Entrepreneur to Watch: Michelle Bellerose of She Hoops
Michelle Bellerose is a Certified Hoopdance Instructor and the Owner and founder of Shehoops Inc., a fun-filled fitness class involving, you guessed it, hula hoops!
A new spin on fitness, Shehoops provides a fun, energizing, fat-burning workout using a professional weighted hoop. Michelle is passionate and committed to teaching women how to bring more joy, wellness and fun into their lives.
What is your role in the company?
I am the owner and founder of Shehoops. I am a certified hoop instructor (yes, there is such a thing!) I teach hoop classes and handcraft and design professional hoops.
What were you doing before you opened your business?
I worked as an esthetician and massage therapist full-time from my home studio, which I still do a few hours a week. I really love my clients and am having a tough time letting go!
What inspired you to start your company?
I came across an article on the benefits of hooping in January 2010. It looked fun and I was looking for a new way to work out. I ordered a professional hoop from on online store (it’s bigger, heavier and much different than a toy hoop) and once I figured out how to get that hoop spinning, I was hooked.
I had an affair with my hula hoop–seriously, I hooped every day and spent hours learning tricks and playing with it. When I wasn’t hooping, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. In the hoop I felt happy, calm, present and alive. These feelings transcended the hoop and I felt less overwhelmed and stressed. I just felt happier. The hoop truly transformed my life, physically, mentally and emotionally. The bonus–I lost 30 pounds playing in the hula hoop and loved every minute of it. How can I possibly not share this with everyone?
What is your company all about?
Fitness got complicated. Shehoops is bringing it back to basics, providing a simple way to bring joy, fun and play into your life, as you hoop your way to a healthier body, clearer mind and rejuvenated spirit. Shehoops offers instructional classes and workshops and online instruction. I also handcraft professional hoops for fitness and play.
What’s your vision for your company?
To encourage play, laughter, and fun. To empower and inspire women and children of all ages to move their bodies in a way that makes them happy, to love their workout.
What excites you about what you’re doing?
Everything! I love watching people learn to hoop. It’s almost as fun to watch as it is to do. I love the laughter, connection and support the women share in class as they take on new challenges and learn new hoop skills. It’s exciting to see students accomplish what they thought was impossible for them to learn. The look on their face is priceless. I love creating classes, the music, and designing hoops.
What are some early examples of success?
My classes sold out in two hours after posting them on Facebook. I have also participated in a few corporate events that were amazingly fun and a huge success and opened the door for a whole other direction for my company.
What’s next for you?
Success! I have been running to keep up with my business and am constantly expanding based on demand. It’s a very wonderful place to be and I am extremely grateful.
I am excited to finally launch my new website this May! I am also in the process of developing a fitness program and a collection of hoops specifically designed for children.
