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New Studio Makes Sun Salutations More Fun With Sons — And Daughters
posted: August 2nd, 2009 08:13 am |
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At Studio Seaside, everyone’s a winner — moms get a workout, kids get to play, one doesn’t miss the other and everyone feels great. And that’s the way founder Carissa Martin wanted it when she and her business partner dreamed up the idea of a local health club aimed at young parents.
“I looked around, and I couldn’t find anything that had a structured area for the kids,” Martin said. “Childcare, yes, but to have the combination like we do — that’s rare.”
When you walk into Studio Seaside at 3711 East Coast Highway, several things strike you at once. First, it’s calm and clean, with scented candles burning, a rack with neat rolls of towels, ballet barres and a cozy sitting area with a couch and little tuffets. Next, there is the workout space, women or children on yoga mats, mirrors on the walls. But in back there’s a play area, bordered with pillows shaped like puffy clouds, with a teepee and a variety of baby and toddler toys. Beyond that is a space that looks like a preschool classroom, with art supplies, maps on the wall and books. Some days, a preschool teacher is on hand to watch older kids while the moms take a class — all for one price.
“They thought of everything from a mom’s point of view,” said client Anna Karmis, who has three kids age 4 and under, and who drives from Irvine to work out in Corona del Mar. “I don’t mind the drive. Happy moms, happy babies, you know.”
Classes are available for adults and kids; a monthly pass is $89 or $129 for family memberships. Ten-class passes are $160, and drop-in rates are $20.
But with babysitting rates going as high as $15 an hour, a mom really can come out ahead, said co-owner Zoe Bertoia. Both Bertoia and Martin are moms themselves (and grew up in the area and now live in Corona del Mar) and said they worked on a business model that would be profitable for them and reasonable for clients.
Classes are held Monday through Saturday — Ballet Body is one of the most popular. They also have aerobics, prenatal yoga, kids hip hop, family yoga and other choices. You can try out a class free, Martin said. Childcare workers are on hand to keep the kids happy while moms work out, but they are literally steps away, so even the most nervous new mother can keep an eye on her child. (They’ve had babies as young as five weeks, Martin said.)
“You just have to be OK with hearing kids playing while you’re here,” Martin said.
Studio Seaside is located at 3711 East Coast Highway; (949) 675-YOGA.
