Brooke Wiley

Author: Brooke Wiley

Howdy, I'm Brooke!

I'm a 19-year-old student, sister, daughter, and girlfriend. I find that my creative soul is always buzzing with ideas. As a VC Social author, I enjoy combining my love of writing and connecting with others. In the Spring, I plan to receive my AA in Social Media Marketing. This fall, I will be headed to the University of Utah to further my studies. In the future, I hope to serve my community as a Public Relations Specialist. When I'm not yapping on VC Social, you can find me with my dog, Cupcake or sitting in my room pretending I'm a famous content creator.

I'm obsessed with blogs and hopefully you are too!

Content:
https://vcsocial.biz/2025/04/23/ex-voto-ventura-interview/
https://vcsocial.biz/2025/03/04/why-you-need-project-pan-asap/
https://vcsocial.biz/2025/04/27/small-business-spotlight-ventura-pilates-lab/
https://vcsocial.biz/2025/04/04/learning-in-lockdown/

Small Business Spotlight – Ventura Pilates Lab

Ventura Pilates Lab

With summer quickly approaching, it is the perfect time to begin prioritizing health, fitness, and most importantly… YOU. With this in mind, I took my first-ever Pilates class at the Pilates Lab in Ventura.

The studio, located at 2415 E Main St in Ventura, is nestled above an OBGYN office. Pilates Lab is a woman-owned business that opened its doors in February of 2024 by owner Shannon Barbaro.

Let’s be honest, the hashtag # PilatesPrincess circulating on my Instagram feed inspired me to take a Pilates class. After careful research on the Pilates studios Ventura has to offer, I finalized my decision on Pilates Lab.

With this in mind, I reached out to my cousin Cheri Hays, who is an instructor at the studio. This studio has all glowing 5-star reviews from customers who rave about the offered classes, amenities, and instructors.

My cousin Cheri and I took Jaime’s 8:30am class on Saturday, and let me tell you, the reviews were right! After my 50-minute class, thanks to the controlled movements and deep body alignment my body felt powerful. Mentally, I felt a sense of calmness and mindfulness.

Pictured on the left is Jaime Clark, in the middle is Cheri Hays, and on the right is owner, Shannon Barbaro.

I’d like to point out that I am not the kind of girl who is ready to slay the day at 8:30am. However, afterwards I felt uplifted inside and out, feeling good about myself. You know what they say, look good, feel good.

How my 8:30AM class looked

The studio is beautifully decorated with greenery and fosters a relaxing environment as soon as you step through the doors. In the picture above is an iconic piece of Pilates equipment known as the Reformer. During our class, we used the reformers to engage our quads, core, and arms. It was unlike any workout I have experienced before.

What sets Pilates Lab apart from other studios in Ventura? Shannon Barbaro focuses on biohacking, which she describes as the “full body, anything done to improve the qualities and capabilities of a living organism” (Barbaro). The studio uses “Theralight 360 whole-body light therapy, NuCalm sound healing, and Power Plate to help you achieve your best possible results” (Barbaro). Follow this link to their website to learn more about their class offerings and how these therapeutic machines transform your body.

For anyone like me, who was curious to learn more about Pilates or even take their first class, I recommend trying Pilates Lab in Ventura! Click here to find Pilates Lab via Instagram, or click this to visit instructor Cheri’s Instagram page. Now, stop pilating around and book a class!

Why You Need Project Pan ASAP!

What is Project Pan?

Are you ready to declutter your space and mind? Look no further. Project Pan is a trend that focuses on de-influencing the need to overspend, overbuy, and overconsume. Project Pan has been inspiring TikTok users since 2021 to finish your products before splurging on the newest “it girl” products at Target.

This challenge motivates individuals to “hit the pan,” or in other words, finish their products before buying more. Project Pan pushes beauty users to steer from the current societal norms that influence them to buy every new product that hits the shelf. It’s time to not purchase beyond what is necessary. Not a makeup user? Project Pan is bigger than just makeup. Even though it’s aimed towards beauty, it can be applied to any consumables in your life. You can overbuy craft supplies, clothes, or even books.

7 Reasons Why You Should Participate in Project Pan

Helps Save Money – Think about it. If it takes you 4 months to finish your stash of products, that’s approximately 121 days of no spending.
Organization – We’ve all seen the overstocked shelves at Ross, Marshalls, or TJ Maxx. When you try to look at one bottle, you knock over four others in the process. Let’s not bring the entire store home with us. Our bathroom cabinets deserve better than that. Plus, it’s aesthetically pleasing to look at an organized space.
Reduces Waste – Throwing away half-used products or forgetting about them until expired is wasteful. Using up products completely will minimize product and packaging waste.
Encourages Mindfulness – Once you start, you soon realize how much surplus you have and wonder how it got to that point. Project Pan encourages mindful consumption, creating more thoughtful and intentional spending habits.
Mental Health – It’s time to de-stress! Having to rummage through a clutter of products daily is exhausting. So is having the pressure to always buy new products. Fully consuming products will help alleviate the overwhelming burden of overconsumption.
Rediscovery – Have a favorite product you forgot about? Starting Project Pan and working through your products helps to rediscover your holy grails. I remember the feeling of finding my ol’ reliable hair serum stuck behind a drawer that wouldn’t shut. Made my entire morning. If it’s not broken, don’t fix it!
Sense of Accomplishment – There’s no better feeling than knowing “Yeah… I did that.” That’s how I felt hitting pan on a product. Seeing the progress you’ve made is not only satisfying, but also rewarding.

How do I participate in Project Pan?

This is how I Project Pan. It’s simple! Start by looking through your overfilled drawers, cabinets, and counter-space. Then, organize your products into their respective categories. Currently, I have a stash of perfumes, body lotions/scrubs, candles, and makeup products. I singled out products I’ve held onto for a while or ones nearing their expiration date. This will give you the kickstart needed for Project Pan ASAP. Get ahold of a box or container lying around, or an empty drawer space will work if you have one. This is what you’re going to use to house your products. Attached are photos of my future Project Pan products and my current Project Pan box. I’m loving how it has all panned out. Happy Project Panning everyone!