Today we’d like to introduce you to Suzanne Kalafian. Them and their team share their story with us below:
It started about 5 years ago in a most unlikely pairing. Suzanne was a professional dog trainer working with a client and her service dog. Sabatino is a choreographer working with a Dance instructor for a special recital piece with her class. As it happened this person was the same and Suzanne and Sabatino were introduced. As they got to know one another an idea was born, dancing with your dog. Wow, what a concept! Suzanne and Sabatino started a company that was focused on teaching people how to dance with their dogs.
It was a novel idea and some folks were very interested and enjoyed the challenge. We were able to do a special fundraiser performance and a production of the NutCracker and his Mutt 2 years in a row and just as Covid was causing people to stay home we did a virtual competition “So You Think You Can Prance” a dance competition with your dog. We held in-person weekend workshops that were enjoyed by many. What a wonderful experience this all was but one thing was for certain, it is hard work learning to dance AND teaching your dog to dance.
Our workshops started to morph into dance and conditioning for people and dogs as well as dancing with your dog.
The fitness aspect was also well received, but then covid hit. Our program had to go virtual and the online platform was very difficult for people and dogs to work together in small spaces over zoom. Performances were no longer possible and the program started to dwindle. We knew at this point we needed to help people regain a sense of self and try to lessen the burden of isolation.
We decided to help people find an outlet that helped give them mental and physical activity and keep moving in their lives even at home. We began to offer free online movement classes. These classes were both fitness and Dance. As it became apparent that Covid was here to stay for a while we moved our business profile to people dance and fitness and began offering weekly classes with interesting themes for people of all abilities. These classes included Sit Boxing for folks with disabilities, balance issues, seniors, and anyone that wanted to begin seated to become stronger.
We offered a Standing Warrior Workshop that progressed weekly to encourage students to challenge themselves. We also offered Modern Dance classes. Suzanne embraced this shift and spent many hours online with Sabatino training and learning this new skill. It was a love she never knew she had a passion for and was so eager to learn.
As the world began to bounce back from Covid, Sabatino had finally completed the development and manufacturing of our first fitness Strap, based on resistance and body weight. We put all our focus into this new and wonderful fitness equipment and our current Company was born. Welcome, StrapUp 360! During this wonderful time of discovery, Sabatino and Suzanne began developing the Strap and the method of training to go along with this new StrapUp 360.
Today we have a full program. Our method includes functional movement, dance movement, and athletic movement to create a full-body workout to make you stronger for daily tasks. The StrapUp 360 is handmade to be beautiful and functional. We feel this makes a workout more holistic and centering. The Strap is a full circle allowing for more range of movement, hands-free use to enhance balance, and more freedom to experience movement to its fullest.
Our programs continue to expand and we are currently in the process of adding another piece of equipment to our offerings to teach coordination, dexterity, and mind-body connection. So as you can see we started as an unlikely pair, a Dog Trainer and Choreographer, and have moved, learned, and developed to help people enjoy a healthy lifestyle that affords them more possibilities to enjoy a fulfilling life!
Let the beauty of movement fill us all!!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has been a constant adjustment moving through Covid and reinventing ourselves to meet the needs of people and help reverse the effects of Covid.
We also struggle with exposure and letting the world know about our products and services. Our co-founders live in different states, Ohio and North Carolina so we are currently developing programs virtually as well as local workshops and classes.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
We create movement phrases that are designed with maximum efficiency and comfort for people of all levels and abilities. Our method borrows from athletics, pilates, yoga, dance, and martial arts. The choreography emphasizes correct posture, functionality, and increasing range of motion. The movements utilize a hand-woven Strap that can easily hang on a door hinge or any secure elevated location.
The Strap is part of our resistance training and is used to build strength, flexibility, and a balance-support-alignment system. The patterns are set to musical rhythms and a follow-along help-guidance format. We encourage our students to focus on being present while increasing endurance, self-awareness, self-esteem, fun, and gratitude toward their bodies.
We are most proud of the growth and strides that our students have made. Refining our designs in both form and function has allowed us to be more creative and work as a team while at the same time inspiring others. Our products are strong in functionality and whimsy in appearance. They simply add to wellness, the joy of moving all the while pursuing the Fountain of Youth through fitness and dance.
What sets us apart is the fact that our products are handmade. They have no electronics, batteries, or screens. They certainly do not need to be plugged into the wall. There is a natural feeling in the Strap work because the activity marries the person, the Strap, and gravity.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
We really love about Northeast Ohio:
Our team is not exactly sports fans however we love how passionate Northeast Ohio is about their sports teams. The community experience is a pleasure!
Let’s cheer on our teams!
Cleveland Guardians
Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland SC (soccer)
Cleveland Monsters (hockey)
The park system is absolutely amazing. We love to work out in the parks and the beautiful green spaces where nature thrives all year round. Some of our favorites are:
Cleveland Metroparks (The Emerald Necklace)
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
Cleveland Botanical Garden
Cultural Gardens
Nature Center at Shaker Lakes
Some of our favorite historic institutions in the Cleveland area are:
Cleveland Museum of Art
Cleveland Contemporary Museum of Art
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Cleveland has fantastic theater that originates here as well as bringing in touring shows from NY, LA, and around the world:
Cleveland Playhouse
Cleveland Public Theater
Playhouse Square Center
The neighborhoods are charming and unique, reflecting areas of the city from their days of old. Take a drive through some of these neighborhoods and see for yourself.
Tremont
University Circle
Shaker Heights
Cleveland Heights
Lastly my favorite place is Chagrin Falls, such a beautiful town and open space with an amazing waterfall to enjoy. Grab some food at a local restaurant and eat by the water!
Don’t like:
We don’t like crime anywhere and we are not saying it is extra high in Ohio, but like any city there is crime and if we could eliminate crime people would feel safer walking around this beautiful area any time of day or night!
Pricing:
- Strap, anchor strap, and beginner exercises – $98.98
- Boot Camp – 4 weeks, 4 personalized Zoom Sessions (recorded and sent), 1 StrapUp 360- Fitness Strap, workout recordings, and daily Account-Ability – $498.98
- Knotty Bags ( Coming soon): The bags are used with exercises to improve motor skills, dexterity, eye hand coordination and more. – $28.98 Set of 2
- StrapX Virtual Studio ( Coming Soon) A virtual subscription studio filled with exercises, workouts and dances using the Strap, Knotty bags, and some work without any equipment. you can stream these 20/7 – Monthly subscription 19.98/month
Contact Info:
- Website: www.StrapUp360.com
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/strapup360
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/strapup360
- Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPPapQjxAsgtoFy7U8PEKIw
- Other: https://linktr.ee/strapup360
