We had the good fortune of connecting with Vanessa Bourne and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Vanessa, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
I have spent a lot of time talking about balance this past year and the pandemic has really helped shift my perspective on a lot of things. In particular how I spend my free time and who I spend it with. First off, making time for yourself to do the things that bring you peace is probably the hardest thing to do for a small business owner. I have always thought of taking any free time I had and putting it back into my business because I am so passionate about what I do. But the pandemic has taught me that putting that free time back into myself, gives me a sense of balance, nourishes me and lets my brain and body rest. So when I am focused on my work, the time spent is so much more effective!

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
I have owned and operated fitness studios for over 13 years now and I think what sets my studios apart is the attention to detail when it comes to the customer experience and service that we provide. From the follow ups we do with every member that walks through our doors to the connections and community we create with them as they return for more, the value we provide is exceptional.  To be able to be a part of offering our communities a safe place to grow and evolve in their health and fitness journey is beyond gratifying and fulfilling and would love to do be doing nothing else expect exactly this. The lessons I have learned along the way is to select partners that can pull their own weight and balance the work load. This should be someone you can absolutely trust and that has a different set of skills than you do, so it creates a great dynamic!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If not boxing at BOXHAUS then I would start them off with a hike on Temescal canyon or one of the beautiful hikes in the Santa Monica mountains with a tea/coffee in hand. For lunch I would take them to Votre Santa in Brentwood and maybe a browse around the shops at the county mart. An afternoon sun kissed siesta on the sand in Santa Monica near their hotel as I would have recommended they stay at Shutters for their lemon ricotta pancakes. We would freshen up for dinner and hit Giorgio Baldis, the BEST Italian food in LA and call it a night! As you can see I LOVE food, naps and working out!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Stevie Mersola she is my studio director at BOXHAUS and my marketing director at Ekam Yoga & Pilates and sometimes my right and left hand! She has been a part of my journey for the past 4+ years and I wouldn’t have been able to accomplish the growth in my businesses without her by my side. The dedication and commitment she has made to our success is unparalleled!

Website: www.boxhaus.co

Instagram: @vanessabourne3

Other: www.ekamyogapilates.com – we are opening an ekam location in Brenwtood as well.

Image Credits
Hugh Foster & Griffin Conway

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