Inclusion has always been at the forefront of who Alkalign is. At its inception, our goal was to create a brand, a workout and an environment where all felt welcome. Coming from a barre background, most of our clients at the time were women ages 25-45. Operating in Menlo Park and Los Altos, they were predominantly white, heterosexual and affluent.
Fast forward 7 years, including 2 dog years of Covid, and things have shifted significantly. While Covid was financially devastating for Alkalign, closing all but one studio, it also provided a huge gift. The gift of perspective. If inclusion is a priority, why were we opening physical locations in the most expensive zip codes in America where we had to charge premium prices to cover our costs? This definitely wasn’t helping us with Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). So we pivoted.
Rather than focus on franchising boutique brick and mortar studios, Alkalign is investing in offerings that are available to more people. Alkalign offers something unique, both in terms of the workout itself, and the intention, purpose and passion behind the workout. We believe it has the potential to positively impact the lives of many people worldwide. The biggest obstacles are access and exposure.
A few months ago we held our first Inclusion Committee meeting. The committee is comprised of members of the Blue Crew community who volunteered their time and energy because they too are dedicated to DEI. Want to join our committee? Email erin@alkalignstudios.com. We are excited about the opportunities ahead and invite you to be a part of the conversation.
We also launched a “pay what you can ” membership” for both in-person and online offerings, a scholarship program for instructor training and are in the process of partnering with organizations who share a mission of bringing fitness and wellness to underserved communities. Would a reduced-cost membership or training scholarship be meaningful to you or someone you know? Please contact us at help@alkalignstudios.com.
Pay What You Can Memberships & Instructor Training Scholarships
