Why I built something different in the fitness space

I was a newly minted trainer.

Fresh with a degree.

A certification in hand.

And a mentor who generously shared insight—and more importantly—clients.

I was thrilled. I believed I was about to make a real difference.

Then I stepped into the gym where my mentor trained.

It was dark.

It stunk.

It was crowded.

Everyone seemed to know their place... and I felt like I didn’t belong at all.

Also, when had this place last been cleaned?

To be fair, it had its strengths.

There was plenty of equipment.

People are dedicated to their fitness.

Trainers launching businesses.

A strong sense of community.

I quickly learned to maximize what worked and overlook what didn’t.

Thankfully, we didn’t stay there long. We moved into a more private space built for one-on-one training.

But even then, it wasn’t my space.

Over the years, I worked in a variety of fitness environments:

The YMCA.

Snap Fitness.

A sports performance facility.

At each stop, I paid attention—what worked, what didn’t, and what I’d do differently.

I was building a vision.

In 2023, I opened Breakthrough Fitness with that vision fully formed.

A space grounded in four core values:

Community. Education. Integrity. Excellence.

I knew I wanted a community—but not just any kind.

Not the kind that feels exclusive or intimidating to a newcomer.

I wanted people to feel included, safe, and truly welcome.

Because gyms can be scary.

Especially when you’re starting a new fitness routine.

Even just walking into a gym can take immense courage.

That’s why I didn’t want my space to feel like a gym.

I wanted it to feel like a private, peaceful, encouraging environment.

A breath of fresh air—actually clean, too.

Here’s what I believe:

Everyone can and should strength train.

But to do that, they need someone who will listen and create a plan that works for them.

You don’t get that in most big-box gyms or cookie-cutter programs.

Because many of those programs were built to scale businesses, not to serve people.

That’s why I knew I had to create something different—

Programming that was accessible, sustainable, and realistic for busy adults.

Enough to drive results.

Not so much that it leads to burnout.

Show up. Work hard. Rest. Recover. Repeat.

Breakthrough Fitness was built for people who want to work out—but don’t feel confident in traditional gym environments.

My gym isn’t for everyone, and yet it kind of is.

 You don’t have to be anyone but yourself.

 You just have to be willing to try.

Because this space is about becoming stronger—physically and mentally—on your own terms.

Tell me—when’s a time you broke away from the norm?

 Drop it in the comments. I’d love to hear your story.