We had the good fortune of connecting with Ani Whitmore & Kalin Darisaw and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ani Whitmore &, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
It was simple. We wanted a special place for anyone to come, forget about the outside world, and focus on themselves. It seems like that could be easy for anyone to do; however, making a concerted effort to focus on yourself and your personal growth is hard for many people. The Secret Garden Pole Fitness Boutique makes it easier for people to do that by providing a judgment-free environment and a genuine source of support.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
The road to opening The Secret Garden was anything but ‘smooth.’ However, the journey has blossomed into a beautiful studio. One of the biggest obstacles was securing a rental space. We needed leasing agents and landlords to understand the growing industry of pole dance fitness. They viewed us through the narrow lens of Atlanta strip clubs, and we had to broaden that perspective. We fully acknowledge the pole dance fitness industry’s origin as the style of dance used by strippers and sex workers. Both industries have risen above the negative biases in the current years, yet the mindset of others has not changed. Many leasing agents refused to rent a studio to us, so there was a delay in securing a location close to our target market. Despite this setback, we pushed and worked hard to find a space we could make our own. That’s the most important lesson. Keep. Pushing.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
There’s a long list of places to visit, here are a few: DaVinci’s Pizza in midtown, Slutty Vegan ATL, Cascade Nature Preserve, The Works ATL, the Beltline, The Secret Garden Pole Fitness Boutique (of course!), and probably one of Atlanta’s historic strip clubs. Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The groups of people we would love to Shoutout are our loyal students and instructors! When the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the studio and the city, they continued to support us emotionally and financially. When we began to discuss reopening, they provided invaluable feedback, searched the entire city for cleaning supplies, and helped to cultivate a new studio culture where everyone could safely enjoy pole dance.

Website: www.SGPole.com

Instagram: @secretgardenpole

Facebook: @secretgardenpole

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutAtlana is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.