​When I set off on the journey to open Turn, the goal was to really find a home for my program, Dance Trance. However, it was clear from the start that the space we found and transformed in Scott's Addition needed more than just DT. It needed to give a home to other classes just like it. Classes that were unique, challenging and inspiring. That lead me to a woman I had met two years before. Just a chance meeting at an outdoor fitness festival in Richmond. 
 
Seo and I instantly hit it off but she was clear from the start, she didn't want to own, manage or run a fitness studio. She just wanted to bring her fitness programs (Fighting Fit and Pound) along with her personal training to one location. Through some brainstorming we created Bootcamp, and eventually brought along Surf and later, Sculpt. Those programs evolved because of Seo's expertise, drive and natural ability to create fun, new fitness experiences.

Because I was working full-time as a journalist and a mom, Seo often answered the call for whatever TURN needed. She grew our brand, managed the studio, hired and trained several amazing instructors and also welcomed hundreds of faces into TURN day after day. 

She was with me in good times like when movie stars and news stations visited TURN and rough times like when leaky roofs, torn up city streets and snow packed sidewalks forced us to temporarily close and she made a connection with clients and the area business owners who were pulling for our success. She often pushed me out of my comfort zone, helping me to take risks I might not have ever taken and she helped me to meet fellow girl bosses who had plenty to add to my world while teaching me plenty about lifting one another up. To say she's been instrumental in helping TURN and even me blossom, is a huge understatement.

Despite our growth and success, earlier this year Seo had an epiphany and realized TURN still wasn't her dream. She had a longing desire to go in a different direction. She wanted to become a life-coach and help with personal development, and teach fewer group classes. We worked together to make that happen. We downsized her schedule. She was gracious enough to extend her exit and stay on while I could find the right time and courage to leave my own journalism career to take care of the fitness studio I birthed but hadn't really been able to watch grow. 

And that brings us to now. With the end of the year upon us, and Seo's business quickly expanding and my new found career as a full-time girl boss well underway - we think the time is right for us to begin our separate entrepreneurial journeys.

Seo will teach just four more classes at TURN in December. Her last one on the 27. Please join us in wishing her well in this next chapter of her career and growth. Let's max out attendance in those classes and show her our appreciation for helping create Richmond's friendliest fitness studio and helping cultivate and train many of our current and future fitness instructors along with just being an amazing friend.   

Much Love,

Sandi

It's kind of hard to believe that TURN has been open for a year and a half now. It's more than I ever expected it would be. As new instructors and students walk through the door, I can't help but think about the little that it came from. 

When I first visited the space, I thought I was going to have a partner help me do the prep work and open the doors. TURN was almost part pole studio and part Dance Trance. How different that vision was. In the end we went our separate ways. It's a good thing too - because I wouldn't have called Seo if plan A had worked out. And she's been instrumental in getting the word out about TURN.

In October 2014, the studio was a place where they did millwork and was a pile of dust. I mean for real. I walked in and there was a layer of white dust about 2-inches thick everywhere. In every crevice and on every inch of floor. You can see it in some of those photos below. And there were so many rooms in the space that later became the main studio. It was horrendous. But all I could see was a fitness studio.

My aunt visited this week and Deverly (my friend and rad DT instructor) walked her through all that we accomplished. And we revealed how we did the work. How we, the students, and the instructors and the husbands pulled together on a GoFundMe and a beg-and-borrow budget to demo, prep, paint, clean, install, strip, and clean again agenda. And how we learned as we went. Realizing after the initial demo went through that we were going to have to call an electrician, a plumber and how we needed duct work for the AC. Oh yea - and maybe a drywall guy or two.

I remember how I was cleaning the main studio for like the millionth time -- pushing out that dust, and I looked at Sarah  (another friend and fab instructor) and said -- this sucks and it's not going to work. She said, "No. It's going to be awesome. It's already awesome. Don't worry." I took her words and turned them into positive ammunition and confidence. Little did I know that when Sarah drove home she called her husband and was like, 'WTH are we doing? This is crazy!' LOL

The point is -- without everyone who came together on this journey and without the faith they had -- we wouldn't be here, in one of the best parts of Richmond offering some of the most unique and dynamic classes. It's what makes TURN more than a fitness studio, but a community. I think it's the thing that sets us apart and why I still feel the butterflies when I walk inside. I hope you feel them too. - Sandi

Left: Main studio, mirrors replaced this burlap and panel wall. Right: Garage and exit doors and the white dust.