In December 2016, I rented a dance studio for an hour, gathered 30 friends, and taught my very first BLOCK21 class. After weeks of choreography and planning, the class was not just a hit—it embodied my vision of a fitness experience more about sweating and smiling with friends than getting every move perfect. Throughout the next year, I taught pop-up classes alongside my full-time job, starting with one class per week and gradually expanding as demand grew. It was heartening to hear that people were looking for a workout alternative that was both enjoyable and made them feel good in their bodies.

In early 2018, the search for BLOCK21's permanent home began. I scoured retail spaces across the city, aiming to strike the right balance to realize my vision of a modern, spacious workout studio within budget constraints. After some creative problem-solving, I stumbled upon an abandoned jazz club — an underwhelming space with ripped light fixtures, outdated plumbing, and dirty concrete floors but brimming with potential.

A few months later, we signed a 5-year lease on the space and commenced the build-out. This phase tested my patience, starting as a 3-month project and extending far beyond. The official call that the work was done and inspections were passed came in July 2019. Friends joined to paint a mural wall using old shiplap boards, and I scrambled around on a 10-foot ladder to hang, wire, and program our studio lights.

Finally, on August 5, 2019, the Lincoln Street Studio officially opened its doors, marking a joyous moment as we witnessed the first classes being held. Since then, the studio has undergone numerous transformations, with each person walking through the doors leaving their own unique impact.