Mara Kimowitz is the CEO and the founder of StretchSource® (https://stretchsourcetraining.com).  Through her experience in the fields of physical therapy, dance, and fitness, Mara developed and created the StretchSource® System of Assisted Stretching.  In the fall of 2017, she opened the StretchSource® Studio which provides private 1:1 assisted stretch, group stretch classes, and continuing education for professionals.  Mara was awarded the Mompreneur of the year in the category of fitness by New Jersey Family.  

Can you tell our readers about your background?

I was born and raised in Long Island, NY where I began my early training as a ballerina.  At the age of 12, I was accepted into the School of American Ballet by audition.  At the age of 14, I was accepted on scholarship to the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center.  At age 15, I performed my first professional job with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Company.  I would go on to perform on world-renowned stages with the Mark Morris Dance Group and Metropolitan Opera of NYC as well as in music videos and commercials.  Becoming a professional dancer at such a young age taught me the importance of perseverance, resilience, and hard work.  

What inspired you to start your business?

A complete fitness and exercise program should incorporate three basic components: Endurance (Aerobic), Flexibility, and Strength.  Endurance involves cardiovascular training.  Strength is building the amount of force your muscle can produce.  There are many resources for strength training and endurance training including riding a bike, lifting weights, and now franchises like Orange Theory.  However, there are very few resources for flexibility.  Flexibility is the ability of each joint to move through the available range of motion for a specific joint.  Many people participate in yoga hoping to gain flexibility, but yoga is not flexibility training.  Yoga has an important place in the wellness world for mental focus and clarity.  It originates in India and meditation.  You need to have a level of flexibility already to participate in some yoga practices.  I set out to create a method of stretching that could be modified for all flexibility, mobility, and fitness levels so that people could continue participating in activities in life that make them happy without physical limitation, pain, and for longevity.   

Where is your business based?

The StretchSource® Studio resides in Boonton, NJ.  We are looking to partner with industry professionals to expand and open affiliations nationwide. 

How did you start your business? What were the first steps you took?

I combined my experience in the fields of physical therapy, dance, and fitness to develop the StretchSource® System of Assisted Stretching over seven years.  I then spent one year trialing the method with subjects before launching it into the world.  At the time of launch, I still had my youngest child of three at home.  I began seeing clients out of the basement of my home so that I could still attend to the needs of my family.  A year after launching, and with my youngest in kindergarten, I moved StretchSource® into a storefront facility with four additional stretch trainers. 

What has been the most effective way of raising awareness for your business?

I host a #LiveQ with Mara every Wednesday at 2 pm (EST) on StretchSource®'s Facebook Page.  This gives me an opportunity to connect with new people, answer their questions about stretching and self-care, and reach more people who need my help.  

What have been your biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?

My biggest challenge is filling the demand for our stretch services while attending to the needs of my family.  I chose to become an entrepreneur because I wanted the ability to make my own schedule and in theory be available to take my kids to soccer games.  As a founding entrepreneur, sole-owner, and creator, the demands of the business completely fall on me.  As a wife to a doctor and essential worker, all domestic responsibilities also fall on me.  I am very fortunate for an amazing team at StretchSource® and a community that is supportive and loyal.  I am thankful for a network of incredible fellow mompreneurs who have guided me and offered great business advice along the way.  StretchSource® is my fourth baby.  And as everyone knows, it takes a village!  

How do you stay focused?

Eating well, getting good sleep, and maintaining good health is what keeps me focused.  If I don’t take care of myself, I lose focus, momentum, and energy.

How do you differentiate your business from the competition?

StretchSource® is a truly customized and personalized experience with customer services and inclusion as our top priorities.  We want stretching to be accessible to all people regardless of fitness level, ability, or age.  We are privately owned and not a franchise.  We offer a trademarked FlexIQ® which is a measurement of a person’s flexibility, muscle health, and fitness in order to create a safe, effective, and customized stretch program for each individual. Our facility is handicap accessible which means we can welcome individuals who are wheelchair dependent and mobility compromised into our studio community rather than stretching at home.  We are the only stretch company that offers private stretching, group stretching, and continuing education all under one brand.  

What has been your most effective marketing strategy to grow your business?

In the last eight months, we ramped up our social media presence.  We invested in a social media scheduling system and branding. We took our Instagram account from 300 followers in March to now over 2,000.  Our Facebook followers are over 1,000. 

What's your best piece of advice for aspiring and new entrepreneurs?

For every problem, there is a solution and when things don’t seem to work out as planned don’t let it discourage you.  It probably means you are meant to move in another direction.

What's your favorite app, blog, and book? Why?

My favorite app is THE REAL MAHJONGG.  Yup, my favorite app is a game.  Playing this game is my mental break from all my business and family responsibilities.  And yup, I play in the bathroom to keep my kids away.  And yup, I play in the bath. This app is literally the only reason I have an iPad because g-d forbids I drop my phone in the bath.  

What's your favorite business tool or resource? Why?

My favorite business tool is Sprout Social.  It has been a game-changer for our social media engagement.  It has streamlined our social media posts and gives us the ability to pre-set our schedule months in advance.  It is really cool to see our social media content for the month all laid out before it goes out.  I get so excited when the posts go live. 

Who is your business role model? Why?

My business role-models are Lori Monson and Maggie Bradley.  These two women are the original owners of Bradley & Monson Physical Therapy in NYC and I worked at their office.  The first Tuesday of every month Lori and Maggie would treat the entire office to lunch.  During the lunch meeting, one of the professionals would lead a learning workshop or lecture.  I admired Lori and Maggie’s attention to staff engagement and professional development.   They were both also mothers.  I respected their ability to grow their physical therapy office and support their staff while raising a family.  They made me believe it was possible to have professional success and personal happiness as a #momboss.

How do you balance work and life?

Do I?  I am not sure I will ever be the absolute master at this.  What’s the most popular word these days? Pivoting!  My way of keeping a work and life balance is constantly changing and being reevaluated.  What is working for me one day could be completely different from the next.  I am probably lucky that I am a Pisces in this respect, able to go with the flow and make changes as needed. 

What’s your favorite way to decompress?

Did I mention Mah Jongg yet?  I love soaking in the bath, pulling out my iPad, and just enjoying the game. 

What do you have planned for the next six months?

With regards to StretchSource®, we are rebranding and developing a new website.  Very exciting!  Personally, I have three kids home doing remote learning 100% and will continue for the entire school year.  My personal plan is to not lose my ??????

How can our readers connect with you?

StretchSource has a social media presence both on Facebook and Instagram at @stretchsource.  I have a presence online through Facebook at @mkstretchlady and on Linkedin @marakimowitz.  Website is www.stretchsourcetraining.com.  I look forward to connecting.