Ashley Kapes
Exercise Science
Small Business Owner and Alumna Pivots Fitness Studio to Build a Strong Community
Ashley Kapes, an owner of Lovering Studio, a privately-owned fitness studio in Wilmington, Delaware, graduated from the exercise physiology program (now exercise science) in 2012 and eventually earned a bachelor’s degree in health behavior science from University of Delaware.
As a small business owner during the COVID-19 pandemic, Kapes recalls some of the most difficult challenges her studio faced.
"All small businesses were hit hard during this pandemic, and we were no exception," she said. "In March of 2020, we were forced to close our doors, but we were not ready to give up on our clients."
Kapes and her team knew her clients needed both physical and mental fitness during the stressful and unknown times.
"As owners and instructors, we were not ready to give up on our dream and the community we spent so many years creating," said Kapes. "We knew we had to pivot quickly."
Kapes and her team quickly developed virtual workouts to strengthen the Lovering Studio community and keep people together despite the distance. She encouraged her clients to keep moving; whether it was a 10- or 15-minute walk or short interval to break up the day. Her team also provided tips on how to create a designated workout space at home and developed workout schedules to fit daily routines. The workouts and tips gained attraction and were eventually featured in Delaware Today magazine.
The team's efforts earned an incredible opportunity to partner with Core First Trainer in Colorado, the first-ever hands-free resistance trainer. Kapes was featured on 'Core First Live,' where she taught classes to people across the United States. To date, the partnership led to more than 150 clients working with a trainer to complete workouts in the comfort of their own homes via a portable trainer that clients can plug in anywhere.
"This kept our community together and stronger than ever," said Kapes. "As we head into spring, we will start to take our classes outdoors along with the addition of the virtual option."
When Kapes looks back to her success in 2020, despite the challenges and upsets, she credits her Delaware Tech education. She especially thanked instructors Mark Lafferty, Carol Malkin, and Melanie Heck.
"The knowledge and passion they demonstrated shined through their teaching," she said. "The hands-on learning experience truly helped me excel in my career. The instructors' main priorities were to help us grow as fitness professionals. They pushed us to think outside the box and expand our creativity to excel in our future health careers. I will always be grateful for the path they led."
To learn more about the exercise science program, visit go.dtcc.edu/programs.
