Business
Small Business of the Month: OC Wellness Studios
The Hello Woodlands Small Business of the Month is brought to you by Miguel Lopez of Conganas LLC and highlights a local small business that serves the Montgomery County community.
Read our interview below with this month’s Small Business of the Month, OC Wellness Studios, and owner Taylor Coibion.
The Interview
Tell us about OC Wellness. What is your business’ story? Why did you decide to create/launch the business?
OC Wellness was conceived rather unexpectedly, originating from a personal quest to forge a rewarding career path in the midst of a family financial crisis. Initially, my journey had a different trajectory being in college with an ambition to attain a law degree. However, a sudden financial crunch in my family forced me to leave college and seek a more immediate form of employment.
My pursuit led me to explore high-paying job opportunities that didn’t necessitate a college education. It was during this exploration that I stumbled upon personal training as a prospective career, ranked third on my list of options; a choice deemed more favorable compared to the highly stressful profession of an air traffic controller.
I invested my savings in educational materials and embarked on acquiring a personal training certification from the National Academy of Sports Medicine. Soon, I joined a gym that allowed me to apply what I was learning while still in the study phase. It was here that I met my first two clients, both of whose journeys significantly impacted my life and career trajectory.
My first client, through a two-year partnership with me, achieved a remarkable weight loss of 210lbs and was awarded $50,000 in a transformation competition. However, it was my second client, who had cerebral palsy, that profoundly changed my life perspective. Despite my initial lack of experience in dealing with her condition, her decision to proceed led me on a rigorous learning path, consulting with her doctors and intensively researching to create a suitable fitness regime tailored to her. After three months, she was able to walk without her walker for the first time in twelve years and experienced the joy of holding her grandson in her arms. The accomplishment of climbing two flights of stairs, with her walker strapped to her back and an infant in her arms, marked a poignant milestone in both our lives.
These transformative experiences illuminated my life’s purpose— to utilize my skills and knowledge to make a substantial difference in the lives of others. Heeding my grandpa’s advice, I absorbed as much knowledge as possible and eventually established OC Wellness with a vision to extend help and change lives on a broader scale.
OC Wellness is not just a business; it’s a manifestation of my commitment to wellness, transformation, and the holistic improvement of individual lives. It emerged from unexpected circumstances but is fueled by a deliberate and passionate desire to contribute positively to the well-being of others. My journey with my clients, especially those who have overcome enormous challenges, has deepened my resolve to build an organization capable of extending its reach to as many individuals as possible, harnessing the transformative power of wellness and fitness.
The creation and launch of OC Wellness symbolize my dedication to promoting health, hope, and resilience, and my journey serves as a testament to the boundless possibilities that lie within the realm of personal wellness. The enterprise is more than a career; it is a lifelong mission to impact lives, foster wellness, and ignite the transformative journey of as many individuals as I can, with the time I have.
Who, where, and what do you serve? What products and/or services do you offer?
We welcome everyone at OC Wellness Studios; from kids from the age of 6 to adults of any age. We serve The Woodlands, Conroe, Magnolia, and Spring areas. We offer our community nutritional counseling, group classes (yoga, exercise, Zumba, movement fundamentals, breathwork, etc.), personal training, massage therapy, and other services/special events as well. We build a community for those that sign up to meet like minded individuals to strengthen their support system.
What makes OC Wellness unique?
Our instructors go through a multi-phase interview process to ensure they can provide small groups with the individual care they deserve. Our clients are not just another body to fill the room. When you sign up for membership with us you input your current hobbies and interests and we then use this information to pair people together into groups and organize events based on these interests in hopes of helping people grow their personal support systems.
What did/do you look for when forming and adding to your team?
Education is something that you can teach; passion and a willingness to invest in those in front of you is more difficult to teach someone. We want a team that isn’t going to stand with their hands in their pockets, keep their eyes on a tablet, or simply stay in the front of the room. Our instructors and our trainers must constantly monitor form, joint angles, and breathing, adjusting the movements as necessary, as well as teaching you why you are doing what you are doing. Our nutritionists understand that personalized nutrition is most effective when coaching someone through their lifestyle and their current environments. Understanding the psychological aspect of adjusting the day-to-day routines vs just throwing people meal ideas and leaving them to themselves. In short, a team that cares deeply about the happiness of the people they interact with.
Is there anything that didn’t go as planned? What would you do differently?
A lot of things. The opening didn’t go as planned; we weren’t able to accept payments due to our point-of-sale company dropping the ball. Marketing didn’t begin as planned. The checkout process didn’t go as planned; the website build didn’t go as planned. So many things don’t go as planned but you have to pivot and keep finding paths forward. The faster you can pivot the more successful you will be. I’m a firm believer in this.
How has your business evolved since the beginning?
We began during covid, working in our home. Now we have a storefront with more services, including staff other than myself and a mobile training side of things as well. We have grown quite a bit and are looking forward to a bright future.
What would you say to the reader who is thinking of starting a business? What do you wish someone would have told you back when you were starting?
Embrace the pivot, find joy in it. It is simply another way of looking at the “failures” but with a more positive outlook. You are going to face many obstacles and you will quickly have to find solutions; often to things you haven’t thought of. It is ok to not have thought of everything. Stay on track with your vision and if you don’t have one yet find one.
How can the community support OC Wellness?
Come try a class; our schedule is on our website www.theocwellness.com. Spread the word, and share our journey with us on social media.
Where can the community learn more? Anything else you would like to share about OC Wellness? For example, what organizations or causes are you involved in the community?
You can learn more on our website www.theocwellness.com or on social media. We love supporting local groups like Hands of Justice, Montgomery County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, our local firefighters, and more. We believe in giving back and working as a community together. Together We Build.
Website: www.theocwellness.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ocwstudios
Instagram: www.instagram.com/oc_wellness_studios
About Miguel Lopez
Starting and running a business can be overwhelming and most small or micro business owners start with little to no staff or assistance. Having a clear plan and an effective strategy to meet or exceed your goals is critical to your success. That is where Miguel Lopez of Conganas LLC can assist by collaborating with you to untangle the myriad of items you need to understand, determine and implement to be successful. To learn more about Miguel Lopez and Conganas LLC, please call (832) 651-1616, email miguel@conganas.biz or visit www.conganas.biz.
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