Inspiring Conversations with Christeen Leal of The Sensory Club Denver

Today we’d like to introduce you to Christeen Leal.

Hi Christeen, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
In September 2019 my husband, Dustin, and I got married and became first-time homeowners. We knew we needed to save up money and wait until summer of 2020 to go on a honeymoon. That way I would be off for the school year, as a special education teacher, and we would have time to plan a great vacation. Of course, that’s not what 2020 had in mind. So fast forward to March 2020, my new husband and I were both adjusting to our new virtual working world when I got the news that my school could not keep my teaching position for the next year. At that point, I was in year nine of teaching and felt that this was a sign to look at different career paths. It was a struggle deciding to leave education, which triggered guilt and anxiety for me, however, the possibility of a new career was intriguing. Fortunately, at that time, my father-in-law in Wisconsin got in touch with a longtime family friend, Brian Hall, the founder and CEO of The Sensory Club. He was running the flagship location in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. With my father-in-law’s knowledge of his son’s skills and my background in working with those with disabilities, he thought this would be a great fit and wonderful opportunity for us. When it was safe to travel again, we went to visit my in-laws and were able to see The Sensory Club itself. It was clear that the mission of The Sensory Club aligned with ours. Both of our professions promote equity for all people, so we were captivated by this concept of an all-inclusive club built around members’ needs. After many talks and a long list of questions for Brian, we signed the franchise agreement in March 2021. A couple months later in May 2021, we found the perfect location in Englewood, Colorado, and on September 14th, 2021, The Sensory Club Denver opened its doors.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Of course, when starting a business there are unexpected tasks and challenges, and there’s only so much you can learn from watching the show “Shark Tank”. When we were going through the process, knowing that The Sensory Club flagship location in Pewaukee, Wisconsin had been successfully open for five years with close to 700 members, gave us a sense of safety. However, being the first to franchise and act as the blueprint for future expansion had a lot of pressure along with it. We realized there are countless new skills that we needed to acquire, and quickly. Dustin’s background in Emergency Management and mine in the classroom only partially prepared us for significant decision-making like building the space, strategic marketing, and business budgeting to name a few. Being new business owners without prior business knowledge or experience felt incredibly vulnerable and made for a steep learning curve for us.

When we started The Sensory Club Denver, we were both working full-time jobs. Stretching ourselves to juggle two positions, with the business-owner position having never-ending responsibilities, was extremely exhausting. Eventually, we had to make the decision that one of us needed to go part-time to spend more effort on the business. It was difficult for me to leave the school district when I thought teaching was my career path, but The Sensory Club’s mission became a stronger pull from the universe. As one weight lifted from me leaving a very demanding career, another was laid on as I went into being a full-time businesswoman.

Any small business owner can probably tell you the financial burden and understanding strategic budgeting is a giant hurdle. Ensuring your business has enough runway to take off in the beginning is a constant stressor. One thing that has been uniquely difficult is understanding all the different layers of special needs funding in Colorado. We are lucky to live in a state where there are many resources for families with a special need, however as a business owner in the field, there is so much to navigate. That is still something we are working hard at, as we continue to ensure our resource is accessible to all families across the Denver County and surrounding areas.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Many people are affected by sensory processing deficits that can cause barriers for daily living. Sensory rooms have been a resource since the 1970s and are a common use of therapy in the UK. Though you can find similar settings at health clinics or specialized school programs, there are few concepts of a publicly accessible space for sensory experiences across the US like us. The Sensory Club Denver is the first and only open-gym concept to franchise in Colorado.

We are a member-based club where people of all ages with disabilities are free to explore, play, and relax using our therapy equipment and multi-sensory environment. We have strategically chosen equipment that is proven in sensory research and by occupational/physical therapists. At The Sensory Club Denver, we carefully designed the space to be accessible for all needs, down to the paint color and lighting. The multisensory environment room, or “calm room” as our members call it, provides a customizable space where the mixture of sensory stimulation through light, sound, and vibrations can meet members’ needs. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to facilitate and guide members as it best fits their therapist’s recommendations, sensory diet, and/or emotional and physical needs.

Our prices are competitive with other play-based gyms. Our affordable monthly membership allows families to access The Sensory Club as often and for as long as they want or need, as well as free admission to our community events. Schools and respite programs can utilize our space for field trips or camp programs, and we always welcome drop-in guests through a day pass. Our Club is free for therapists to use with members, or they can purchase a discounted organization membership. We want to support those with the same mission of inclusiveness and provide a space for sensory-sensitive events, therefore our space can also be utilized for other businesses to host events. If you are a member of your counties’ Community Centered Board, you can contact your case manager to discuss options for funding a membership, as The Sensory Club Denver is considered a setting for therapeutic recreation and adaptive therapy.

Individual Membership $49/month
Double Membership $69/month
Family Membership (3+) $89/month
Individual Day Pass $20

Family Day pass (3+) $45
Field trips $10/person for 2 hours
Event space rental (hourly rates vary based on needs)
*Discounts for military and organization/business/school memberships. Parents, caregivers, teachers, and therapists are always free.
We had a family celebrate their son’s birthday party at our club, and they told us that this was the first time they had a party outside of their home. It just takes one person out in public to make a parent feel judged. Our space is a safe haven for those with disabilities. This father emotionally emphasized how important this experience of feeling understood at The Sensory Club was for their family and his son. That is one of my favorite success stories from our business that proves we are on the right path.

We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
Opening an indoor play area while a global virus is rampantly spreading isn’t exactly a great market strategy. However, Dustin and I knew that The Sensory Club Denver was needed for families who had spent over a year indoors, lacking social connection, and learning in front of computers. Creating a space for special needs families to reconnect, grow, and support each other made our gym an essential resource. Everyone can benefit from mental and physical breaks; our gym provides a safe space for that. Many school-aged friends are still adjusting to this “new normal” and getting back to school settings. We have learned through our member’s feedback that creating an atmosphere for building social and pragmatic skills with others is important for developmental progress. To this day, we have continued to ensure that our disinfecting protocols are elevated for our vulnerable population. Importantly, after the past two years that we’ve had as a country, we want to bring fun and laughter back to our daily lives, and we have a lot of that at The Sensory Club. Play really is proven!

Opening a business during the pandemic and surviving it as newlyweds taught us the importance of having passion in what you do and how vital it is to have a strong support system around you. Both of our parents being business owners has taught us firsthand the challenges we’d endure personally and professionally but how rewarding it can be if we face them together with dedicated family support. This venture gave Dustin and I the opportunity to rewrite our future and gave us purpose to support the Denver disability community. “Write a new ending for yourself, for the people you’re meant to serve and support, and for your culture.” -Brené Brown

Contact Info:

• Email: denver@thesensoryclub.com
• Website: www.thesensoryclub.com/denver
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/thesensoryclubdenver
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/thesensoryclubdenver
• Other: #sensoryclubdenver

Image Credits
Colin Hagan