I talked to a woman the other day who’s been training with us for four years. She told me something that stuck with me.
It wasn’t just the exercise that kept her coming. It wasn’t just the results. It was how she felt here.
She felt welcome.
She felt safe.
She felt understood.
She said our trainers gave her the right exercises. They taught her with patience and kindness. They never got frustrated when she didn’t understand something. They treated her like she belonged.
Then she told me what it was like at other gyms. She had been to many—some as a member, some in group classes. She said she often felt like an outsider.
And in one case, she said she felt discriminated against—because she wasn’t in as good of shape as the other people.
That word hit me.
I’ve heard people say they felt out of place or intimidated in other gyms. But never discriminated against. That word was carefully chosen. And it shows just how badly she felt.
We believe everyone should be exercising.
And we believe there’s a way for everyone to do it safely and effectively.
The people who don’t exercise are the ones we can help the most.
That’s why this kind of behavior—treating people like outsiders in fitness—makes no sense.
This industry needs to be better.
Some people in fitness think they’re better than others because they love working out, they eat clean, or they count protein grams. But we all have areas where we struggle. Money, parenting, cleaning, relationships, stress—you name it.
If we sought help in one of those areas, we’d already feel behind.
The last thing we’d want is to be talked down to while trying to improve.
Let’s remember that.
Let’s be better.
I’m aware that the people who need to hear this most likely aren’t the ones reading this email. But I still think it’s important for all of us to be aware of it. There should be no scenario in which making someone feel bad about their fitness is acceptable.
– James Pratt