Meet Cherith Pruitt | Studio Owner/1st in the US for Bungee Fitness

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

Hi Cherith, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
The most important factor is our community. Our brand is our community. We do really cool things, like becoming the first studio in the US to offer Bungee Fitness. But our success is that we encourage everyBODY to see the cool things they can do. Like soaring and hanging upside down.

Our community is positive, supportive, encouraging, uplifting and engaged. From the clients to the staff, nobody walks through our door without a positive greeting. No judgment, no exclusions.

We create community groups within our clientele to encourage and nurture relationships outside of the studio. We plan community events and support local non-profits and we help each other whenever we can.

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.
At Tough Lotus, the art we create is collaborative and self expressive. We offer workshops where our clients are able to learn Aerial Silks Dance, Bungee Dance or Burlesque Dance and perform at our studio showcase every 3-4 months. These events are donation based and we invite our friends, family and community to celebrate with us.

Our instructors are beautiful choreographers, but I think what sets us apart is that we invite the clients to contribute to the choreography and we play with it together. Most of our clients have never performed in their lives until joining Tough Lotus. But our motto is, “Love your body for what it CAN do!”

If you can move your body, we encourage you to move it in whatever way makes you feel the most confident and beautiful. We don’t hold auditions, we don’t hold anyone back – if you want to perform, you get to perform. There is a freedom in self expression and a freedom in being given permission to love who you are in the moment in time. Even if you’ve just started your journey. Do it because you love it.

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 Tough Lotus. I mean, how can you not visit the 1st studio in the US to offer Bungee Fitness?!?!

We would definitely go eat at The Original Chop Shop in downtown Chandler. Have you had their Açaí Bowl?

We would take in a show at Gila River Casino and probably play some Roulette and hang out by the pool.

A boat ride at Kiwanis Park and we would volunteer at House of Refuge to server our community.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My husband, Jamar Pruitt, has supported and encouraged me throughout this endeavor. We were forced to shut down 3 weeks after opening due to COVID-19. Jamar works several jobs, tirelessly and without complaint, to support our family as well as the community at Tough Lotus. He has worked behind the scenes, selflessly, for 3 years now to ensure this community has a place to thrive. He is also the creative genius behind our corporate wellness program.

My children have sacrificed a lot of my available time with them and cheered me on throughout this adventure.

My friends have encouraged and supported me from the beginning and the new friends I made along the way have contributed to this powerful community.

Website: https://toughlotus.group

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