Community Highlights: Meet Rachel Crowther of Aptitude Fitness + Yoga

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Crowther.

Hi Rachel, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today. 
In 2020, I found myself working a full-time hospitality job and teaching for a local yoga studio virtually. I was following local small businesses when I came across a post from Abby Petersen, who was sharing how sad she was that she had to close up her studio and could no longer serve her clients. I reached out and suggested that she maybe rent space from the studio I was working at, so she didn’t have to lose her long-time personal training clients. Our first meeting was via Zoom, like many during COVID we were finding creative ways to stay afloat, and collaborating with another wellness modality just made sense. 

Soon after Abby began renting, it was clear that the yoga studio owner was ready to retire and hand the business off. I was fortunate enough to take on the business, however, I knew I could not do it alone. At the time, in Michigan, yoga and fitness studios were not open to the public. When Abby and I connected over the idea of working together, her being the “fitness” and I being the “yoga,” Aptitude Fitness + Yoga was born. 

We signed our partnership in December, and in January we opened our doors virtually. 

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
We do not know a “smooth road.” Aptitude Fitness + Yoga was born during COVID, and our road was anything but smooth. Navigating virtual classes then opening to the public with the very real threat of COVID lingering on the minds of our members was a challenge. As the community slowly began to trickle back into the studio, we realized we had outgrown the space we were leasing almost immediately. Our challenge was meeting the demands of space and time we once again sought to collaborate with local business, restaurants, art studios, coffee shops, breweries, wineries, local farms to take Aptitude off-site where we had more space and could hold classes simultaneously. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next, you can tell us a bit more about your business.
We are reshaping the idea of a healthy fitness routine with a sustainable yoga practice. We believe that both fitness and yoga can be a part of a healthy lifestyle and create opportunities to be in community with other women and men. Our business is built on collaboration, and supporting local businesses with unique opportunities to move your body in a healthy way is meeting our community right where they are. Whether it be a brewery, winery, hiking trail, or school we believe that fun and functional fitness + yoga is what will create lasting sustainable wellness routines. 

What matters most to you? Why?
Being authentic to how we started as we continue to grow. Growth is wonderful, and it means that we continue to build our community and be a part of so many lives. As we look to the future, we don’t ever want to lose that small-town studio feel. What the big box studios don’t have is that intimate connection with members. 

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.aptituderock.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aptituderock/
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/aptituderock/