What Does Patina Esprit Mean?

People often ask about the meaning of "Patina Esprit." And, naming your business is similar to naming a baby. It takes a lot of time and you run through a lot of possibilities, never quite knowing until the exact moment what you'll finally decide on. I thought a lot about different words, phrases, sayings, and images that described or represented what I wanted my company to be. I wanted it to have meaning, to represent overall health and fitness, and to be unique.

One of my mentors likened our bodies and minds to clay – saying that we have the ability to mold them. That saying really struck a chord in me. I loved imagining holding a piece of clay in my hand and being able to work with it, to make it into what I wanted. And, I realized that I had personally experienced and seen many others experience positive transformations by working on our minds and bodies. To me, that’s what well-being is all about….empowerment, feeling strong, self-confident, and constantly adapting to being our best. So, the act of sculpting body and mind was a concept that really stood out.

Shortly after working for my mentor, I taught a sculpt and tone class made up of people in their 50’s and 60’s; and after a couple of months of religiously attending my Sunday morning sessions, they started remarking that they felt better than they had at age 30 because of moving and using their bodies. That also really stuck with me, because bingo!, I felt that it embodied what I wanted my business to be….a place where people came to move, have fun, and challenge and feel better about themselves.

Thinking about sculpture and art and feeling better, and applying that to the body and mind, Patina Esprit came into being as a loose interpretation of patina - meaning a hardened, or finely finished exterior achieved through age and use; and esprit for uplifted spirit -- because our health and well-being aren't just about physically feeling good, but about feeling good overall.