It was only a matter of time before Julianne Hough stepped into the fitness space.
The professional actor, singer, dancer, and two-time “Dancing with the Stars” champion is aiming to bring dance-based fitness classes to the masses with Kinrgy (kin as in family and kinesthetic, plus energy), a new workout method that pairs dance with meditation that’s caught Oprah’s attention (Hough is joining Oprah on Oprah’s 2020 Vision Tour).
The “America’s Got Talent” judge developed the new workout method—that Women’s Health has deemed the SoulCycle of dance—to help people feel the transformative power of movement, and its impact is sweeping the nation. But Hough has much bigger plans. She is looking at opening a residency in Los Angeles, developing an app, and hosting global events so stay tuned.
Ahead, Hough talks openly about how dance has changed her life, why she believes in pursuing multiple passions over “staying in her lane,” and the #1 piece of advice she’d offer to anyone entering a saturated space.
CREATE & CULTIVATE: You’re preparing to launch your fitness empire KINRGY where you will be bringing dance-based fitness classes to the masses. Can you tell us more about KINRGY? Why did you decide to create your own fitness company?
JULIANNE HOUGH: Dance has always been my superpower. I went through a lot of anxiety and depression as a kid, and without dance, I don’t know where my mental health would be today. Dance was a way for me to connect, transform, and remember who I am. Dance has saved my life many times. I believe we all inherited the gift of dance, it is a superpower that lives within each of us and when we ignite that, we are unstoppable! When we were all babies, we danced before we crawled, we danced before we walked before we spoke. Somewhere while growing up we either got told, or we told ourselves, that we weren’t good enough to dance or if we did a dance that we had to be perfect. We have lost our connection to what is natural and that is why it is so exciting that we have the opportunity to reconnect and wake it back up to find the freedom that’s within us! KINRGY. We are in the business of helping people remember that anything is possible. On all levels. Everything starts with the KINRGY method, which helps people connect to themselves, relate and understand others, and then experience the world in its truest form, Love.
This is all done through movement, breathwork, visualization and so much more. This will then invite guests into comprehensive programming that will transform their lives from the inside out. I wanted to start my own fitness company because that’s the first place people go when they want to make a change. We usually start with our body which in turn usually shifts our mindset, the next layer to that is what I believe is KINRGY’s magic, which is our soul expression, and that is expanded fitness.
KINRGY is such a great idea, but you’re also entering a very saturated and competitive space in the fitness industry. How is the KINRGY brand different? What makes it stand out? What advice can you share for others reading this who have a great idea but are worried about the competition?
KINRGY is the first of its kind. I created KINRGY out of a necessity for myself to heal and grow after trying every methodology you could think of and knew something was missing. I created KINRGY to reconnect people to their bodies, when you’re in your body, you get out of your head and let your truth come through.
Dance connects us to our true nature, we are designed to move, to be expressed, and that is when transformation happens. Every podcast or book I’ve ever read from entrepreneurs and leaders talks about how they created something that didn’t exist that they needed themselves & that’s what KINRGY is. It’s the combination of the signature 45-minute dance-driven method and powerful philosophy that’s going to offer something that’s never been done before. Stay tuned, there’s more to come.
My advice for others who are worried about competition is to first understand the market and the field in you are going into and then keep your eyes on your paper. There’s room for everyone and we’re better when we collaborate. Everyone has a unique gift to share and if what you are creating comes from truth and contribution, you are on the right path.
“There’s room for everyone and we’re better when we collaborate.”
You are a classic multihyphenate with a career that spans from dance to actress to singer and now fitness professional? What have you learned about your creative passions over “staying in your lane?” What advice can you share for other women who want to make a pivot in their careers?
Put your purpose behind your passion. I feel the trick is to be super clear about your purpose and ultimate impact. Mine is very clear. I want to help people connect to who they really are, to their most vibrant, powerful selves. That can come through dancing, acting or singing and sometimes through fitness, hosting events and even in design. I’ve learned through the joy of transformation over the last few years what my true purpose is so it makes everything I do, super clear. And the only way to find your purpose is by delayering and coming back to the essence of who you are and I believe KINRGY is a beautiful way to help you connect back to who you are. It’s what I used to find my purpose.
When you hit a bump or hurdle in your career, how do you #FindNewRoads + switch gears to find success?
I’m constantly hitting hurdles, one of my gifts and curses is that I want to do everything. A phrase I’ve been using recently is “just because I can, doesn’t mean I should.” I tend to fill my space and when that happens that’s usually a sign that I need to create space and come back to what the true purpose is behind every project that I do. I have so much creative energy, and if I’m focused on what creatively inspires me, everything else falls into place. If I’m doing something because I think I should, I hit a wall and know I need to adjust.
Starting your own business is different from making a career pivot. What have been some of the biggest challenges? What has surprised you most about launching the company? Why?
Well, I have not made a career pivot. So that’s the biggest challenge ha! Balancing heading a company while maintaining a career as an artist is my biggest challenge, but honestly, it’s also the most exciting—there is so much that inspires me that makes everything I do better.
You know the thing that has surprised me the most is the willingness that is out there. We ran a national search for KINRGY Instructors. We had 30,000 people come to the website, 500 applied, 60 were invited to Los Angeles, 18 were accepted to our training and 11 graduated. And none of them knew the full scope of what we are creating until the last week of training.
I was overwhelmed by the response to our search because it confirmed my sense that people are ready for something new and want to be part of a powerful movement. I’m still getting messages from people excited to learn about what’s coming and asking how they can be involved. We still have not revealed who and what we are, yet people are hungry for it. It’s so exciting to me. I think it’s a reflection of the change people are yearning for.
The filtered world of social media often hides a lot of the hard work and hustle behind the scenes. What is the reality of being an entrepreneur today? How hard is it really? Be honest!
Oh, I’ll be honest! Yes, it’s hard. When you have a big vision and you want to create a significant impact in the world, the work becomes more involved. So I work hard yes but I’m excited and enriched by it because there’s a bigger mission at play. I like to let my social media share that journey of moving toward manifesting the mission and changing lives.
Can you recall a specific mistake you made and share what you learned from it? How did it turn into an opportunity?
I had a promising music career which I simply gave up on. I went on tour with Brad Paisley, I won Best New Artist at the American Country Music Awards, everything was incredible. I had the mentality that if I wasn’t winning (being number one) I was losing. And to me, that was a failure, so I quit. Honestly, it was my biggest heartbreak. But it turned into a gift because who I am today sees, feels, hears differently and that’s where my music today comes from, it’s about the many layers of life—love and our true essence. I recently performed my new single “Transform,” and it was my first public performance in 10 years. It was the most fun creatively I’ve ever had, and it was authentic and for me. The mistake became a triumph because I’m no longer attached to other people’s responses to my work and creativity.
You’ve said fitness has played an integral role in improving your mental health and self-love. How? Can you explain? And what advice do you have for women struggling with finding their own confidence?
The human body is an absolute wonder. There's something about moving the body that almost lets more life move through your body. For any woman that is struggling to find their confidence right now, let me speak to you directly. You are a freakin’ superhero because you are here. Period. And no matter what you look like, or how much you weigh or what you do—your gorgeous female body represents the divine feminine and a transformation that the world has been waiting for. A transformation where everyone remembers respect, compassion, grace and pure unconditional love. The significant shifts we are seeing on the planet are happening because balance is waiting. The world is primed for us. Just do you, the fact that you are in a female body is your superpower, so just f$%ck!n own it!
What is the best advice you have been given? Or a favorite piece of #realtalk?
Just because you have the capacity to do everything, doesn’t mean you have to do everything. Sure, stretch your capacity so you keep growing and creating what you dream, but you don’t need to overextend. You just end up missing the joy of the process.
“Just do you—the fact that you are in a female body is your superpower, so just f$%ck!n own it!”
Success is such a broad term and it means something different to everyone. How do you define success? What traits do you need to succeed today?
I love this question and I really feel it’s an important one for people to be asking today. We are living in a time where success is usually always driven by an outside influence. I haven’t always, but now, I define success through my hearts' contentment. I love collecting moments of feeling calm, inflow, time with myself, my husband, my family, my friends, being nurtured by nature, my work, being inspired by travels. When I feel these things consistently I feel successful, I can breathe, I’m enjoying. It’s a moving thing, and I know when I can’t breathe, I need to shift something so I come back to feeling successful.
I truly believe this is something we need to educate our children on—that success should not be defined by something or someone other than you. It should be based on what you feel and what lights you up. Otherwise, you continue to leave yourself behind and be constantly chasing something outside of yourself! We are too unique and magical to be giving that much power away!
What is the #1 piece of advice you’d like women to know when starting out or building a business? Why?
That the world needs and is ready for you. Really. The world is primed for the powerful feminine to rise and usher in a whole new way of doing things in the world, especially in business. We are leading the way for younger women to live an age where there is no question on whether or not women are capable. So I think remembering that to start is really important.
Then I think your gut instinct is everything. When you feel something deeply and you know that it’s the right thing for your business, don’t let anyone or anything distract you. Even if you don’t have a track record, even if others don’t agree - believe in you and stick to those beliefs because that will take you anywhere you want to go. Then collect a team of people who support those beliefs and are smarter than you. You want experts in their respective departments to actualize your dream. This has been a powerful combo for me!
What is the #1 book you always recommend? Why?
Oh wow, there have been so many over the years. Most recently I’d have to say Belong by Radha Agrawal. It’s an incredible book about approaching life through the lens of community, being in service, making powerful contributions through collaboration and remembering there is only one you who can make a difference like you can. I also love The Artist’s Way because as a performer my whole life, it's easy to lose sight of the artist within you. This book is really a program that can be supplemented with KINRGY to nurture the artist in all of us.
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