Today we’d like to introduce you to Angela Nelson.
Angela, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I grew up very active and always in motion, I was in competitive gymnastics until I was 18. The dancing part was always what I loved most and although I pursued it where I could after gymnastics, I felt very discouraged that good options for adults to dance weren’t relevant or really available to me. I had such disappointment feeling like I was out of time or like my dancing would have to be over.
I’ve discovered that no matter what age we are if we ever danced (or played music, etc.) – we must continue to dance. That energetic outlet is opened and carved, it facilitates important energy release and inspires creativity that pathway never goes away, at best it only atrophies away, at worst it can create chaos in our lives.
One day a good friend suggested we try a pole dancing class. I was shocked that it was a thing! I had no idea – and I was actually a bit embarrassed at the thought of myself moving to? (all I had was my expectation of what it was associating it with the only pole dancing I had heard of dancers in gentlemen’s clubs). However, after that first class, I knew this is something I wanted to do. Like, SERIOUSLY DO. It was so legitimately beautiful, artistic, physically challenging. The people doing this were total badasses.
However, it took time for me to commit to regular classes as a young adult, I was working hard to get by and was in school. Finally, once I graduated from my program, I was able to organize my time to have pole a decided priority in my life. I didn’t realize I would be opening my own studio several years later. However, once starting (I’ve never looked back), I quickly realized that THIS is what I want to do.
My life was changed so drastically and positively from pole dance, and also the pole community, I wanted to share this joy with the world, and help others to awaken certain dormant or otherwise untapped parts of themselves. To help people truly come into their authenticity and into their personal power.
I met a wonderful gal, Sarah Child, who became my fast friend. We bonded instantly over the idea of having a studio of our own teaching pole and dance classes all day, what a dream! We decided there was nothing holding us back from this life, we looked diligently (and patiently) for a studio space, and with this, I learned that good thing are worth waiting for. We secured two classrooms in The Old School in Draper – formerly the Park Jr. High School. A magical building that I will never leave!
And although Sarah stepped down as part owner in 2018, she continues to be a wonderful part of our community. I am very proud of the fact that we set up the business and the space to expect evolution as we learn in pole and aerial flexibility allows us to bend, not break!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I wouldn’t say it’s been a smooth road, it’s been challenging over the years. I have no formal business training, my family doesn’t own a business. What I’ve learned is through experience, coaches, and self-education. But I’ve also learned that when you need help with something, ask for it – chances are the help you need could be sitting right next to you. People who share a passion for something will be happy to help each other out.
There was not much of a template to open a space that did exactly what we wanted, we’ve had to create our own. Without understanding at all about scaling a business, it’s also been a lot of work with very little pay. I needed to try things and see what worked. I sometimes still find myself hearing my own limiting fears come up and the thought that maybe what I was doing was not practical enough but then I realize that EXACTLY why I have to keep going.
And because I believe in it so much, and know the real value it brings, to make it accessible to people regardless of where they are in their life.
The biggest challenge was definitely 2020. They say after the first three years of business you start taking it to another level. That time passed at the end of 2019 – once the Utah shutdown happened, I was immensely humbled, and devastated and quite frankly didn’t know how to continue. My business had been build around presence – physical, literal presence. In the space, you leave outside, and you connect with yourself during that time. Let’s look at each other in the face (not through a damn screen.) Well, I learned that the government can physically shut down my business, anytime. And then what? I had no products or services to offer my members especially at a painful and stressful time when movement is even more crucial.
In the silver lining perspective, it was an opportunity to literally rebuild my business, I lost so many instructors and members. I swallowed the bitter pill and committed to building online tools and services (it was bitter – I was a dance teacher and a working massage therapist – certainly, deliberately NOT a techy person). But I realized I could adopt a better attitude, and resolved to ultimately build my business better, smarter, bigger.
And so that’s where we are, I still have a lot to learn and a lot to do, and I am asking for help. And once we were able to re-open, we had a new type of client the people showing up for classes showed me how much these services are needed, and how appreciative we all were to not take that space or each other for granted.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about The Moxy Movement?
Moxy offers classes to older teens/adults in various dance techniques, pole fitness, aerial lyra (hoop), hammock, yoga, and belly dancing. We host a lot of fun parties for bachelorettes and birthdays for an unforgettable novel experience!
What sets us apart is the uniqueness of our offerings and dedication to excellence. We are a creative space, all of our classes are designed to awaken this within participants. Along with health, vibrancy, and longevity, we train bodies to move properly so we may become stronger than ever before. We have regular events and showcases, we love providing a space for our members to shine. We have members in their teens, all the way up to dancers in their 60s.
What I am most proud of is that our classes are designed to allow ALL participants to excel, especially beginners at any age. The saddest thing I hear with so many people, is they totally discredit themselves BEFORE they even try one class. They have so many excuses of why “they can’t – or shouldn’t.” It happens repeatedly where a new person will be absolutely surprised at all they could do, and they were disappointed they didn’t try it sooner.
Even though I’m not practicing massage now, I am still absolutely supporting people to realize they can live without certain physical pain or limitations.
This stuff isn’t easy, and it’s not above us, either. It teaches us to show up for ourselves to work hard, and discover the rewards are bounteous. We are called to ask more and of ourselves what else are those negative excuses holding you back from? I guarantee it’s definitely more than just taking that pole class.
If you are curious, just sign up for that class. Or do what I did and make a good friend go with you! If you just want to know more about it, Moxy has a lot of educational blog posts on our website, and a YouTube Channel with a lot of information and performance videos.
We will be releasing a mini docu-series on Vimeo in December 2021, “With Moxy” it follows several women on their journey to a pole dancing competition and all the ups and downs of such an undertaking. Surely a show not to miss!
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
Let yourself question your ways of doing things, and invite more fun and novelty into your life! The truth is we CAN get better as we age – if we keep moving, we keep living, and we keep honing our own awareness.
That will only enhance everything within and around us. And it’s not just moving it’s in THE HOW I invite all people to realize their bodies are in every moment regenerating – so if we do new things, properly, our bodies will adapt and do new things.
It’s never too late to get started, and it’s always the perfect time to find more comfort, ease, energy, and alignment in our bodies and our lives. Try something new you’ve always wanted to, (and always had the perfect excuse not to.)
I wish every reader the best of luck and joy in their movement journeys!
Pricing:
- $47 for intro, 10-day unlimited class pass
- $25 for one drop-in class
- 5/10 class passes
- 4/8/unlimited classes/month Membership options
Contact Info:
- Email: info@moxymovement.com
- Website: www.moxymovement.com
- Instagram: @moxymovement https://www.instagram.com/moxymovement/
- Facebook: The Moxy Movement https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=the%20moxy%20movement
- Youtube: The Moxy Movement https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuWUJpU3R5QtTaQK9erozaQ
Image Credits
Nikkita Saulnier
