Katie

We’re running a series on our instructors – but the side you don’t see in the studio every day. Get to know our team even better through these interviews and hopefully we can all connect on an even deeper level.

Katie was at SPARK basically every day before this pandemic hit, and things have been pretty different in the last month and a half. Read a little about what her day looked like before this/what she’s been up to now and maybe get some podcast and book recommendations.

What did a typical day for you look like when SPARK was open? 

My day to day has changed pretty drastically. Pre-pandemic, I was on a very early schedule and was almost always up by 6 a.m. I would wake up and basically immediately check my email/texts early and address anything that was urgent or that I could do quickly. I’m at at least one studio pretty much every day of the week (I spend more time at La Jolla because we don’t have a dedicated manager there but go to Liberty a few times a week, just not always during class times).

When classes are going on, I get to know riders, catch up with instructors, help with check in/bike set up during class changeovers, work with the staff on projects around the studio, update staff on any policies or changes, check inventory, make a playlist for a class I’m teaching, respond to emails, post Instagram stories, do little things around the studio, and of course teach.

We have a midday break Monday - Friday so that’s when I get most of my work done. Steph and I work together on big picture projects and the “business” side of everything and I’ll also use that time to send out internal communications, have meetings, do administrative work, plan out our social media and marketing, and attempt/coordinate any maintenance. 

The schedule definitely took some time to adapt to but I’ve grown to enjoy how the day is split up. I also love that I get to see our staff and riders so often; sometimes I’ll go two days without seeing someone but it feels like a week.

How has that changed since the studio closed?

It’s been a weird transition. We were scrambling to keep up with the ever-changing policies, so in the days before we closed, we were quickly adapting to increase cleaning, remove weights from classes, block off bikes, and of course communicate all of that to staff and riders. 

Now that we’re officially closed, my work has changed drastically. I’ve been interviewing all of our instructors, which has been a great way to keep up with everyone, and posting on our blog and Instagram. I send out our weekly emails and develop content and copy for those. We opened an e-commerce store and I set that up and I fulfill all of the shipments (thank you for your orders!). Steph and I have been catching up on projects that we hadn’t gotten around to (like organizing the back/office areas) and we’re also working on our larger-scale reopening strategy and navigating what that may look like. 

Now that SPARK is closed, you’re pretty much at home all day and you live alone. How is it?

I live alone in a 400 sq ft apartment and never thought about it much until I had to rearrange my furniture and half-block my front door to be able to put a yoga mat down. I previously spent very little time at home and now suddenly I’ve been directed to stay there, so it’s a big change. I’ve always considered myself introverted, and while I absolutely think that’s true, it’s still lonely.

I go for a lot of walks, I read, sometimes I watch TV, and I cook/prepare food way more than I did before. This is an unpopular opinion, but I actually read the news pretty often. I enjoy being informed on current events and it gives me a sense of control, even if I have absolutely none over the situation.

I’ve become a lot closer to my friends who I previously didn’t talk to as often. I do a Zoom workout with my college friends most weekdays, have a weekly Zoom dinner with my friends from law school, and am in multiple group texts that cover most of the time in between. I feel fortunate that I have so many amazing people in my life.

Do you have any advice?

I find it helpful to “rate” a stressful or negative situation from 1 to 10 (like 1 is the puzzle that I’m struggling to finish and 10 is death) to help gain perspective and stay present. I also think it’s important to find and articulate a few things each day to enjoy and be grateful for, whether it’s a pretty flower (obsessed with the current floral scene) or the health of you and your family. 

Some other tips that hold true in non-pandemic times as well: take a deep breath, sleep, drink a lot of water, go for a walk (alone/away from other people).

And if you’re looking for some books or podcasts to fill the time, I made a list of some recommendations. 

Books

Podcasts

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