Meet Jen West: pole fitness studio owner & instructor

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

Hi Jen, do you have any habits that you feel contribute to your effectiveness?
Studio 3sixT has been in business since 2011 and obviously we couldn’t be successful without people and a welcoming environment. Since we specialize in pole dancing, and that can come with it’s own set of what people think they need to be or have to be to dance, We want anyone who comes to a class to feel comfortable and supported. The support system comes not only from the owner and instructors but also from other members, which in turn leads to a great experience. We celebrate one another and the achievements we make in classes and outside of classes if one chooses to share. I have seen many friendships made at the studio and it’s a beautiful thing. 

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
First off I want to say that even though I am the owner of Studio 3sixT, I feel like we have a thousand owners. It’s hard to put into words here but I will try. I have the space and pay the rent, but what makes the studio go on and the warm, welcoming energy it has, is the people, including the members. I’m not there everyday because I do all the back end work sitting at my desk at home. I completely trust the instructors to welcome in members and create the environment and I trust the members will attend and make friends within that environment. It’s the feeling you get walking in the door right down to the end of the class. This has built the fantastic community we have at the studio. Getting the courage to attend a pole dance class can be scary for individuals so right off the bat, we recognize and celebrate that everyone is going to be good at something, even if it’s different from the person on the pole next to you. Pole dance is just a form of dance/movement using an apparatus. Think about dancing around in your living room without a care of how you might look. We want to emulate that experience in a class setting. The experience and sense of accomplishment I see in the member’s is humbling and amazing. Owning a small dance studio is NOT easy. A supportive team helps a ton but there is a lot of work and energy behind the scenes that has to be attended to daily. Daily means not easy to get away without your laptop. Emails, questions, calls, texts, news, social media and then there is the schedule with private lessons, parties, classes, instructor’s personal schedules changing, etc. It is truly a labor of love. There have been dozens of incidences where just when you feel like giving up, you get a letter of what pole dancing has meant to a member and then you are filled up again. It’s is tough for sure, but 100% worth it in my opinion. I have learned so much from owning the studio since we opened but what sticks out in my head are: practice gratitude and even if you are a grateful person, practicing never hurts take time off and it’s ok to vent when you need it during class, be patient, present and involved

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?
Since we live in Colorado, this is an easy one for me; I would take them to the mountains. Vail has a special place in my heart because I got married there on the slopes. If it was winter, we would go snowboarding. Apres ski (snack and drinks) at the Red Lion would be in order followed by a nap. Dinner at Mountain Standard, then home for some 80’s music and dance party (one of my favorite things to do).

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?
Dedicated to all studio owners who know what needs to happen to make a studio work, all the people who have come to a class even if only one, and the incredible instructors to whom we owe so much of our success. WE LOVE YOU!

Website: studio3sixt.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/studio3sixt/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/studio3sixt
Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/studio-3sixt-denver
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/studio3sixt

Image Credits
G. Mark, Anton Weissenberg, Jathan Campbell