Meet Carla Belding | Jazzercise FitPro & Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Carla Belding and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Carla, how do you think about risk?
I think risk taking is one of the hardest things someone can do and it is also the most rewarding. Opening my first Jazzercise location was one of the scariest decisions I had ever done. All of the questions in your head and then the fear of the what ifs. If I had to give my advice on how to handle the fear of risk taking, I would say pray about it and always trust your gut. I like to start by making a list of pros and cons which allows me to see all of my thoughts in one place. The list also helps me to make better decisions. If we never take risks, we will never reach our full potential. If I had not taken the leap of faith, I would never have opened my first Jazzercise location. Doing so has allowed me to meet so many wonderful people and I know that Jazzercise has impacted their lives in a positive way both physically and mentally.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Jazzercise is the original dance fitness program. The program has allowed women and men to be a business owner with an international brand behind them. As franchisees of Jazzercise, we have certain corporate standards that have to be met; however, how we manage, market, and portray our locations are totally up to us. I believe that everything starts at the top which means I have to set the standards for my business. I’ve always believed in leading by example. I remember one of my high school teachers referred to me as a quiet leader. I didn’t know what she meant at the time and thought it had to do with how much I was speaking up and taking charge. I later realized she was referring to how I led by example.

As I think about the jobs I had along the way, I know that each of them have helped me become a better business owner and leader. I started in retail so this allowed me to interact with the public and learn how to conduct sales. Working for a CPA as an Accountant allowed me to sharpen my skills financially which helps me run my business and understand the financials at the end of the month. I also had various opportunities to create marketing, volunteer, attend after hours marketing events, and interview and hire candidates for jobs. All of these skills combined are what I do everyday for my business.

The biggest challenge I have ever faced was 2020. When we were told to shutdown our business, I didn’t know what was going to happen. Luckily, Jazzercise had just piloted an on demand feature so they were able to make this available to our members for free. Shortly after closing we were able to start locally live streaming our classes, The live streaming was brand new for us and we didn’t know what to expect. The instructors in Alpharetta and I had never taught in front of a camera before with no one in class. It was quite different than our full of energy classes we were all used to teaching. I ended up teaching the first class in Alpharetta and had never been as nervous in my life! We are still locally live streaming today for convenience to our members who are unable to make it to class. In 2020, our business took a pretty significant loss due to cancellations; however, we were able to survive with the support of our community at Jazzercise. I want to give a big shoutout to all of our members in Alpharetta. You are simply the best!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would definitely take them to downtown Alpharetta! Our downtown has some of the best restaurants, entertainment, and locally owned shops. There is also a farmers market on Saturdays. We would then go to the Avalon where they also have restaurants and shopping. A spa day would be perfect! I have personally gone to Spa Sydell and The Woodhouse Day. Spa. There are many to choose from in Alpharetta. If it’s concert season, the AmerisBank Amphitheater has amazing bands that visit the local area. I love the venue and at Christmas time, the drive thru light show is magical. There are also free concerts offered on The Green in downtown Alpharetta hosted by the Rotary Club. This event is sponsored by local businesses and the bands are fantastic! Another day would be spent at the Halcyon. They have an outdoor area that is great for kids. I would stop by our friends at PlayaBowl for breakfast, lunch or anytime. Halcyon also hosts weekly events that are listed on their weekly calendar. The Crabapple in Milton is another stop we would make. They have a farmers market, concerts and events as well as restaurants and shopping. A trip to Gibbs Gardens is a must for the nature lover. If we had time, we would visit one of the wineries in Dahlonega. I love the atmosphere at Montaluce and they serve lunch and dinner. We have so many great restaurants, shops, festivals, and music right in our backyard and nearby.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
If it weren’t for the support of my husband, I would not be able to do what I love. Owning a business not only takes dedication from yourself, it also takes dedication from your family. I think about the Jazzercise centers we have had to build out and the hours of work that went into making them aesthetically pleasing and branded correctly. My family would also attend community events, parades, and halftime shows Jazzercise participated in over the years. I want to thank my husband and my two boys for their support and love that allowed me to pursue my passion for helping people through Jazzercise.

Website: https://www.jazzercise.com/location/jazzercise-alpharetta-north-point-fitness-center

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jazzercisealpharetta/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/alpharetta-north-point-jazzercise-center

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jazzercisealpharetta

Other: https://www.threads.net/@jazzercisealpharetta

Image Credits
Headshot: Katie Coon Photography