We had the good fortune of connecting with Vanessa Munoz and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Vanessa, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
In my twenties, I had no idea what I wanted to do in life career-wise. My future, I assumed, would be tied into my partner/husband’s life. It may seem an embarrassing thing to admit, but, I had no real goal aside from graduating from college and becoming a Texans Cheerleader. I had never truly exercised in my life- aside from jogging on a treadmill a couple of times a week- until I was 26 and joined a local gym. Whoa. What had I been missing my entire life?! I fell in love with the feel of a barbell in my hands, the callouses that ensued, and the sweat that dripped off of my tired, but, strong body. Soon after, a lot of unexpected life changes occur and I found myself alone, confused, and unsure of where life was going to lead me. A family member said to me that I needed to figure out what I was going to do, even if I was a free spirit, I needed to “settle down” and get a good job with benefits. I heeded that advice and found myself working in the corporate world. Wonderful company, great people- but, my intuition told me I was meant to do something different. I still enjoyed working out and had even begun to train coworkers and friends. I realized that if I could put my head down, stay focused and work hard, I could eventually leave my 8 to 5 to pursue a business helping others by training and motivating.

What should our readers know about your business?
“Come as You Are” is my studio’s slogan. Each client’s program is tailored to their level, while still challenging. I may be a stickler, but, I make sure to pay close attention to form. If a client is performing an exercise or stretch incorrectly, it could potentially lead to an injury. I have been in business full-time for a little over a year. It has been interesting, to say the least. 2020 has been a challenge- a completely unexpected and unprecedented one. However, I found that many clients were willing to train virtually- and it is still possible to PUSH from afar. I want the world to know that this is just the beginning. I am still navigating, but, I know that with hard work, focus, and kindness, we can go far together. I want to make a positive difference in people’s lives. I want people to know that they are worthy, capable and strong.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
We would go take a class at Sweat 1000 in the Heights and then eat all of our calories back at The Breakfast Klub. The afternoon could be spent at Galveston with a delicious dinner on the seawall. If we had extra time, I’d make her go to NASA Space Center because space is awesome. 🙂

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Every single person that gave me an encouraging word- thank you. Special shoutout to my dear friend, Melissa Salinas. She suggested the name Lotus Studios and I ran with it. She was also my very first client. Thank you, soul sister, for always believing in me.

Website: www.lotusstudioshtx.com
Instagram: lotusstudioshtx
Facebook: www.facebook.com/lotusstudioshtx

Image Credits
Quy Ngo

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