The Heart of It, a new community-focused hub for fitness and art classes in Aquebogue, was born this summer when two local businesses joined forces.
Stroller Strong Mamas, owned by Rachel Goodale, and Little Moments Little Fam, owned by Amelia Little, merged to offer exercise classes for adults and kids; creative activities; play and movement sessions for children; and meditation and wellness workshops in a welcoming atmosphere.
The duo moved into the Aquebogue building on the Main Road (formerly Verderber’s Garden Center, who moved to a new location across from Barrow Food house) last spring and cut the ribbon to open their new business on June 29.
The pair met two years ago, when Little called Goodale to see if there was an opportunity for the two to collaborate, with an eye toward Little supplying creative activities for Goodale’s clients’ children. They came up with a class called Strong Mamas Little Moments, where kids and moms work out together and a creative activity for the kids takes place afterward.
“We saw how amazing the collaboration was — our clientele together for both purposes — and it felt magical,” says Goodale.
When Goodale realized that she had quickly outgrown her small studio space in Mattituck, she wondered “what if there’s something that we could do together?”
“We sat down and made a wish list of what we wanted for this space,” says Little. “And then I passed this little sign here that said ‘for rent,’” says Goodale. “The place was vacant for over two years when we stepped in,” she says.
“It checked all of our boxes,” remarks Little — “we really wanted to find a space that had a nature component — a space for kids to explore outside.” Messy crafts and fitness classes are held outdoors when the weather permits, with plenty of space for multiple classes to run at once.
Goodale lives in Riverhead with her husband Kevin and children Reece, 10, and Regan, 8; Little lives in Manorville with her husband Ryan and three children Crawford, 6, Raymond, 3, and Reneé, 2.
Both families are fully supportive of the new venture. “My husband … was the first person to step in here and give us the green light; he changed every door, did the floor, all of it,” Goodale says, describing her contractor spouse Kevin. “He’s been the biggest support.”
Little’s husband Ryan is equally encouraging. “I don’t think we could do this without really supportive partners,” she says. “When I started … we did everything out of my garage and my kitchen table and he was there [helping] … I think he loves watching [the business] grow.”
And the business has flourished, as Goodale and Little continually make new plans to accommodate the needs of their clients. While anyone is welcome to take classes at The Heart of It, parents have a place to keep their kids busy while they work out and can meet other families, and new moms can find postpartum support and moms’ night out events.
There’s also space for weekend birthday parties, a preschool prep program, cookie decorating and STEM classes for ages 3+. And wellness is on the schedule too, with meditation and sound healing classes and a free nutrition seminar coming up on November 10.
The Heart of It offers dozens of classes for kids and adults each week. (Photos Courtesy of The Heart of It)
“I love all of it,” says Reece, Goodale’s 10-year-old son. “Because my friends come here, and we get to play outside.”
The Heart of It will be open through the winter with classes seven days a week, taking place in the early-morning, daytime and evenings. Goodale and Little plan to institute open play sessions for kids and more classes and special events on weekends.
Upcoming events include an outdoor Holiday Market on Sunday, November 9 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. with over 40 vendors, including jewelry by Bonded Bracelets, balloons by Thoroughly Modern Lilly, hats and bags by Twisted Knots Designs, and food items from Basso, North Fork Flour Shoppe, and Dutton Brew House, along with kids’ crafts and a gift-wrapping station.
Drop and Shop will happen on Mondays in December from 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., where play stations and movement sessions will keep the kids busy while adults get their holiday shopping done.
A tree lighting event and a Hanukkah celebration will be on tap in December, and a new kids’ story time yoga class will start up in January. For the full lineup of classes and events, check The Heart of Its website or social media.
Goodale and Little think that The Heart of It feels like a family. “Kids learn how to share; we watch them grow,” observes Little. “The kids don’t want to leave!” remarks Goodale. “And we want it that way,” Little says.
