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Date: 11/3/2022
CHICOPEE – State Rep. Orlando Ramos and 8th Hampden District candidate for state representative Shirley Arriaga presented local business leader Lidya Early with a proclamation in recognition of her business’s impact in Chicopee. Early was recently the recipient of a Hispanic Excellence Award from the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus.
Early is the owner of Lids Live Well on 45 Perkins St., a nutrition and fitness center that opened 3 ½ years ago. Early shared that she was always an athlete in her past, but became interested in opening her own fitness-based business after having her third child.
“After having my third child, I felt like I wasn’t at my best physically and mentally. I started going back to the gym and doing things for myself … after doing that, I wanted to do that for other women,” said Early in an interview with Reminder Publishing.
Lids Live Well features an array of activities, including personal training, yoga, spin classes, group exercises and CrossFit training. The business also prepares a wealth of healthy food options, such as salads and nutritional shakes, for its clientele.
Early celebrated the expansion of Lids Live Well to another location on James Street in 2021.
Early said her business endured amidst the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic. Lids Live Well was open for six months when COVID-19 reached the United States. Early pivoted to virtual fitness activities while keeping the business’s nutrition center active during the initial months of the coronavirus pandemic.
“We were just trying to get off the ground and then COVID[-19] hit … We were fortunate enough that the nutrition club is considered a food establishment, so we got to stay open,” said Early.
Early’s business shifted its focus toward aiding front-line workers.
“We created a couple pay-it-forward programs, and we got a lot of donations from different businesses, so we would deliver to essential workers and kept the business going that way,” said Early.
During the proclamation ceremony at Live Lids Well’s Perkins Street location on Oct. 24, Ramos highlighted Early’s role as an “unsung hero” in Chicopee.
“She’s the one, because everything she’s done in the community … I know she’s very passionate about what she does, and you can’t minimize what she’s doing here. She’s changing lives, she’s helping people with their physical and mental health,” said Ramos.
Arriaga, who also participates in Live Lids Well’s programing, praised Early for the strong sense of community she continues to foster through her business.
“When you come here, whether its your first time or your hundredth time, you do notice the ambience, the environment and you feel like you belong … it’s a nice little haven,” said Arriaga.
Reflecting on the recognition, Early expressed pride in what her business accomplishes.
“It is definitely humbling and something that was not expected. I love what I do. I love to impact lives and try to empower other women,” said Early.
Readers can learn more about Live Lids Well at https://www.facebook.com/lidslivewell.