Jamie Van Cuyk Inspires with Aerial Hoops in St. Petersburg

News Summary

Jamie Van Cuyk, a St. Petersburg business owner and aerial hoop dancer, successfully blends her passion for dance and expertise in consulting at Growing Your Team. Since 2018, she has been aiding small businesses in recruitment and employee retention. Despite challenges, including motherhood, she remains dedicated to her aerial hoops classes, which serve as a vital part of her fitness regime and a unique networking opportunity. With a deep-rooted enthusiasm for dance, Jamie exemplifies how to harmonize work and passion while promoting positive impacts in her community.

St. Petersburg’s Jamie Van Cuyk: Merging Passion and Profession with Aerial Hoops

In the sunny city of St. Petersburg, Jamie Van Cuyk is not just a savvy business owner but also a passionate aerial hoop dancer. This dynamic woman is making waves through her consulting firm, Growing Your Team, which has been thriving since its inception in 2018. That’s right! A business that focuses on helping small firms with recruiting and retaining talented employees. How cool is that?

The Roots of a Rising Star

After previously launching a software company, Van Cuyk took her impressive background in business and poured her heart into helping small businesses grow. A proud graduate from the University of Tampa, she once worked her magic at Catalina Marketing in St. Petersburg. Today, her firm predominantly serves clients that consist of just five or fewer employees, allowing her to create tailored solutions to fine-tune hiring processes and clarify job roles. This kind of support is critical for small business owners looking to thrive!

A Dance with Aerial Hoops

When she’s not consulting, Jamie keeps herself active with her weekly aerial hoops classes at the A&G Dance Academy. This high-flying activity involves a mix of dance and acrobatics while hanging from a steel hoop. Just imagine the elegant movements! From the bird’s nest to crescent moon poses, aerial hoops are a fantastic way to keep fit while having fun.

Van Cuyk’s love for dance dates back to her childhood when she juggled both recreational and competitive dance. In college, she dedicated nearly 20 hours a week to dance classes, which she absolutely loved. But after graduating in 2007, life got busy, and she struggled to find a suitable dance outlet. Feeling a void in her routine, it took encouragement from a friend to explore aerial hoops—a decision that reignited her passion for movement.

Strengthening Through Challenges

Initially, Jamie found herself intimidated by the lack of upper body strength needed for aerial hoops. Yet, her determination pushed her to accept the challenge head-on. As life got busier—thanks to motherhood—she took a hiatus from classes, which we can all relate to. But just a few years later, she rediscovered her love for aerial hoops and made them a priority once again. Now, she treats her Monday morning classes as a vital appointment, much like meetings with important clients.

A Community of Movers and Shakers

The camaraderie in her class is palpable. Many of her fellow participants, mostly women in their 30s and 40s, also run small businesses. The class has turned into a unique networking hub where connections flourish. This dual role of business networking and physical activity is a win-win for everyone involved!

Family and Fitness

Jamie takes her dedication to physical well-being to heart—having introduced her daughters to aerial classes and summer camps. She believes it’s essential to demonstrate to them that incorporating personal passions into life while managing work and family is not only possible but vital for happiness.

Besides aerial hoops, Van Cuyk keeps up an active lifestyle with a personal trainer and enjoys the thrill of rock climbing with one of her daughters. These pursuits are not just about staying fit; they also help her combat the sedentary lifestyle that can creep in as we age.

Mental Clarity and Joy

For Jamie, aerial hoops are not only a physical adventure but also a mental respite. They offer a soulful escape from the busy world, allowing her to clear her mind while also giving her an excellent workout. It’s incredible how something as fun as aerial dancing can provide significant mental health benefits while keeping her engaged and active.

So, the next time you catch someone swinging elegantly from a hoop, think of Jamie Van Cuyk—a shining example of how to blend work and passion, all while creating a positive impact in both her life and the lives of small business owners in St. Petersburg!

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Additional Resources

• Business Observer: St. Pete Entrepreneur Dancing
• Wikipedia: Small Business
• St. Pete Catalyst: Leadership St. Pete Class of 2022 Introduced
• Google Search: Aerial Hoops
• I Love the Burg: LSP Clam Bayou Renovations
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Dance