Today we’d like to introduce you to Stacey Braden
Hi Stacey, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I am an Aerial Arts & Movement Studio owner in Bastrop, Tx, located about 30 miles east of Austin. This a growing community that is expected to double in size in only the next two years! I don’t even remember how I got connected to Yoga, but I was certified to teach in 2013. So movement has been in my life a long time. I am also an avid motorcyclist. When an injury required knee surgery in 2014 or so, I decided to take a Burlesque class to check it off my “bucket list.” The studio had pole classes, something I had no idea you could even take. I was curious, and decided to go for that, too, just to see. It was so much harder than I thought it would be, but I was thus hooked on the challenge. That challenge and feeling of empowerment has never gone away. After a few years of taking pole classes, I learned about other training options with fabrics, aerial hoop, and more. During COVID, I kept pondering the idea of starting a studio where I lived versus driving so far, and I finally made it happen in 2022.
Alright, 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?
The road is never smooth! I am not a corporation, so all the risk is on me. Plus, we are in a brick and mortar building, not just online. I also still do a lot of teaching, which I enjoy, but it’s challenging because I’m also Administration, Finance, HR, Marketing, Social Media, IT, Housekeeping and everything else. I have to tell myself to take things literally minute by minute and to find grace.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
There is no business like ours in this County. We offer aerial circus arts and air-based in silks, sling, lyra, and bungee. Plus movement classes in yoga, mobility, mat pilates, barre, belly dance, and zumba. We have small-group personalized classes under one roof for age 3 to age anything.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I have an artificial elbow from a childhood injury, and it was actually replaced in 2020. A lot of times people tell me they can’t do our classes because of injury, no dance or gymnastic experience, lack of strength, and more. But what they don’t realize is that is exactly where I came from. I had none of those skills. I wanted to be active, but never enjoyed a traditional gym. I deal with a lot of ongoing elbow and related arm, neck, and wrist pain all the time, but if I did not move, I would feel debilitated. Because of my artificial joint, I am even more invested in helping people find ways to overcome and be part of what Gravity District offers.
Pricing:
- 10-28 Single Class
- 125 for 5-Classes per Month
- 195 for 10-Classes per Month
- 219 for Unlimited Classes
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.gravitydistrict.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gravitydistrict/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gravitydistrict
