Today we’d like to introduce you to Chavonne Hodges.
Chavonne, before we jump into specific questions about the company, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Toward the end of 2015, I hit an emotional rock bottom. I was going through a divorce, mismanaging my panic disorder, and navigating life as a twenty-something. All of these life changes caused me to spiral into a depression. But rather than sulking in my sadness, I decided to keep myself busy by going to the gym on the weekdays and partying on the weekends. After a few weeks of partying, I quickly learned that alcohol and anxiety and depression do not mix, so I decided to spend more time in the gym because it made me feel better. I was listening to trap music and working out four times per week and asked myself, “why are there no workouts set to trap music?” The idea to create a class called TrapAerobics just clicked in my head. From there, my interest in fitness took off, so I became a group fitness instructor.
Within nine months, I legally set up my business GrillzandGranola, created a business plan, get certified, etc. Since my professional background is in HR, I created a project plan and worked on it every single night after work. By June of 2016, I launched my first TrapAerobics class. Since then, I have taught over 2,500 women, hosted two ZEN DAY wellness conferences, raised funds for non-profits, partnered with brands to host classes and provide free products to my participants, and even secured two campaigns with Target. It has been quite a ride!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Overall, it has been an upward climb, but there have been quite a few challenges. I started GrillzandGranola while working a full-time HR job in the Ad Industry. It is super hard to constantly teach classes, manage people, money, a social media account, and pitch business all at the same time. I have a strong work ethic, so the hardest part of growing my business has been finding the right people to collaborate with along the way. Also, emotional wellness becomes hard to manage.
We’d love to hear more about the company.
GrillzandGranola is a fitness company that creates culturally-attuned fitness experiences for women of color. We’re known for and specialize in a class called TrapAerobics, which is a 45-minute, high-energy aerobics class set to 808-thumping trap music. We also offer an R&B Strength Training Class, Trap Bootcamp, and corporate wellness activities like Office Olympics. We’re different from other fitness brands because we cater to the confident underdogs and women with curves that you don’t see in magazines or mainstream fitness studios. We value community and believe that fitness should be inclusive and accessible. We know that if you see an instructor or participant look like the women we serve, they will feel more inclined to come back. We celebrate showing up, making an effort, and feeling seen.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I do not believe that luck is truly good or bad, but if I had to define it in those terms, I would say that good luck means getting your intention in front of the right people and being prepared for that moment. Bad luck means having a negative experience that causes you to shift your intention or focus, which is extremely uncomfortable in the moment, but beneficial in the end. I have had a lot of good luck so far. From winning awards to winning pitch competitions, luck has always been a matter of me aligning my intentions with my actions in the most sincere way and meeting people who can take me farther in my journey. Bad luck (my divorce and anxiety) was the catalyst for me to learn how to live a fulfilling life. It would help if you had extreme discomfort to create change.
Pricing:
- $20 per person for a single ticket
- $17 if you bring a friend
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.grillzandgranola.com/
- Email: info@grillzandgranola.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grillzandgranola/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/grillzandgranola/?ref=hl
Image Credit:
Katie Henry
Gbenga Obafemi
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