We recently connected with Lala Woods and have shared our conversation below.
Hi LaLa, we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?
Growing up I had alot of practice having to be confident in myself , my abilities , my decision making and more. As a latch-key kid I spent a lot of time traveling by myself to and from school with my younger siblings. I was also in a ton of activities like cheerleading, dance teams, drill teams, plays, afterschool programs, choir, community groups and more. In most groups I found myself in a leadership position. Being a leader of your peers can be hard, intimidating & pressure. It was so much so that by my late teen years I was running from being a leader in any space I was in. I believe that confidence is a practice and a mindset! It’s something I teach to my clients. How you feel about yourself truly does start from the inside & projects out. Having to constantly practice leadership roles throughout my life helped me to practice practice practice confidence & self esteem. The more I made decisions for my peers I gained the confidence in myself overall. The more I practiced confidence in what I was wearing , how i felt about myself, let me explain. Practice meaning- doing it afraid or doing it anyway. So no, I didn’t initally feel great all the time about my appearance, about my abilities, about myself. That’s a part of growing up and changing. Even when I didnt, like a parent, you’re not sure but you are responsible for this little life so you make decision after decision. Your kids trust that you are making the best decisions. You have to build that same confidence in other areas. Learning how to trust yourself. Learning to accept your flaws & things about yourself you can’t change. Owning them! Until you love them! Working to change the things you can. The world will accept you exactly how you accept yourself, It starts from within. I believe through many uncomfortable situations, tough decisions, trials, Tribulations, practice & God, I’ve been able to develop a confidence in myself and the self-love & acceptance to continue to overcome.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
In 2013 after overcoming a weightloss Journey post college. I wanted to help others in my area do the same. HOW? I have a degree in Dance & communication, At that time dance had change my perspective on fitness. When i got heavy in my dance major- constantly moving my body in ways I loved and dancing for hours & hours a day which I also loved something weird happen. The things I had been trying to do outside of the dance studio started to happen more naturally. My eating habits changed. They were a pain point & struggle to do before but now I didnt want a burger in between a dance session so I ate lighter even after classes or rehearsals. Moving made me make better choices in the kitchen. Thats were my business was born. The motto & driving force: GET UP & GET ACTIVE. What you eat is most important in a wellness journey, but for some of use we overthink it and I’m here to remind you just Get up & Get active #GUGA.
During this time Zumba was all the rave, and I was a dancer so I got certified to teach it. I started a community class in hopes to teach a few days a week and no goals outside of that. Zumba lasted a short time before I realized my community needed something different than a latin based style workout. That is where La’Movement Dance Fitness was born. I started to create routines to our favorite Hip Hop, R&B, Reggae, & more new and old. By this time I had progessed in my own journey & was falling in love with the gym. By 2014 we develop the La’Movement Dance class to encorporate fun high energy dance moves & also a ton of fitness movements.
That first year of teaching set the tajectory for my path as an entrepreneur. I had been 3 years into a job that I was great at in customer service, progressing into management but teaching on Monday & Tuesday nights fed me! It was so hard to go to work every day doing something mediocre in my heart when it was filled so heavily on those other 2 days. My class was growing fast & I was doing what I truly love which was helping people. By 2015 I was a full time in my class turning my brain from hobby to business mindset, how am I going to live off this art.
La’Movement Fitness began to open doors that didn’t even exsist before it did. A path way was carved for me to help my community be healhty and make fitness fun. We started to partner with major organzations & companies to the area to spread fitness throughtout the community. Over the last 11 years we’ve worked with Highmark, the city of buffalo, United Way, the Buffalo Bills, Ralph Wilson foundatio, Independent health and NYS department of health just to name a few. We created specfic fitness classes most that don’t even look like fitness and catered to specific demographics, Childrens fitness, Seniors & 18+ for women. We worked with over 30 schools to promote wellness & awareness in childhood obesity in afterschool & other programs. We participated in city wide Outdoor fitness efforts, and so many others that we are proud of.
We opened our very first study in 2018 where we built our adult programming for women. Helping them to not only move their bodies but boost & build confidence in LA’X a seductive workout that encorporates dancing in heels and Twerk classes. Fitness Xperiences which allowed women to let thier hair down in an ultimate ladies night , food , drink & fitness, even birthday parties. We built community! In 2020 we closed due to covid and continued to reach people online and outdoor once we were approved to go back outside.
We launched an aparel line the GUGA SHOP in 2020 as well. So going oniline has been out focus post covid and beyond.
La’Movement has allowed me to do what im so passionate about- help people take their lives back and prioratize their health. In the most unconscious way. I can inspire and motivate people through world wide to live better by just living my own lifestyle. Using it as a testimony that their are also ups & down to this journey. You can fall off and recover. You can be in the best shape , life happens and you get back in good health again. I’ve been on small business panels and judged pitch competitions. I’ve traveled throught the US, taught classes and empowered women tp be confidenct. I’ve even taugth cross coutnry in Africa, Kenya. This company has not only made me a CEO, a director and a boss, but an event planner and community acitivist as well.
All the community work has led us to open our non-profit the GUGA FOUNDATION were we continue health efforts in under serves communities. People who don’t have access to healthy food sources or means to join a gym and be active regularly. We come in and create affordable experiences. We’ve started a Roller skating sports clinic , Biking and other fitness based activities. On October 20. 2024 we’re hosting a fundrasier – SKATE GALA. Yes pretty dressed & formal wear but on skates.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Going back to my childhood, leadership would be #1. The skills I learned throught life of being a leader, taking initative in a situation and getting things done really help as I begin to take more leaps in to entreprenuership.
Customer Service was huge. I’ve worked since I was 12. Every job has always had a customer service component. Most of my adult jobs were solely customer service based. Also having a sales background didn’t hurt. Being able to talk to people, relate to them and take ownership was a game changer in my business. Building relationships with major corportations & networking also came back to customer service. I don’t think many small businesses understand the importance.
My personality is really infectious. The energy I bring to my classes , an interview, a stage. the way I make my clients feel comfortable and welcome even when they show up alone. Its like a song that plays loudly and the vibrations are just infectious. It took me some time to realize it but I’m so thankful for my energy. I’ve gotten so many complients on it over the years and so much feedback. I know its a quality that has helped my business & myself over the years. Its tuff when your having a bad day , .which is part of the human experience , and to be responsible for the vibes of others but I truly look to it as a gift.
My advice is mentorship! Working with people who have background knowledge of your field of study, of business, or general guidance is so important and helpful. I was lucky to have so many small business accelarator and grant funded programs in my local area. We’ve won grants that offered mentorship, my alma mater literally has a small business department open to the community. If you plan to have staff take classes in leadership and develop your mangament skills also.
What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?
To be honest my current obstacle , which I don’t think we talk about alot in the entrepenuership journey is Inspiration. As a creative we love to do and try new things. To make new things. Even though I use my creative juices in a fitness space after 11 straight years of doing something similar I find myself lacking inspiration to keep going . Where am I going? Do I need to switch things up to stay motivated & inspired myself. I love what I do & who I do it for but is this still serving me or maybe the where. This hasn’t been a short obstacle but a long one to consider.
Burn out is so real. When you’ve given what feels like all you have to your business how do you recoup. After being totally burned out post covid, I’ve had to find new ways to keep myself active and reinspire and spark that thing in me that I give out to others. The motivation and inspiration. I try to spend more time in the sun because I feed off that energy. I’ve gotten back into Roller skating in an extreme way. I even started body building. I’ve gone to different areas and networked. Found different brands to partner with and tap into new audiences. All these things also remind me of my Why, why I started doing this in the first place. How helping people makes me my best self.
Change is a part of life. Accepting changes whether you need to recreate things, end things, or take a step back and re-evaluate them is a part of growing. It can give you some anxiety but can also but fun and adventerous as well.
So i’m always looking for brands to partner & collobarate with throughout the country because I try to go where the need is. Brands I can create fun or even unorthodox activities with to keep people moving & inspired.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lamovementfitness.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lamovement
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lamovement
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfRMKc27gg7AONTF2zPqMkQ
Image Credits
Photo 4,5,8 are from Fiveten images
Photo 3,6,7,9,11 from Crossclipss Production
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
