Meet Erica Hostettler | Full Time RVer & Entreprenuer of Soul Fitt

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

Hi Erica, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
If you want to live a life that is countercultural, a life that looks different from the rest of the world, then risk taking is crucial. Without risks, the greatest achievements would never be possible. Think about it; it’s easy to stay comfortable. It’s easy to stick with your constant paycheck 9-5, your daily routine, your mundane but secure life. What’s not easy is to step out in faith and take a chance on yourself. What is not easy is to be unsure of what your paycheck will look that month. But in return, you get to be with your children more. Take that vacation when you want it. Or heck, live out of an RV like us and travel the US. Without taking the risk of becoming my own boss, this wouldn’t be possible. I would still be stuck in the rut that I was in for so long. The rut of working constantly to keep up with the nicer home and the two cars and everything else the world says we “need”. But in return I was missing precious moments. I was stressed, depressed, and anxiety ridden. It was a risk for me to convert my business from a physical store front to online 1 ½ years ago. It was a risk to sell 90% of our belongings including our house and set out to travel the US in an RV. But had we not taken that risk, I would hate to imagine where our life would be now. Instead, we have countless memories that can never be taken away. We won’t look back and say “man, I wish I would have tried that idea I had.” We won’t look back in regret. Instead we will look back and say “wow, what an amazing, yet risky, journey this has been.” When you take a risk, you open your world up to something so much bigger.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
What I love the most about being an entrepreneur is that seasons shift and when you are your own boss, you are allowed to shift your work with it. I am the founder of Soul Fitt which was founded in 2015 as a fitness studio focused on total wellness. I ran this studio for 5 solid years, but when kids come along it changes things. I felt a strong pulling in my heart after having my first baby to want to be home more, to be present at bath and bed time. Running a studio wasn’t very easy for family life. God pressed on my heart to close my studio. Let’s just say I’m stubborn. I guess that’s part of why I’ve had success as an entrepreneur. If I set my mind to do something, I don’t give up easily. After a few years of fighting that, I finally gave in and shut down the physical studio in February 2020, not knowing that Covid would hit one month later and force fitness centers to shut down. This was huge protection from God. But my heart was still set on the mission of Soul Fitt, I just knew it had to look different in this season of littles. Your soul is your mind, will, and emotions. I transitioned my business from a brick and mortar to an online coaching business to help mainly women get their souls fit. This has been quiet the learning curve. I was trained in fitness, not website design. So no, it has not be easy to keep a business running for 7 years. In fact, it has been anything but easy. It has been extremely hard. It would have been far easier to give up, but I would miss out on so much had I quit. It has taken countless hours researching. I have taken courses to help me become more skilled. I have poured heart and soul into content, that maybe only one person ends up viewing. What I have learned along the way is to not give up. If God has placed something in your heart, it’s there for a reason. Persevere through the challenges because the reward will be worth it. When you are too afraid to start, start anyway. When you want to quit, keep going. Because one day if you commit to the process, you will have the option to walk away from the 9-5 and travel the US if that’s what your heart desires. You will have the option to see your kids grow up without having to choose daycare if that’s what your heart desires. Also, when the unknown is all around you and you don’t know your next step, to just trust and have faith that it will unfold as you walk forward. Go ahead and stick your toe in the water and then watch the seas part. Don’t minimize your dream. Don’t minimize yourself. You were made for so much more than your mind can even comprehend. You just have to start believing that. I’m excited about the future. For Soul Fitt, I have a dream of one day opening a physical studio that not only has fitness, but has a kids area and a coffee area. So moms of littles like me can come and let their kids play while enjoying coffee with their friends, because this is so good for the soul. I have a dream of Soul Fitt becoming a franchise one day and being in all 50 states. Becoming a place for the community to come and connect in real life with real people. This world needs more of that. But like I mentioned in the beginning, the beauty of entrepreneurship is being able to adjust to live’s seasons. Right now my season of life involves a 1 & 4 year old and I will not miss out on that. Right now, my daily looks a little different where I coach 1-on-1 in the time gaps that I have available. But God has big plans, far bigger than mine and I’m excited to see that come to fruition.

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?
Considering we live full time in an RV traveling the US, our city is constantly changing. Last summer we spent in beautiful Harbor Beach, MI. You have to visit the Great Lakes if you haven’t. It is beautiful. Last winter we spent time in Pensacola, FL watching the dolphins jump outside our window. My 4 year old spent the winter catching crabs in nets with his daddy. We spent the other part of winter in Waco, TX where we explored the city and enjoyed new friendships. Currently, we are in Canon City, CO. Colorado is beautiful. There is nothing like it. We spent majority of our time at the KOA, but we have did some exploring. We live a simple life. We live a minimal life. So one of our most fun things to do no matter where we are is just get outdoors. Shut down the technology and screens and get involved in nature. Here in Canon City, we love the Tunnelhead Trail. It’s a beautiful trail through the mountain side. Royal Gorge is also something to see. It’s breathtaking. Being a full time traveler, what I would say is everywhere has beauty. You just have to open your eyes to find it. And that starts by putting the phone down and looking up. So wherever you are right now, go get outside and enjoy the fresh air.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My husband Lucas has been instrumental in my success as a business owner. When I first opened Soul Fitt in 2015, I worked a full time day job and taught classes at night. He took a job that he didn’t love to be sure that our bills were paid and that I could pursue this passion of mine. In 2017, I was able to build my clientele up enough to drop my full time day job. This was risky. This was scary. But Lucas supported me 200%. He never once worried, or at least didn’t let me notice if he was. Instead he had full faith in God to open the door and in me to go after my dreams. He continued to work a job he didn’t love long enough for me to get my business strong. Then the time came after 4 years, where I could return the favor. He then was able to open up his own business while we relied on mine. Then fast forward to 2020 when Covid tanked both of our businesses and we closed up the physical shops, he 200% supported my idea to hit the road in an RV and take our business online. He didn’t doubt. He didn’t question. He had faith and supported this dream. Running a business from the ground up is hard work. There were so many times I cried wanting to quit, wanting to give up. He never left me. He has always reminded me of my big purpose. He has always reminded me that my work was worth continuing even when it was not providing much financially.

Website: https://www.soulfitt.com/

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

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

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/ajourneytoawaken

Other: Email freedom@soulfitt.com