Across the country, women entrepreneurs are working to make fitness and wellness exciting, empowering, and enjoyable for all. To honor International Women’s Day (March 8), we’re highlighting women gym owners and founders who are the driving force behind everything from indoor cycling studios to boxing gyms:
Tammeca Rochester, owner and founder of Harlem Cycle in New York, New York
For Tammeca Rochester, indoor cycling always brought back happy childhood memories of riding her bike on the streets of Atlanta, Georgia. The fact that it also offered a fun, yet effective workout led her to open Harlem Cycle, the first indoor cycling studio in New York’s Harlem neighborhood. She dedicates the space, which has classes that combine cycling with strength training and circuit training, to “the passion, the soul, and the hustle that defines Harlem.”
Favorite motivational quote: “Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.”
Rachael Blumberg, founder and CEO of PLATEFIT in California
PLATEFIT is all about the Power Plate, a piece of equipment that uses harmonic vibration to activate and engage your muscles throughout your workout. The studio, which has locations across California, offers a variety of classes from bootcamp and barre to HIIT and recovery. CEO and founder Rachael Blumberg designed these signature 27-minute workouts to be effective, and most importantly, fun.
Favorite motivational quote: “A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions.”
Amy Glosser, founder and CEO of BYKlyn in Brooklyn, New York
Indoor cycling studio BYKlyn opened in 2014 with a mission to live and share the Brooklyn lifestyle and give back to the community. Aside from the more traditional indoor cycling classes, BYKlyn Cycle and Fitness offers a class that’s a combination of cycling and H.I.I.T., as well as “community rides” in which 100 percent of the proceeds go to a local charity. Founder and CEO Amy Glosser prides herself on making BYKlyn an inclusive and supportive space for all.
Favorite motivational quote: The BYKlyn mantra: “Spread love, it’s the BYKlyn way.”
Tamra Michelle, owner and founder of District Climb in Dallas, Texas
District Climb opened in 2018 and focuses on the VersaClimber, a cardio machine that mimics the movement of climbing. The studio’s high-intensity, low-impact workouts are 30 minutes long, and its instructors encourage visitors to climb to the rhythm of the music and push their limits.
“District Climb is for everybody, and every body,” Michelle said.
Favorite motivational quote: “As you start to walk on the way, the way appears.” —Rumi
Ninette Wassef, owner and founder of Chrome Cycle Studio in Los Angeles, California
After falling in love with indoor cycling as both a physical and mental workout, Ninette Wassef left her career as an attorney to start Chrome Cycle Studio in April 2017. As founder, her goal was to offer an effective full-body workout and a lively studio environment that welcomed riders of all levels.
“It was important to me to create a ride and a studio that offered an athletic and safe workout, and at the same time be a fun outlet that brought people into this really great community,” she said.
Favorite motivational quote: “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” —Confucius
Rachel Snider, owner and founder of NUBOXX in Washington, D.C.
Opened in 2017 (with a second location set to open this month), NUBOXX offers technical boxing and strength and conditioning classes. Owner Rachel Snider not only makes sure her visitors get a full-body workout, she leaves them with the motivation to #BeYourOwnCEO: conquer challenges in and out of the studio, evolve into the best version of yourself, and outperform what you thought was possible.
Favorite motivational quote: “It may be necessary to encounter defeats, so you know who you are and what you can rise from.” —Maya Angelou
Annie Flores-Nuńez and Christina Villanueva, owners and founders of Push Pedal in New York, New York
After becoming moms, Annie Flores-Nuńez and Christina Villanueva remained fans of indoor cycling, but not of the commute downtown they typically had to take to different studios in New York City. That’s why, in 2017, they opened Push Pedal in the city’s Washington Heights neighborhood. Their motto “Push down, pedal forward” is all about encouraging new students, challenging experienced ones, and supporting everyone in between.
Favorite motivational quote:
“Real change, enduring change, happens one step at a time.” —Ruth Bader Ginsburg
“To receive, let go.” —Lida Esperanza Garzón
Dana Bukowski, owner of Body Rock Pilates in Houston, Texas
Dana Bukowski has been at the helm of Body Rock Pilates, a reformer Pilates studio, for the last four years. The reformer machine offers a tough challenge for fitness lovers of all levels, but Bukowski credits the Body Rock community for encouraging each other to tackle anything.
“My favorite part as owner of Body Rock is being in the studio with people I love who inspire, motivate, support and challenge each other,” she said.
Favorite motivational quote: “Expose yourself to your deepest fear. After that, fear has no power, and the fear of freedom shrinks and vanishes. You are free.” —Jim Morrison
Originally published on the Gympass blog.
Happy International Women’s Day from Gympass! Gympass is a corporate wellness platform that gives you access to thousands of gyms and studios worldwide (including the venues in this post) with just one monthly membership. Learn more here.