Exhale Founder’s Philosophy: ‘Be Fearless, Ambitious, Adventurous, and Positive’
Exhale spa founder and CEO Annbeth Eschbach. (Photo: Eschbach)
Exhale CEO Annbeth Eschbach founded Exhale Spa in 2002, and spearheaded the company’s unique offerings in the spa/fitness industries, respectively. Combining boutique fitness classes, spa, and healing therapies, exhale was the first spa concept to integrate a holistic approach of transformation and healing, as opposed to beauty and pampering. Today, the company owns 30 properties in the US, Bermuda, and Turks and Caicos and dozens of proprietary transformational fitness and spa programs. A graduate from Northwestern University, Eschbach holds a master’s degree in Business Administration from NYU Stern School of Business. She also served as President of the Board of Directors of the International Health, Racquet, and Sportsclub Association. Here, she talks about growing her company, fitness fashion trends when she was in her 20s, what’s she’s learned through the years, and her key advice for today’s 20-somethings.
When we started Exhale, the fitness and spa marketplace looked very different — the space was littered with beauty and pampering day spas, health clubs that offered “group fitness” and yoga studios. We believed that the fitness and spa world needed to move in another direction, so we worked to create a brand and experience that would deliver the kinds of powerful, life-changing results that are achieved at destination spas — without having to travel from home and disconnect from your daily life.
There were two key learnings or aspirations that defined my professional development. The first: Own your predicaments and grow from the bumps in the road. Victims will never become leaders. The second is that positive leadership is infectious. Confidence is something you earn. You cannot Google it, ask for it, or pay for it, it’s earned through experiences that produce positive outcomes. But not all experiences will present situations that showcase your natural strengths and abilities, so you have to invest time, energy, and preparation in order to breed a good outcome. I have learned that my confidence level grows when tested; it forces me to learn and prep for a challenge that does not play to my natural abilities and strengths.
The twenties version of myself was very one-dimensional and a fantastic career-centric notion. Today, I view success holistically and multi-dimensionally. A successful person is one who is happy, contributing, healthy, full, loved and learning. My mother is 80 years old, lives alone, is very fit, has loads of friends half her age, is engaged in a zillion apps, and is the happiest person I know. I view her as a hugely successful person.
The only makeup product I ever applied in my twenties was mascara, and I was pretty addicted to the eyelash curler. Today, I use mascara and the curler, and a touch of bronzer on my cheeks. But the most potent beauty regimen I am dedicated to is a daily yoga or core fusion barre class, which keeps me flowing and glowing inside and out. I am also crazy about our Power Facial. This is the uber facial — it is super powerful and gets my skin looking fresh.
The fitness fashion trends have dramatically changed for the better since my twenties. Then, fitness and fashion were rarely even in the same sentence. We wore running shorts, sweatpants, and T-shirts. Today, thanks to the enormous growth of the boutique fitness industry, fitness apparel has exploded on the market and we have a wide range of beautiful, attractive, eclectic, and interesting fitness fashion apparel that feels and looks good just about anywhere, anytime! I wear exhale yoga and barre leggings and swing crop tops, and Sweaty Betty flirty dance tops and Prism Sport multi color leggings. Every day is a different look and a different feel.
Ladies in your twenties: trust your instincts. Learn how to find your own mojo when your well is dry. Avoid insecure, competitive, toxic people. Work hard and stay healthy. Do everything. The worst thing is inaction and fear. Be fearless, ambitious, adventurous, and positive.
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