In this week’s episode, I interview Shay Williamson of Kairos Fitness, which has two locations in Utah. Additionally, Shay owns and operates Dew Point (grip aid) and the Aerialympics (competition). We talk about what it’s like to own three businesses and how she does it all.
Shay has been dancing most of her life. She grew up doing traditional dance and ballet and found pole dancing seven years ago. About a year and a half into her pole journey, Shay created Kairos Fitness. She is an avid competitor who was just recently named the overall winner of Pole Theather Canada.
The Main Points
An Opportunity for Movement
- After finding the aerial community, Shay started teaching at her local studio
- The studio’s owner was going to close the space when she approached Shay and offered to sell it to her – Shay jumped at the opportunity, and Karios was born
- Shay has a staff of 35 between the two studios – Included in this is four staff members that help her manage the studios
- Shay provides a variety of classes and styles ranging from Aerial to Dance – She also offers these classes to women, men, children, and anyone and everyone else
Working with Community
- Shay has worked with the local community in Utah to promote her business
- One of her locations is located next to a children’s theatre where they cross-promote each other’s businesses
- She has also held parades, community days, and instructor party showcases
- Shay has also recently offered Injury Prevention workshops that were open to the general public
Competing
- Shay started competing shortly after beginning to Pole Dance.
- She recently won the title of Overall Winner at Pole Theatre Canada – Shay mentions her goal was to get disqualified. However, she won!
- She never competes to win but to be known well enough that she could travel and teach
- Her training is typically unstructured and is fit in when she has time
Building The Aerialympics
- This competition started with just 35 performers and has grown to 200+
- Shay credits the growth to her partners in pushing her to keep growing it bigger
- She continues to build this show so that EVERYONE has an opportunity to feel what it’s like to be on stage
- This is an all-levels competition – all apparatus as well
- Shay has worked with experts in each aerial field to figure out judging
- The national competition has grown so large it has moved into a convention in Salt Lake City
- Shay has made this event family-friendly and has marketed it through local theatres and local news stations
Dew Point
- Shay purchased Dew Point in 2016
- She has made the brand her own by making small changes over time
- Shay has been working on building a new product, Dew Dry
- She started by experimenting on her own – which ended up being a mess
- She then decided to hire a chemist who made different variations to test – after testing, she decided on two main options
- These two formulas will go out to studios around the world to get more feedback
DEW DRY HAS SINCE BEEN RELEASED! GO BUY IT NOW!
Shay’s favorite performance of herself – Pole Theatre Canada 2019
Shay’s favorite performances of other’s:
Olga Koda | Leah Franklin| Alberto Campos at Pole Expo 2018 | Michelle Stanek USPDF 2012 | Michelle Mynx
*Note – I couldn’t find all the links to the videos so instead I linked to their Instagram pages
To Connect with Shay Williamson of Kairos Fitness :
Instagram | Facebook | Kairos Fitness | Dew Point | Aerialympics
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Want to hear more? Check out Episode #3 & Episode #4!