work was hard and those early days were very long, it never really felt like ‘work.’” Her athletic father was her main cheerleader early on: “If you love it, go for it!” In fact, “Dad always encouraged my sister and me to get back up, dust <strong>of</strong>f the dirt and try again,” said Jodi. “He always wanted me to believe there was nothing I could not do because <strong>of</strong> my gender.” Valuable words that would come in handy because in those early days, Jodi had no banker, no credit, no equipment, no staff, and no experience running a business. Surely the odds were against her, but Jodi was armed with a dream, boundless energy, and a strong passion for gymnastics and helping children. Once Jodi’s Gym opened in New York City, it became an immediate success–the game in town for young children and their mothers. However, the business soon outgrew its space, and Jodi realized she would need to hire and train her first employee, who turned out to be a former student <strong>of</strong> hers. Her second employee was her mother, Carole, who came to “help out” with some administrative duties on a temporary basis. (To this day, Carole continues to assist her daughter’s business in New York City.) Today, at any given time, Jodi’s Gym NYC and Mount Kisco between them will have from 25 to 40 employees— full and part time. A Matter <strong>of</strong> Balance Operating a business requires finding the right balance and constantly fine-tuning. Over the years, Jodi has developed a successful philosophy <strong>of</strong> business that is based on personal experience, common-sense, and a deep love for children and gymnastics. Keeping a business on course includes “staying true to core values and goals while constantly innovating” and “keeping pricing fair while compensating staff well,” not to mention “maintaining the highest quality programs, high teacher/student ratios, and an extremely competent, well-trained, long-term, experienced staff.” If that list sounds like too much somersaulting, Jodi would disagree because it’s what she has been doing for over 30 years. Her key advice to any business owner: “Listen to your customers, treat them as you want to be treated, be caring and sincere and 18 <strong>Inside</strong> <strong>Chappaqua</strong> May 2013 accessible, and constantly innovate, always keeping in mind what is in the kids’ best interest.” But, perhaps most importantly, Jodi is genuinely “in sync” with the kids themselves; she and her staff support and root them on because they’ve seen the positive results over and again, “knowing that children in our programs are feeling more confident and are developing a love for fitness and movement,” she stated. Ultimately, “if this early positive exposure to movement keeps kids wanting to move and engage in active pursuits as they grow, we will have added to a healthier world. To me, that is success.” Straddling Two Worlds In the middle <strong>of</strong> her career, Jodi’s own two children became her students, and she and her husband, Hal, became, in effect, customers. Wearing the customer chapeau, she was able to see things from a mother’s perspective and learned to listen to the mothers who brought their children to her gymnastic classes. In fact, Jodi felt better prepared to tackle perhaps the biggest challenge <strong>of</strong> all–being a parent: “Seeing so many different children and parenting styles over the years really helped prepare me to some extent for becoming a mom myself. I had so many role models.” In a refreshingly candid way, Jodi added, “<strong>The</strong>y helped me to be a better mom and got me to thinking, ‘What does a mom want? What does she deserve?’ That’s when I really started listening to what parents want for their children.” Now that those mothers are grandparents, Jodi loves the fact that their children are bringing their kids to learn gymnastics: “When our ‘legacies,’ or second-generation kids, come through the door and the mom tells me <strong>of</strong> her great memories as a child at the gym and that she is now bringing her own child, I have been brought to tears on many occasions.” Being sensitive to the needs and interests <strong>of</strong> families with children with all types <strong>of</strong> special needs, allergies, likes and dislikes further accounts for the variety <strong>of</strong> programs at Jodi’s Gym. That sensitivity came close to home, shaping the parenting style <strong>of</strong> Jodi and her husband, Hal, who made physical activity and music a big part <strong>of</strong> their children’s lives. It also served as the inspiration for some innovative classes at Jodi’s Gym. For example, Jodi introduced gym and music classes after noticing how much her then two-year-old son, Will, enjoyed music. Later, when her daughter, Marly turned two, she enjoyed the musician Bobby Doowah so much that Jodi began featuring him in Jodi’s Gym birthday parties. Now that Will and Marly are young adults and Jodi and her husband, Hal, are empty nesters, Jodi is thrilled that both children love working with kids. Will is a medical student, plays guitar and enjoys a lot <strong>of</strong> sports, including running, hiking, and skiing, while Marly, who is a junior in college, sings a capella, enjoys working out, yoga and dance. “And she recently became a Zumba instructor!” said Jodi. Given all the successes, does Jodi have any regrets about her business? To her credit, Jodi freely admits a few: delegating more earlier on, asking for more help, taking less to heart, and being able to see more <strong>of</strong> the big picture. Would she do it all over again? A resounding definitely: “I have learned so much about people, relationships and myself. <strong>The</strong> bottom line is I feel I am really making a difference, and that makes it all worthwhile!” Jodi’s Gym has plans to add more fitness and wellness-based classes to its <strong>of</strong>ferings as well as expanding the “Jodi’s To Go” side <strong>of</strong> the business, which brings the Jodi’s Gym brand to schools, daycares, camps, and other locations in New York City and Westchester. Nearest and perhaps dearest to Jodi’s heart is her plan to start programs for underserved populations in New York City and Westchester: “I would love to fill the gap for kids who come from homes where an active, healthy lifestyle is not so easy.” That expresses not merely Jodi Levine’s business acumen, but more importantly, her warm and caring heart. Jodi is truly an “all-around” winner. Gymnastic aficionados will know that means “a strong competitor on all events.” Vicki de Vries is a freelance writer/ editor and educator living in Westchester “country.”
3 L Fitness private fitness studio No Membership Required • By Appointment or Registration Only L3 Fitness Inc. 16 S. Bedford Road Suite 1W <strong>Chappaqua</strong>, NY 10514 914.861.2622 lara@l3fit.com Personal Training • Nutritional Consulting • Movement therapy • Group Classes Boot Camps • Tabata • Yoga • Trx • Kickboxing • Circuit Training W/COUPON • Exp 5/31/13 • Not combinable • While Supplies Last May 2013 <strong>Inside</strong> <strong>Chappaqua</strong> 19
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