Meet Caylynn Lewis | Spin & Lagree Instructor

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

Hi Caylynn, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Risk – such a terrifying and liberating word. Risk-taking gives you the opportunity to go outside of your comfort zone, get uncomfortable, and strive for change. Often, a risk is taken to progress towards a goal or even achieve something that at one time seemed impossible. Growing up, my biggest dream was to be a teacher. So, I did that. I spent the first 9 years of my adult life as an educator – teacher, coach, administrator. I have always been an active person and fitness has always played a role in my life. Throughout highschool and college, I worked at gyms. Post college, I became a boutique fitness studio junkie.When I wasn’t teaching, I was at a gym moving my body. Movement became my release and my happy place. I fell in love with indoor cycling and four years ago found Shift Cycle + Fitness. I started riding there several times a week and eventually became an instructor. My passion for fitness was constantly growing and I began dreaming about creating a life centered around this. I knew I needed to step away from what was safe, comfortable and known – being an educator – and do something that I truly loved, which is fitness and I was terrified. After 9 years of following my childhood dream, I took a risk and focused on making a career change. I knew if I was leaving education, I would need to go in a completely different direction. With the support of my husband. family and friends, I made the leap of faith and I transitioned away from the education world almost two years ago. I took a risk to make not only a career change but also a major lifestyle change. I wanted to increase my presence and impact in the fitness world because of the positivity, power, and release I experience from movement. Now, two years later, I’m pursuing a career in fitness and finance. I currently teach indoor cycling, at Shift Cycle + Fitness, and Lagree, at Lagree Luxe and work full-time boutique investment firm. Fitness allows me to channel my inner teacher and motivate clients through movement. Working in the finance industry has opened up a whole new world and learning opportunities.Taking this risk was scary and freeing all at the same time. It gave me the opportunity to embrace work-life balance and fill my cup.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As I mentioned, I teach indoor cycling and Lagree. I’ve been teaching cycling for four years and Lagree for about four months. I found the Lagree method through friends and was quickly hooked. Lagree is a high-intensity, low-impact full body workout that effectively combines strength, cardio, balance, flexibility and endurance. I think Lagree and spin are the perfect combination! Both Shift Cycle + Fitness and Lagree Luxe are female founded Denver-based studios and I could not be more proud to be a part of both communities. Shift opened its doors in 2016 and Luxe opened in 2019. Both studios strive to empower and encourage our clients to find their inner strength and fortitude to overcome day to day stressors. Every class I teach is an opportunity to face physical and mental challenges with grit, struggle, and success. Both studios believe in the power of community through movement. Getting to where I am today has been anything but smooth! I ignored the feeling I had to make career change for years because I was scared and insecure. I doubted myself and my ability to switch directions. I was terrified to not be a teacher. Being an educator was my identity. I didn’t believe I had any other options or skills. I believed I had to be an educator because my college degrees were in education and it’s what I had always dreamed of doing. I was getting in my own way and limiting myself. The best piece of advice I can give is to take the risk, make the change and listen to yourself rather than limiting yourself. Obstacles and challenges are a critical part of everyone’s story. Without them, we may not know how much we are capable of achieving and we may never strive for more. I’ve realized there isn’t one clear, straight path for everyone. It’s okay to change directions and pursue something that wasn’t always present in your life. It’s okay to be vulnerable and struggle. It’s okay to accomplish your childhood goal and start chasing another one. And, most importantly, it’s okay to believe in yourself, push yourself and always strive for more.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
This is a tough one! Denver has so many good spots. If I had to show someone around town for a week, our days would include fitness, food and shopping! We’d spend a couple of mornings and probably some evenings on a bike and a megaformer, at Shift and Luxe, respectively. We’d hit up Tennyson Street, for all things local – brunch at Reverly Kitchen, coffee at Allegro Coffee Roasters, facials at Alchemy Face Bar, wine and books at the Book Bar, shopping at Lariat, dinner at Brazen. Of course, we’d take a day to hike around Red Rocks and head up to the mountains – there’s nothing like crisp Rocky Mountain air and gorgeous mountain views. It certainly wouldn’t be hard to fill up a week in this city!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My shoutout goes to my biggest supporter, my husband. His partnership and love encouraged me to take a risk, pursue what I’m passionate about and change career paths. He believes in me no matter what and always cheers me on. He’s been with me through the ups, the downs, the challenges, the doubts, the successes and everything in between. He listened and continues to listen to me when I’m on a life high and when I’m low. He supports all my crazy ventures and always has my back.

Website: https://www.shift-cycle.com/ https://lagreeluxe.com/
Instagram: @caylew_ @shiftcycle @lagreeluxe
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caylynn-lewis-897bb511b/

Image Credits
Megan Corey McMahon, Bloom Street Photography