enjoying stranding straighter, no pain in his lower back when he golfs, and simply enjoying walking the course again. Plus, everyone in between who simply wants to enhance their workouts, decrease recovery times, improve their mobility and range of motion.

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 background and context?

My name is Angie Cohen and I am a local, small business owner and operator of 2 assisted stretching studios named StretchLab in Solana Beach and Del Mar. I spent the bulk of my 15 year career in corporate America in the medical industry as a pharmaceutical sales and marketing manager, traveling extensively the last 5 years of my career. I certainly loved my job of impacting lives, selling meaningful products that make a difference, traveling to west coastal cities, every day was like a new adventure. However, that life was not sustainable. Being on the road, away from friends and family, barely seeing my husband most weeks, stole a piece of my soul and it was time to start the mission to get it back!

I started my entrepreneurial journey when I turned 40, realizing the life of travel was not serving the larger passion I have which is impacting the lives of others. I had this epiphany; why not couple my love for boutique fitness and impacting lives all in one new mission close to home? I spoke to my husband as I set out to discover, how can change the trajectory of my life to fulfill my passion with the purpose of helping others, pulling out potential in people they did not even think was possible, all while making an impact on their hearts and souls?

Well, indoor cycling did just that for me. I was never the person who worked out regularly. I was always the one looking for the quick fix, crash diet, 10-minute workout that would change my life, make me skinny. When my life really changed and that epiphany transpired was when my mom called me at midnight one night to tell me that my grandma was sick, and she was not going to make it. The one selfish thought that ran through my brain was, “grandma can’t die, she has not seen me get married yet.” That quintessential moment is when my whole perspective changed. Me, and my now husband Nolan, decided after 8 years of happy cohabitation, it was time to tie the knot. I was ready to be in the best shape of my life for the happiest day of my life. As a newly engaged couple, we both wanted health and wellness to be a priority for the rest of our lives, not for just one special day, but forever. I wanted to not only look good, but be healthy, and not be in pain like my grandma was at the end of her life. So, I started my fitness journey at a little, very welcoming boutique fitness studio in Solana Beach, just down the street from where I live.

Turns out, the spin bike turned into my escape from life stressors. It was where my people were at! It was this added activity to my life that brought me such joy, even though it was challenging every time I went, I met some of my best friends and was hooked. So, since the spin studio brought so much positivity to my life, I was convinced that opening my own spin studio was my NEW path to make that epiphany years ago realized. I had a desire for others to experience the feels of what I felt, so I engrained myself in learning about all things related to boutique fitness. I went to as many classes I could in the area, all the cycling studios, learning what is it exactly that starts in a dark room filled with sweaty people, loud music, pumping their hearts out, that ends with high fives and smiles?

So, my discovery journey learning the world of boutique fitness began. I had a desire to pay it forward and help others escape into all the good feels I was obsessed with. I contacted the franchisors of the spin studio brand and off we go venturing into small business ownership. I read entrepreneurial books, attended workshops and seminars then luckily, I met a franchise consultant that helped me understand how to meet my personal and professional goals with this new business venture we were about to spend our life savings on. The consultant sat down with us as a couple and begged me to pursue other option before I invest in one spin studio, to compare other concepts, learn about the industry of franchising to learn how to navigate the business side. She felt that my passion for spin was clouding my overall judgment. Best candid advice EVER! So, after all my research, her candor, and a solid plan for the future, all helped me realize, one spin studio would not fulfill both our business and personal goals. So, thanks to my franchise consultant, (and a supportive partner and husband) I changed courses to find a concept that could do just that.

Part of the insight dates back to when I had back surgery when I moved to San Diego 20 years ago. I hurt my back only three short months after graduating college at the University of Wisconsin- Madison and moving to San Diego. I was 22, in pain, and physically disabled. It was a 3-year journey that ended with a successful spinal fusion surgery. Who knew 20 years later, the unfortunate life experience would turn into the opportunity of a lifetime with StretchLab. I do stretch every day and even though spin offered me so much physically and mentally, I had to take a long hard look in the mirror to realize, was it the spin bike or was it the community that inspired me? Was it the atmosphere in a spin room or was it finding a concept that has never been done like this before that excited me? A fitness type brand with quality one on one assisted stretching in an open, communal, fun environment with a modality that has helped me in my journey sounded too good to be true. Then, after my first stretch up at the first StretchLab in Venice Beach, my mind (and body) was blown away! It was a beautiful marriage of all the things I was looking for in my next new deal: impacting the local community through helping people move better and feel better, building a team of incredible humans.

So, now that I am hooked, the next phase of research began and I went to every stretch concept, yoga class, met with other business owners in the area, searched and interviewed top fitness professionals in the area, scoped out real estate, then finally meeting the corporate team at StretchLab. Again, I felt like I found my people! I went full steam ahead to not buying one spin studio, but two StretchLabs right in the middle of where I live in Solana Beach and Del Mar. It was truly kismet!

StretchLab can help anyone who wants to recover faster, increase flexibility, relieve tension patterns, improve posture, stand straighter, prevent injuries, or simply …improve the way you move! StretchLab is an open, communal space with an energetic, inclusive vibe where certified fitness professionals will customize a complete flexibility training program to help anyone begin a stretching regimen. The methodology StretchLab specializes in, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) when applied holistically and consistently, is scientifically proven to work on your mobility and range of motion. After a few short months, you will see a true physiologic change in your body. So, whether you are training for a marathon, wanting to golf with no lower back pain, sit at a desk all day, feel tight all the time, or simply experience muscular aches and pains regularly, StretchLab can help. We compliment any activity or can help give you the relief you need as you start an exercise routine. Afterall, flexibility = longevity!

What I am the proudest of (and is quite fulfilling) is the same secret to the success of StretchLab… is it all about THE PEOPLE. The group of professionals who have the same purpose to be in the wellness industry, helping people, the community of Solana Beach and Del Mar. Finding a talented team with proper certifications coupled with warm hearts sharing the same vision of impacting lives in the community is THE reason StretchLab Solana Beach won studio of the year 2 years in a row, and was voted the number one boutique fitness studio in all of North County. I am so honored to be aligned with and build a work family, a community, a StretchFam. My vision for this has always been, if I can take care of my people, they will take care of THE people, and we will have wild success together. We have worked tirelessly building a team, a true family, to serve this amazing community.

StretchLab Solana Beach just celebrated 3+ years of being open, surviving COVID, 4 government shutdowns, constantly evolving to stay afloat, having to reinvent itself over and over all while opening studio 2 just 1 year ago in Del Mar. I am infinitely proud and thankful for the resiliency of the team and the support of the local community, It has not been easy; nothing worth it ever is.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Resilience: What illustrates resilience is when your team pushes and works so hard to win studio of the year, second year in a row, you set records for the StretchLab brand on growth that no one thought possible, you celebrate with the team with a big party, new uniforms for everyone, riding the high of earned results only to be shut down one week later due to a global pandemic. The silver lining of the challenges of the last couple years is the resiliency of a team that just kept going against all odds and the support of our local community who really showed up for us. Many members early on asking to keep their draft ON so they had a place to return to. Resiliency is having the community trust you and try something that has never been done before like personalized, VIRTUAL ASSISTED stretching. We were already pioneers to launch an assisted stretching studio like StretchLab in San Diego and it was awesome over the course of 2 years as a brand-new business owner to watch the community become obsessed with our concept; only to have the momentum physically shut down.

In the face of adversity, the team and community supported one another during a time when uncertainty was every one’s every day. To prepare for one-on-one virtual assisted stretching, my husband and I drove to 40 loyal members’ homes to hand-delivered stretch straps and instructions on how to log onto zoom for the scheduled sessions. Each Flexologist (stretch professional) on the team went in studio alone to ensure quality production and our product was executed for the people that wanted to stay stretching, stay connected. The one hour per week of seeing the face of their stretch professional was often times the only contact many of our members had with the outside world while we all sat at home wondering when the pandemic would end. The team stayed employed, offering their services to their community from the comfort and safety of their homes. The team showed up for the community and the community continued to support us at StretchLab.

Then, it was announced we could re-open. The amount of work that every small business owner had to prepare and navigate was overwhelming to say the least. How to keep your staff and community safe with vague instructions on how to operate in a sanitized and clean manner plus figure out which CDC guidelines to follow; since StretchLab is a service, but also fitness, but not traditional fitness with classes it was challenging! Next, reaching out to hundreds of members, not charging anyone who was not comfortable to return, create policies and procedures, apply for government assistance to keep the lights on and staff taken care of, coaching your team on zoom on how to navigate their job role in this strange, new environment and try to keep capacity limited plus still function as a business. Once we finally got operations functioning in this weird new world, a few short weeks later, we were forced to again, either shut down, or you can operate outside.

So, that is exactly what we did. As small business owners, you were forced to be adaptable to the unpredictable and unclear directions from your local government. That night, we went to Home Depot, bought green turf, popped up a tent in the parking lot outside of the studio, and created an outdoor setup for operations, without skipping a beat. These moments of resilience were accepted and supported by the community since we signed up 63 NEW members in the middle of a pandemic. It was our motivation to KEEP GOING!

The team continued the mission to help the community move better and feel better, even under extreme conditions, all while keeping everyone safe. We continued with the fortitude to keep going, because if the community was going to show up, so was the team. The studio was shut down two more times and still today, 2+ years later feeling the effects. The expenses have increased to run a viable business in today’s world, but the lost revenue and clients lingers, as we try to rebound and grow. Every morning and every night my team STILL sets up outside to give another option of comfortability to stretch in the open air. My team is still providing virtual services for those who still need to be sheltered due to medical concerns. StretchLab Solana Beach is about to celebrate 3+ years of being open, surviving COVID, 4 government shutdowns, constantly evolving to stay afloat, having to reinvent itself over and over all while opening studio 2 just 1 year ago in Del Mar. I am infinitely proud and thankful for the resiliency of the team and the support of the local community, It has not been easy; nothing worth it ever is.

Any advice for managing a team?

My advice for managing a team is to make culture paramount and your vision as the leader clearly voiced from day one. It is important to convey candor that is kind in its delivery to ensure each one feels seen, feels heard, and has opportunities for regular one-on-one communication check-ins about their role on the team, their health, and well-being. I have 30 employees, all different genders, ages, ethnicities, personalities, and each with idiosyncrasies that need to be managed with the utmost care. Having clear communication about role expectations and business standards are key. We have mandatory monthly meetings that always have team building activities involved so when we gather as team, we have an opportunity to know each other on not just a professional basis, but also on a personal side to understand more deeply. I am a big believer that you need to model the behaviors you want to see on your team so making sure they understand what is important, they are important is quintessential. I share business results at the team meetings, give out rewards and recognition to celebrate when things go well. We talk about areas of opportunities so it is not all glory all the time, but truth of what we can improve upon. When the team understands business decisions, key performance indicators, and how the operations need to function to be successful, there is a vibe of, “we are all in this together”.

My success is the team success. Being an authentic leader, listening to your team, checking in, having a platform for feedback, and truly caring for them individually are keys to managing a team; the high morale will result, especially in a small environment. It all starts at the hiring point and communicating that we are a family to ensure each person that is added to the team understands and wants the same things, has the same mindset. When you have a culture driven team that truly care for each other, the community feels that care and wants to support you, be part of the family.

Contact Info:

• Website: stretchlab.com
• Instagram: @stretchlabsolanabeach, @stretchlabdelmar
• Facebook: @stretchlabsolanabeach, @stretchlabdelmar