We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful KALEEAHA HARDEN. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with KALEEAHA below.

Hi KALEEAHA, thanks for joining us today. So, let’s start with trends – what are some of the largest or more impactful trends you are seeing in the industry?

Hi, thank you for having me! Some of the most interesting industry trends I am seeing lately in pole fitness includes an increased variety of classes and performance showcases. Many studios are starting to incorporate unique dance styles and techniques in their pole fitness classes. Additionally, now performance showcases are exhibiting these exciting new trends and unique themes!

KALEEAHA, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Of course! Well, I always wanted to own my own business…and more importantly I wanted to be my own boss. As my daughters were graduating high school, I started to think about what my next interest in life would be, especially since I would have more time to pursue it. One thing I’ve always enjoyed was working out using pole fitness rather than going to a regular gym. Fast froward to the height of the 2020 pandemic…..despite all odds, I decided to open my own pole studio. Now I was very familiar with the sport, but I had no idea it was as big as it was! I took that leap of faith, and I am so happy I did! Now Werk It Pole Studio has been thriving for over a year when most businesses are still closed or starting to get back to their pre-covid sales. I am truly blessed to have a staff and team that is here to show everyone that pole fitness is here to stay while showcasing all that we have to offer. We currently offer strength building & conditioning, burlesque, yoga, chair dance and so much more.  Not surprisingly, private parties are the biggest trend right now!! With our diverse group of instructors, it allows us to stay competitive. We also frequently travel to other states to showcase our talents. Here at Werk It, we make sure this is a safe space to just be yourself with support and no judgement.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

OMG, yes! Resilience is an important component for success. With any business, there will always be ups and downs and as a new business owner this was very common for me. I can remember being in a situation where I had plenty of  students, but I didn’t have enough instructors to teach! I didn’t know what I was going to do but I knew I needed to do something. I tried everything to get new instructors in, but nothing was working and I just couldn’t seem to find the right person. After months of help wanted ads and open calls……I just stayed the course, kept teaching, and when I least expected it, I was blessed with 4 new amazing instructors!

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

Woah……..now I have plenty of things that I had to unlearn for this type of business, but to succeed I was willing to do it! I remember so vividly, I was consistently trying to handle everything myself. That quickly became so very exhausting, and my business was suffering tremendously. I had to listen to my peers and take a close look at what I was doing and readjust. I then started to delegate more responsibilities to others on my team and things began to come together smoothly. So yes, I know first hand about how important it is to be willing to learn or sometimes unlearn certain lessons for the grater good of your business.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.werkitpolestudio.com
• Instagram: werk it pole studio
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/werkit

Image Credits
Image credits: Naomi Seyy Showtime Lea Laverne Purity Velour Chelsee Montana The Trap Aerialist Princess Jazz Phoenix Pisces Prototype Red