Equinox Cofounder Lavinia Errico on Practical Woo and Mourning a Success

Lavinia Errico, alongside her brothers, laid the foundational bricks of what would later become Equinox by launching a small gym with a commitment to high-quality and thoughtful design.

Building a High-Quality Gym Experience

Before there was Equinox, Lavinia and her brothers embarked on a venture to establish a gym that exemplified their standards for excellence in fitness. They began with a modest facility that served as a "proof of concept." Their dedication to quality was evident in their choices, such as installing Neoshock flooring and top-tier equipment—choices not commonly made at the time.

This early iteration of their vision was not Equinox but a smaller gym that allowed them to test and perfect their concept. They took on a significant renovation of an existing gym and even attempted to maintain a pool, a decision Lavinia later considered a mistake due to the challenges it presented.

Overcoming Challenges During Equinox's Growth

Balancing Motherhood and Entrepreneurship

Lavinia's journey took a personal turn when she became pregnant during the early days of Equinox's growth. The pregnancy, which she described as unexpected, set the stage for a challenging period that tested her both personally and professionally. As a third partner in the business, she faced concerns over whether she could continue to "carry her weight."

Lavinia felt the push to ...

Lavinia's journey showcases the blend of her down-to-earth roots and her pursuit of spirituality and personal development, as well as her resilience in overcoming a profound identity crisis post-Equinox's successful exit.

Lavinia has embraced a "practical woo" approach, blending her grounded, Jersey girl sensibilities with an openness to spirituality and personal development.

Lavinia shares that while she maintains her grounded sensibilities as an Italian Jersey girl, she also values spiritual and personal development. She enjoys exploring various practices but remains selective, distinguishing between simply being a tourist in the spiritual domain and walking her own journey of growth. She describes surrounding herself with individuals who also value deeper conversations and connections, rather than the superficial discussions of materialistic lifestyles. Engaging with some of the best healers and innovators in the personal development field, Lavinia employs movement and breathwork as tools to manage her lifelong anxiety and maintain her positivity. She has found ways to uplift her mood with music, practices breathwork even while driving, and uses physical reminders like snapping an elastic band or pinching herself to stay anchored in the present moment. Early encounters with activities like astrology and attending a sweat lodge as a teen reinforced her passion for energy and connection, further validating her path in life.

Lavinia utilizes various practices like breathwork, movement, and self-awareness techniques to manage stress and maintain a positive mindset.

Those who know Lavinia recognize her background in dance and various movement certifications as part of her essence, utilizing these skills for vitality and self-awareness. Recognizing the power of these modalities in her own life, particularly during transitional periods, she uses these techniques to navigate through challenges and maintain a grounded yet spiritually-connected mindset.

Lavinia faced a period of profound identity crisis and depression following Equinox's successful exit, forcing her to confront deep-seated insecurities and redefine her sense of self.

Following the sale of Equinox, Lavinia experienced what her therapist called identity paralysis. The success she had been identified with suddenly no longer served as her anchor ...

Lavinia Errico's latest undertaking, MoveJoy, centers on aiding women over 50 in their pursuit of joy, self-love, and all-encompassing well-being through movement and mindfulness.

MoveJoy represents Lavinia's passion project and "ministry"

Lavinia Errico has rooted MoveJoy in her personal experiences and describes it as a passion project, her "ministry," and a continuation of her life's work rather than a mere legacy-building venture. Her established legacy from Equinox continues to thrive, and through MoveJoy, she aims to fill a void in the fitness market, particularly for a demographic that has been overlooked since the days of Richard Simmons, who famously reached out to the deconditioned market.

Lavinia believes she has a unique gift and calling to help women release emotional and physical suppression

Errico espouses a distinctive approach to well-being that a class participant has attested to as being extraordinarily impactful. She sees herself as possessing a special gift, one that modifies lives with an emphasis on aiding women aged 50 and above. Lavinia’s philosophy encompasses the understanding that emotional suppression and the physical manifestation of those emotions represent areas of health often neglected. Through MoveJoy, she aims to address this by helping women release suppressed emotions even while engaging in physical workouts.

Lavinia is dedicated to creating an inclusive, judgment-free approach to wellness that celebrates women's bodies

Errico believes that existing fitness models create feelings of shame and disgust rather than inspiration, especially among women navigating body changes during periods like menopause. She notes the negative impact that images of fit bodies on social media have on many women, potentially shaming rather than motivating them. In contrast, Lavinia champions a wellness approach grounded in body positivity, starting from a place of love and acceptance, with any physical changes being a product of self-love rather than self-reprobation.

Lavinia's personal experiences with financial mismanagement have informed her desire to educate and empower women

While the article does not give specific de ...