| Dear Blue Crew-
Well, it’s officially official. The Alkalign Los Altos studio will permanently close on June 10th. It’s been a whirlwind of emotions. I have had the lowest lows during the past few months knowing that the 14-year era of owning studios was coming to an end. I have also found tremendous comfort in knowing that we have truly contributed so much to the communities we have served. I feel grateful for the time we had and the connections we made. I am sad knowing that the studio closure will leave a void in our lives and a hole in our hearts. I know the impact authentic and true connection makes on our lives, and I fear for our mental health when it is gone.
While I’ve been fighting to save Alkalign, my younger brother, Andrew, has simultaneously been fighting for his life. Diagnosed with metastatic melanoma at the age of 37, he has navigated the very scary and very shitty road of cancer. The past few months have been particularly challenging and have put a lot into perspective when it comes to prioritizing health, family, connection and stress management. As I told my family in a letter I wrote and shared with them back in January, the loss of Alkalign isn’t the biggest or most serious thing going on in our family right now. However, it is the North Star that has helped me navigate through all of life’s challenges. It’s the people I go to for my daily dose of strength. It’s the place I can show up as my authentic, and at times, blubbering, self. It’s the community that has shown up for each other no matter what. Covid, wildfires, birth, death, weddings, divorce, illness, injuries and, my favorite, birthdays. There is something unique about the Blue Crew and I’m going to miss what was so very very much.
Running a small business is hard. Running a small fitness business during a global health pandemic that shut down our business for TWO YEARS has been next-level challenging. These stressors, coupled with the financial pressure from our landlord and the decline in health of my brother, have left me depleted and burned out. My cup is empty. I have nothing for myself and nothing to share with you. Hence, I’m taking this forced closure as an opportunity to step back and to reassess how I want to spend my time and energy going forward.
I’ve spent the past few months trying to figure out what’s next. To be honest, most of the time I’ve been in a complete fog. While my brain and bank account are anxious to figure it all out, my heart isn’t ready. I’m exhausted. I’ve put so much into Alkalign and it has taken me a while to accept that what it was is gone. It’s taking me even longer to gear up and get excited for what is to come. I don’t have it 100% figured out but I do know that my passion and priority remains all about health. Not aesthetics. Not flashy fitness gimmicks. Not selling something to make a quick buck. True whole body health. Mental and physical. If the journey with my brother has taught me anything, it’s that nothing can be taken for granted. We get one body and even when we do “all the right things”, shit happens. How we prepare ourselves to deal with it, mentally and physically, makes a difference. And without our health, nothing else matters.
While there is a lot up in the air currently, these are the 3 things I know for sure:
1) My team and I need a break to reset and Recharge so that we be of better service to you going forward. Summer is the best time to do this because it’s when our revenue declines significantly due to travel schedules and seasonly low attendance.
2) We will continue our Livestream offering as long as there is enough demand and engagement. If you continue to show up, we will continue to show up.
3) I am focusing more time and energy on my wellness coaching practice. I find working with clients in a more holistic way (nutrition + movement + mindset) really helps move the needle in terms of long-term, sustainable health outcomes. If you are interested in investing in your health in a non-toxic, non-diet and fitness culture way, book a free call with me to see if it’s a fit for you.
The future of in-person classes is still unknown. We are looking for a small space where we can offer a limited in-person membership in the fall. It will be a different business model and much more focused on personalized, targeted training vs. our previous model of trying to offer as many classes to as many people at as many times as possible. Quality has always been of utmost importance, and the future of in-person training sessions will continue to reflect that. In the meantime, I’m looking forward to a little break this summer to recover, reset, Recharge, and to reclaim my spark.
In-person members will receive more information via future emails re: how to transition your membership to livestream. Also, please follow us on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date on all the Alkalign happenings, as we post lots of stuff on there as well.
We thank you for your patience and support as we navigate all of these challenges. It wasn’t what we would have chosen but Los Altos Community Investments forced our hand and we are making the most out of our new reality.
Xo,
Erin |
