Babs WilleWhat an extraordinary journey it has been! Twenty years ago we set off on our adventure at the Inslag, a venue in Breda with a large hall above some former bowling lanes. That was our starting point, where we taught our first classes with passion. I still remember how happy we were to sign up our very first members, exactly 20 years ago now.
Back then our studios were completely different from what we're used to now. Sometimes we even shared the space with a salsa school, so the hall had to be rearranged time and again to make room for other activities. The venue also had squash courts and a cosy bar where, in those days, people were still allowed to smoke, and where plenty of beers and bitterballen were served. A completely different setting, and not one that really fitted our vision. Then picture, for example, the cramped spinning room, packed with bikes you could barely move between. But none of this stopped us from pressing on, and even though not everything was perfect, we offered a really varied range: we taught all kinds of classes, such as Body Pump, Hi Lo 2 Funk, Body Shape, Gogo Dance and Spinning. We embraced trends such as Zumba and Thai Bo and added them to our class schedule. The hectic pace of those early days, when we ran the front desk ourselves, meant dashing from class to class, or quickly changing shirts and standing behind the desk with a smile. It was busy, but absolutely worth it, because that's where we laid the foundations for what Black & White stands for today.
We started out mainly with exercise classes and gradually expanded into more and more yoga and Pilates. The morning classes started small, sometimes with just one or two people, but grew steadily. And on Saturday afternoons, after teaching the morning classes, we'd head out into the neighbourhoods ourselves to hand out flyers. Because we taught so many classes, we were regularly out for the count on the sofa in the afternoon, or so tired that we almost nodded off during the relaxation at the end of a class.
Thirteen years ago we took a big step by moving to this building. We walked into an empty warehouse, but Marcel could see straight away exactly what it should look like. He started the renovation, I was pregnant with our fourth son, and you can imagine we had our hands full keeping everything running. But the result was our amazing, beautiful dream club. The new club allowed us to share our vision even more fully.
Over the years we've built a fantastic team, with some instructors who have been with us almost from the very beginning. The dedication of the team has made Black & White what it is today. 'Passion for Healthy Living' has always been our slogan and always will be. Our mission is to inspire people to live a positive, healthy and conscious life.
Five years ago we launched Black & White Kafe to put our vision for food in the spotlight as well. It started as a small idea for a coffee bar serving healthy salads for lunch. But thanks to the enthusiasm and the opportunities we saw, that idea grew into a bigger concept. Marcel set to work renovating again, and this project turned out beautifully too. Alongside Kafe, with its wide range of lunch options, we now even have meeting rooms that offer businesses a healthy environment.
For twenty years we have built our club with dedication and passion. We are incredibly grateful for everything we have achieved. The trust that you, our members, have placed in us has inspired and motivated us time and time again.
But to be honest, the Covid period wasn't easy. It was without a doubt the most challenging part of our twenty-year journey. It was heartbreaking to see our club come so close to going under. But thanks to the support of our loyal members and our own determination, we managed to keep going. And now here we are, with renewed energy and enthusiasm, ready to take our mission even further and make Breda healthier. We have big plans and are busy shaping them. With your input and our entrepreneurial drive, we can't wait to take the next steps and launch it all in 2024.
Our goal is to serve our current members even better and to welcome new ones. Together we want to create an environment where everyone feels at home and is inspired to lead a positive, healthy and conscious life. We believe that with the atmosphere we've created, the professional training we offer and our personal approach, we can truly make a difference.
We want to thank you, our wonderful community, for everything you have contributed to our journey. Together we've shared twenty years full of passion, dedication and health. Let's use this anniversary celebration to look back on the wonderful times we've had and to look ahead, full of enthusiasm, to everything the future still has in store for us.
Love & Peace,
Babs
Written by Babs Wille
Babs guides people through their process of healing and self-awareness. As the founder of Love & Care and an experienced breathwork coach, she helps you reconnect with yourself.
