Today we’d like to introduce you to Jillian Keaveny.
Jillian, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Movement has always been a part of my life. A three-sport athlete in high school, a division II basketball player in college, and then a personal trainer/fitness instructor and yoga instructor since 2006. I was born in Austin, TX, and raised in Manitou Springs, CO where I attended the same high school as my mother, Julie Boyd, At the front end of my life, movement was a task, an action, and absolutely a part of my identity. I found joy in competition, pushing myself – my mind and body – to a particular goal, both individually and on a team. It filled me up until it didn’t. Midway through my time at Mesa State College my identity and worthiness as an athlete came crashing down and my relationship with exercise and sport drastically changed. Fast forward two years later when after attempting to find a job in professional sport (marketing) or the Olympic Training Center, I found myself personal training full time. After that short stint guiding one-on-one sessions and small group trainings, I took a drastic turn into the world of retail. I managed a running specialty store – the Colorado Running Company (2008) – in Colorado Springs, and also opened up the lululemon showroom (2011). 2008 was a pivotal year as it was the beginning of my relationship with yoga and group fitness. It was also the reintegration of movement (and also joy from movement) back into my personal life after a hard break-up with the Jillian-the-athlete. Or so I thought. 2008 also was a major point in meeting my future business partner – more on that later. After two years of enjoying yoga and fitness solely for me, 2010 marked the year I did my 200hr yoga teacher training with CorePower Yoga. It was also the year I began teaching group fitness and yoga classes. These years left an imprint on me. All of these jobs demonstrated the power of community and how moved I am by the movement + community dynamic.
Fast forward to 2013 when I moved to Denver. My brother was recovering from a severe Vespa scooter accident (which included a month-long coma), and I had just received a promotion with lululemon. Here I was in Denver feeling like I was sort of starting all over again. Building a new community from scratch. I had no idea at the time how quickly this would take place OR how powerful and rewarding it would be. Our Compass Fitness story actually began over a decade ago. Remember the 2008 mention? It began when I took my co-founder/business partner Heather Lorince Harrington’s Yoga Sculpt class at CorePower Yoga in Colorado Springs that year. I walked out of there saying to myself, “I’d like to be friends with that one, she’s pretty funny.” Heather and I connected right away upon my arrival and we began teaching side by side at the same studios as well as separate ones. Looking back, I’d say this was our time when we were individually learning, growing, molding into the instructors we are today, as well as learning SO much about what worked for other studios and what absolutely didn’t. Even though we both basically were yelling from the rooftops ‘we NEVER want to own our own studio’ – because what the hell, who has the time and energy for that, no thank you! – looking back now I believe we were subconsciously storing away all of the lessons we learned and how we would do things if we ever took on the role of owner. Throughout this time, we were not only building our following and brands but making huge connections with other incredible instructors in Denver. This crew of other humans devoting their time and energy to helping others move, grow, find individual health and wellness, working a handful of jobs to pay their bills was created. So many of our friendships were derived from our fellow instructors or clients/students.
Remember the whole ‘I don’t want to own a studio’ story? Well, from 2013-beginning of 2018, I did basically everything but own a studio. I managed other people’s businesses, taught 20 classes per week all over town, personal trained, produced events (Fit + Fold, Fit Fest with SoundOff Colorado), taught free events, learned to be a DJ, DJ’d lots of events and classes, and so much more. Here I was trying to be in the fitness/yoga industry without having to own my own studio. And it worked for a long time. I loved that time of my life and all that transpired, but in the back of my head, deep in my heart, I wanted more. I wanted my own space, my own team of people who were in alignment with how I viewed movement, community and overall wellness. I wanted to be pushed to continue to grow as an instructor and to be surrounded by people I so inspired daily. And that’s exactly what happened. Heather and I had our team of instructors who we had developed relationships with along the way in our various journeys, and we found a space that in that moment cued a “What the hell, we have to try this now or else we never will. Oh, and hopefully people who have said they would show up for us will do just that.” We signed a lease for Compass Fitness the last week of March 2018 and opened May 29th, 2018.
Looking back, there are so many layers to my story. Losing my father at 16, and almost losing my brother at 28 have both provided lessons rooted in my soul. There is this quiet drive in me. A push to not waste time. To laugh, to experience, to grow and to be in a relationship. These things fuel me on a daily basis. I have fortunately chosen a career, a business, and team of people who remind me of these lessons and who reflect back to me what I most crave and appreciate in this life.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Oh gosh. Not smooth at all. Looking back, I see so many dots connected that although didn’t make sense at the time, now seem to fit perfectly, directing me to this place today. But, the man did they hurt sometimes in the moment.
Let’s see, not in any particular order or level of intensity, some struggles along the way include:
Body image bull shit – yeah, it’s a thing and obviously a big one in the realm of fitness/yoga.
Realizing you aren’t in alignment with people or brands you work for/with. People grow, change and evolve ALL of the time. And the sometimes pain and discomfort when that growth involves growing apart from people is incredibly intense, and often times involves high amounts of internal and external tension.
Money. Being in the fitness/yoga industry isn’t glamorous and takes a LOT of energy. And often times without much financial reciprocity. You pour your heart, soul, body and emotions into teaching and the typical price per class doesn’t often make teaching full time permanent.
Compass Fitness – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Compass Fitness is a class-based studio, located at Evans/Broadway. ‘Find Your Direction’ is our motto or mantra, and this comes from our belief that like your life journey, your fitness journey evolves and changes over time and there is a consistent pursuit to “find your direction” in the ways you wish to move your body and experience wellness in the movement form.
Compass Fitness offers a variety of classes, all under one GIANT roof! From heavy weight training specific classes (Down + Dirty, Buns + Guns), to more cardio focused classes (ABSolute Cardio), trampoline (Bounce + Bells/Barre), boxing (KNOCKOUT), Compass has become some people’s one-stop shop for fitness. All taught by a team of diverse and veteran instructors. Also, 6800 sq feet allows us the space to produce some really incredible large scale fitness/yoga events as well as donation based classes. We host at least one donation based class per month, often times in direct connection with one of our members or communities close to us.
Compass is known for and most proud of our creativity, challenging workouts, and most importantly, community. When entering our space, people should expect to be met with open arms. Met with a staff that truly cares about them. Experience and connection lead the way with the side benefit of a fantastic workout. As a company, we are committed to CONTINUOUS growth, both personally and professionally. We grow as you do, and we will never stay stagnant. Lastly, we always find the FUN in big and small moments.
We also offer personal training and are ALWAYS open to collaborating with other studios/businesses for events and special productions.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Oh gosh. Two of them in the career department.
1. Fit Fest – Jan 2018 — With the help of co-producer Phillip Galaviz, owner of SoundOff Colorado – him and I alone co-produced a three-day fitness/yoga/movement festival at the McNichols Building (Civic Center Park). It was the weekend of both the Women’s March (in Civic Center Park) and a blizzard. Still, we had over 800 people at the event. Forty-five classes, taught by over 23 studios, childcare, all for a $25 weekend all-inclusive ticket. We wanted people in Denver to experience the incredible movement/wellness offerings in this city and for it to be accessible. I taught the opening Fit Fest class that Friday night to 225 people (second floor of the McNichols Bldg) and I felt like I was on the moon. I was having a total out of body experience – of course, I was hit with the worst cold of my life and was on prescription drugs, convenient – seeing so many people I cared for there, teaching movement to music and witnessing that many bodies move as one, holy crap.
2. 1 yr anniversary of Compass — Compared to its opening day, when I was in total survival mode focused on all the big and small things to get the thing OPEN, the 1 yr anniversary I was truly able to stop, watch and feel the special and unique thing we created. My heart was full on a level I didn’t know existed. People said they would come, show up, take classes, tell their friends, and they did just that. We tried things, grew, failed, cried, laughed and it was all worth it. It was a day where we were reminded that we get to be with our friends and run this business.
Pricing:
- Unlimited classes $179/mo
- 12 classes per month $159/mo
- 8 classes per month $119/mo
- 4 classes per month $64/mo
- NEW Client 3 pack $50
Contact Info:
- Address: 2059 S Broadway, Denver CO 80210
- Website: www.compassfitnessdenver.com
- Email: info@compassfitnessdenver.com
- Instagram: @compassfitnessdenver
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/compassfitnessdenver/
Image Credit:
Photo of me – Lisa Haefner
Compass Photos -Teddy Sirotek
Getting in touch: VoyageDenver is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
