Meet Trailblazer Simona Shapiro

Today we’d like to introduce you to Simona Shapiro.

Simona, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
If someone had told me six years ago that I would be working as a group fitness trainer full time, I would have never believed them. My idea of fitness was watching E! + dragging my feet on the elliptical while my friends intensely lifted heavy weights + ran miles on the treadmill next to me.

And if you’re Russian like me, you’ll definitely understand this: My parents lived by the belief that food could pretty much solve anything. Lots of homework? Procrastinate with a snack. Happy? Celebrate with a snack. Upset? Have a snack, you’ll feel better. Just ate dinner? Time for a snack. It wasn’t until after college that I happened to stumble into fitness. Turns out, I’m completely in love.

After college, hoping to snag some new piano students (what I thought was my original calling), I got a job working the front desk + childcare at Barre3. Feeling like I should at least know what Barre3 was all about, I hopped into my first class. 10 minutes in, I was DYING. I felt like my legs were going to fall off. And yet, I came back for more. Somewhere between the constant shake + burn and the instructor telling me to get an inch lower, I fell in love. I fell in love with the way I felt during and after class. I fell in love with the community of people that supported + encouraged one another.

Soon after, I knew that the universe had bigger things in mind. A few months later, I auditioned for a then, new + upcoming studio — The Barre Code — which is now coming up on its 4 year anniversary (Congrats my babes!) After going through training, I taught every format + every class I could get my hands on. I was fully addicted. And I still wanted more. I taught almost every day for just under four years.

Fast forward a few years in, I got another gig teaching — this time at CycleBar. Although my time there was short, I learned a lot + walked away with a few new friends (and if you’re reading this you know who you are). Although these studios are no longer my permanent teaching home, they led me to Rush Cycle where I am now a Corporate Master Trainer + Instructor. And although I never would have guessed it, I am forever grateful that I get to ride a bike for a living. Sure it’s stationary, but it takes me all around the world.

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?
Absolutely not.

Training and learning a new skill of any kind is always challenging. There were days when I questioned everything – whether I could do it, if it would ever get easier, or if it was even worth the effort. Four weeks of eat, sleep, rush, repeat. And somehow I had to teach barre classes in between.

There are always going to be days where the fear sets in. Days where you feel like you’re not good enough, or people don’t understand, or worse, are standing in your way. But sometimes success lies in the struggle. It has to be worth it.

A random fun fact about me is that I didn’t actually learn to ride a bike until I was 23 years old (that’s a story for another time). And yet, now, I travel for Rush to train new instructors how to ride + teach a class. So, my advice is don’t be afraid to just start, to be a beginner. There will always be a learning curve, but if you’re willing to work through those moments that feel uncertain + impossible, and trust the timing of your life, I guarantee you’ll end up where you’re meant to be.

My advice is that it’s never too late to start, or to learn, or to be a beginner again. That’s how we get better. We all have to start somewhere. Maybe it’s not where to want to be or where to expect to be, but have a little trust in the timing of your life.

What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of? What sets you apart from others?
I am a Corporate Master Trainer and I also teach at our Highlands location. As a corporate trainer, I travel to new markets during their pre-opening stage and I hire and train new instructors in the Rush Cycle brand. I also teach here in Denver a few times per week. You can always catch me in the 5:30a time slot. People say I’m crazy, but early morning classes are my favorite.

I am also one of the co-founders of starseed, a pop-up fitness experience company here in Denver. We host all kinds of events. But most recently, I partnered with Rachel Overvoll + Hannah Moon to host Rise Up Denver, which is a women’s conference tailored to women who are looking to start a new business or grow their existing business. Although this is a new endeavor, it’s the one I am by far the proudest of. We will be hosting a smaller women’s retreat along with plans to host another big conference early next year.

Finding a mentor and building a network are often cited in studies as a major factor impacting one’s success. Do you have any advice or lessons to share regarding finding a mentor or networking in general?
I have been lucky enough to find my people through The Barre Code and Rush Cycle. People who talk about visions and creating things that don’t exist. Friends and colleagues that make me feel like my ideas are never too big or too crazy. Although, I’m sure some of them are at first glance.

I’ve always been an if-it-feels-right-then-roll-with-it kinda girl. I fully follow my intuition when it comes to business + people. I met so many incredible women at our first Rise Up event that I probably never would have met if it wasn’t for that shared experience. And I get to meet new clients every day that come into our studio.

I think the most crucial part of networking is making a GENUINE CONNECTION. You don’t need to give out your business card to 50 people to get your name out there. Meet five people that get excited about the same things you get excited about. That are willing to hustle, and dream, and support your vision. Those are the people you want to be surrounded by. The ones that get. shit. done. They’re the ones you’ll be able to bounce ideas around with, who will hype you up when you’re feeling unsure of yourself, who will help you take your business to the next level. Those are the people you want to hold onto.

Contact Info:

• Email: shapirosimona@gmail.com
• Instagram: @simonashapiro, @riseup_denver

Image Credit:
Josephine Virginia

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