our founder on creating the things she wish existed: an interview

We got to sit down with our Founder, Erin Schirack, and begged her to spill the tea on her favorite places to take class in Chicago right now, her non-negotiable routine for an optimal work day and why group fitness can have such a profound effect on our lives.

Erin has always been passionate about fitness, but she noticed that there was a gap in the industry. Why wasn't there a resource for vetted, amazing fitness and wellness experiences? Shouldn't there be a platform that wellness enthusiasts can use as a trusted guide for all of the best studios/brands?

Well, Erin created it.

Check out what she has to say about how she went from a Jane Fonda-obsessed teen, Master Instructor and now business owner.

This is the interview that shines light on how she started it all, and where she plans to take High Society in the near future.

Okay, to start... What's your star sign?

Cancer.

Favorite kind of workout:

Pilates

What's on your playlists right now?

Lots of old school hip hop and any good DJ remixes that have amazing energy and an incredible beat drop.

Your ideal Saturday:

Waking up early before anyone is up in the house, sitting down and enjoying a cup of coffee and listening to a meditation.  Breakfast with the family, a Pilates class and some time outside.  Evening would consist of dinner out at 5pm (LOVE an early dinner) and home in sweats on the couch in front of the fireplace by 8pm.

Follow me for more tips on how to be so cool :-)

What is your favorite studio to practice at right now? Why?

OOOF. This is so hard because there are so many great places.  I love Amplified Pilates. The studio is so welcoming and Angie is amazing.

I'm also into full service gyms right now. Midtown Athletic Club gives me the space to get so much done while I'm there. Workout, sauna, shower and some food. Yes please.

Tell me about your first group fitness class experience.

So I'm not sure if you will classify this as group fitness but when I was in High School one of my electives was Aerobics- (I sound like I'm 100 reading that).  

We had this little firecracker of a teacher who would teach us classes and play workout videos from Gilad, Jane Fonda, Reebok step and all the goodies from back in the day. I was OBSESSED!  

I loved her, her energy, the classes she played, everything about it. I would go home and pop in another video and do more. I was immediately a group fitness junkie from that moment on.

What do you love about group fitness now?  Why is it important?

I love the energy and experience of it.  The fact that you can literally feed off the energy of other people in the room is so motivating. The experience of group fitness is so amazing because it can transport you out of your day and into something that leaves you feeling incredible and I think we could all agree that we can use anytime we can get to turn our brains off and just have fun and move!

What does community mean to you?

‍Community to me means caring. It means having a collective group that welcomes you as you are and supports you in your journey and genuinely cares about you. It's home.

What does excellence mean to you?

Excellence is not about having the best look or smell or the the most expensive fill in the blank.

Excellence is about passion, it's about being so in love with what you do that it just oozes through everything you do and you can't help but to pull people to you and deliver an incredible experience.  

I've been to some places (and still go weekly) that on the outside do not have the best esthetic but the experience I receive is second to none because they are in love with what they do and genuinely care.

What are your rituals that perpetuate excellence in your everyday life?

Getting up early and taking time for me before the rest of the world (aka my kids) need me. I started this habit after my girls were born and literally built this whole company during those early mornings. Having that time for me fills my cup and allows for my creativity to shine through. ‍

Tell us about why you started High Society?‍

I wanted to create a space that would be easy for people to get connected with the best in the fitness and wellness space.  With so many options out there, it is overwhelming to know where to go so.

So I created a trusted platform for people that serves as a resource for people. I want to cut through the noise and set people up for success in their wellness goals.

I also want to support our studio and brand partners by giving them a platform to be discovered, so they can get back to focusing on what they love. ‍

How has it had an impact on you and those around you?

For me, it has been a whirlwind to say the least!  

Building a brand/company is not for the faint of heart. It has definitely pushed me to my limits, but has been an insanely rewarding journey at the same time. I've met so many incredible people who are doing amazing things. I've discovered new places, I've supported new and existing brands in getting their voice out and it's just unreal to me how many incredible people there are doing such wonderful things to help others.

It lights me when I hear that people in our community have found their new favorite studio through our platform, or loved an event we've hosted with our studio partners. Knowing that I have set people up for success to live a healthier life has been so rewarding. ‍

Where do you hope to take the business?

Global.  

I want High Society to be the resource for finding premiere fitness and wellness experiences.  Whether you're moving to a new neighborhood and looking for a new studio, traveling and want to take a class somewhere reliable, or just want to attend a fitness event with like-minded individuals, becoming a house hold name is on the agenda.

It's important for me to cultivate a community of people who are looking for premiere experiences and provide a resource that allows them to do that, all over the world.

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