Check Out Rebecca Baack’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rebecca Baack.

Rebecca, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
After a 17-year career of opening and co-owning thirty-four CorePower Yoga locations around the U.S., I left that position after a buy-out. Looking for my next project, I saw that Mecha was for sale during the start of the pandemic. I negotiated to purchase it out of shut-down and I re-opened Mecha in Boulder in May 2020.

I could never have predicted how difficult it would be to run a small business, let alone a fitness concept, during the ups and downs of the pandemic. I felt responsible for the client’s and staff’s health and safety yet also responsible to keep the business going strong to continue to pay salaries to people who depended on me. I lost a lot of sleep every night worrying about the team and how I would keep it all going.

When the dust appeared to settle I signed a lease for a second location in Louisville only to have the Delta wave peak with a new Boulder County mask mandate happen right at our opening week. Two months after opening, Louisville suffered from horrible fires which burned 30% of our member’s homes. It was a very difficult time for the business to survive. Through sheer tenacity and a very talented team of caring staff we persevered and made it through that Winter and Summer.

While Mecha is currently thriving again, it’s difficult for me to find my optimistic spirit because of the stress hangover of the last two years. I know for many small business owners this has been a scary and challenging journey. I have been slowly connecting with many gym owners in the Denver area just to talk about what we went through and share our experiences to try to help each other heal emotionally and find our mojo again.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
So many struggles! Some of the more painful struggles have been clients threatening to sue my small business for enforcing the local mask ordinances. I had clients demanding to go without masks in classes where I had instructors teaching who were at risk for serious complications with covid. I lost a lot of sleep during that time. As a business, every member matters in terms of my ability to meet my payroll but some clients were not very kind about masks or us asking to see vaccine cards.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My adventurous spirit is my main superpower in entrepreneurship. This past June I climbed Denali in Alaska. While I had to stop 1/3 mile from the summit from extreme altitude sickness that turned me into a puddle before the very final hill to the peak, I plan to return in 2024 to try again. I love challenges and operating a small business these past few years has brought plenty of them! I try to challenge myself in all ways professionally and personally.

Currently, I’m working to learn Japanese in preparation for a back-country ski trip to Japan. I believe you have to push yourself to do hard things every day. You can’t only pick hard physical things, you have to work on mental toughness too. I mindfully pursue a variety of challenges that push me to grow in all ways. I think that is the thing that sets me apart.

What do you like and dislike about the city?
As a Colorado native, I miss the smaller population back in the day. You could go skiing on a Saturday and there was never traffic like there is now. I feel like Denver has lost the vibe of the West.

Pricing:

• Try 3 classes at Mecha for $35

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mecha.com/
• Instagram: @rebeccabaack