Women In Wellness: Laura Cieplik of LifeStart On The Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help Support People’s Journey Towards Better Wellbeing
An Interview With Candice Georgiadis
Be present and limit distraction. Close your laptop, put your phone on silent, turn off email or text notifications — allow yourself time to focus 100% on the current conversation or task at hand.
As a part of my series about the women in wellness, I had the pleasure of interviewing Laura Cieplik.
Laura Cieplik is a strategic fitness executive and operations leader who has found great success in developing and guiding innovative business processes for fitness organizations. After earning her Masters in Exercise Physiology from Eastern Illinois University, Laura spent nearly 10 years working for LifeStart, a corporate wellness and fitness company that specializes in design, management, and continued engagement of corporate fitness facilities. She has since moved her expertise to Studio Three in Chicago, a boutique fitness mecca that encompasses three unique studios under one roof: Interval, Cycle, and Yoga.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Our readers would love to “get to know you” better. Can you share your “backstory” with us?
I began my career in fitness working as a graduate assistant at Eastern Illinois University, where I helped lead the Adult Fitness Program and Human Performance Labs for both students and members. After completing my Masters in Exercise Physiology, I transitioned to a role at LifeStart where I was able to combine my passions for fitness and operations, eventually moving into the role of Vice President of Operations.
After nine years at LifeStart, I decided it was time for a new adventure, and I joined the team at Studio Three in Chicago. Building on the strong company culture and talent, I have worked closely with the Studio Three team to enhance the customer experience and operations in the Chicago portfolio which includes locations in River North, Lincoln Park and Fulton Market.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career? What were the main lessons or takeaways from that story?
I joined the Studio Three team just before the pandemic began. In fact, I was wrapping up my first 90 days and starting to really dig into some exciting projects when everything came to a crashing halt. It was March 2020 and the City of Chicago called for a complete shut down. Like all businesses at that time, we collectively had to determine the best possible next steps, and when new information and mandates were released we knew we had to continue pivoting.
Over the course of the next year, our team set up a virtual fitness platform, three outdoor workout spaces, and opened a brand new studio all while doing our best to keep the Studio Three family informed and healthy.
While these were extremely difficult times for all, I discovered a lot about myself, how exceptional our team is, and my leadership skills grew immensely. My key takeaway from the experience is that honest communication and teamwork lead to major accomplishments.
Can you share a story about the biggest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
When I first started, I was always the first to show up and the last to leave. I made sure I was available to the team 24/7, volunteered to do extra work and was extremely quick to respond. Initially, these were some of the things that I prided myself on and felt greatly contributed to my success.
I learned that this mindset not only led to burnout, but also made me less efficient as a leader. Staying out of the weeds and keeping a healthy balance between work and my personal life has allowed me to focus on the bigger picture and in turn be a better colleague, friend, and partner.
Let’s jump to our main focus. When it comes to health and wellness, how is the work you are doing helping to make a bigger impact in the world?
At Studio Three, we are demonstrating how a balanced fitness lifestyle and a supportive community can increase overall health and wellness. Achieving and maintaining a healthy lifestyle reaches far beyond your physical appearance. Fitness can boost your mood, manage stress, improve sleep, and increase overall productivity — making for better people and, therefore, a better world!
Can you share your top five “lifestyle tweaks” that you believe will help support people’s journey towards better wellbeing? Please give an example or story for each.
- Take time to decompress and disconnect. Working in fitness, my hours are non-traditional and can span from the break of dawn to late at night– plus weekends. It can be difficult to find the space to “turn off” and reset. I find that holding myself accountable to resting for small periods of time is easier for me to stick to. For example, when I get home I don’t check my emails until I’m done eating dinner.
- Balance is important. Living a healthier lifestyle is often associated with punishment or deprivation — two notions that are far from healthy. Have a glass of wine, eat dessert, and allow yourself to indulge in what brings you joy, but do so in moderation.
- Find something you love. When you lean into activities that speak to you, they will help you stick to healthier choices without them feeling like a burden. If cooking brings you joy, explore some healthier recipes, or find a fun workout class that you genuinely look forward to!
- Start small and celebrate each win. It’s natural to want to go all in on a goal, but this can set us up for feelings of failure down the road. Set smaller goals along the way and you will feel more empowered to keep going.
- Drink more water. Seriously, go take a sip now! Water is the fuel for everything.
If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of wellness to the most amount of people, what would that be?
Going back to what I said earlier, fitness is about more than just physical appearance. Regular exercise can have a profound effect on depression and anxiety and can help people feel more energetic throughout the day, sleep better at night and have sharper memories.
My hope is that through my work and the community we’re building at Studio Three, that we can continue to raise awareness of the link between physical activity and overall well being. We can all take steps — no matter how big or small — every day to lead a healthy, sustainable, happy life!
What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why?
- Mistakes happen. Don’t be so hard on yourself! It isn’t the mistake that characterizes your work ethic and expertise, rather how you learn from it and grow moving forward.
- Prioritize balance. Not taking time for your personal life will lead to burnout, not success.
- Don’t sweat the small stuff. Keep in mind the classic line: “It’s business, not personal”. I’ve spent too many sleepless nights thinking about a negative email or interaction that truly did not warrant the energy.
- Be present and limit distraction. Close your laptop, put your phone on silent, turn off email or text notifications — allow yourself time to focus 100% on the current conversation or task at hand.
- Take control of your calendar. Know your limits and what makes you show up as your best self. Whether it’s at work or within your social life, overscheduling can result in unnecessary stress and less productivity.
Sustainability, veganism, mental health and environmental changes are big topics at the moment. Which one of these causes is dearest to you, and why?
Mental Health. Listening to our bodies, in both a physical and mental capacity, is incredibly important. In our culture, we tend to only pay attention to the physical portion and ignore the mental. Movements that are bringing more awareness to the impacts of mental health and opening up the space for vulnerability and understanding are vital.
What is the best way our readers can follow you online?
Instagram: @studiothree
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/studiothree/
Thank you for these fantastic insights!
Women In Wellness: Laura Cieplik of LifeStart On The Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help Support… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.