Kimberly Wilson is a freelance lifestyle and travel writer as well as a body positive advocate. Her work has been featured in Brides, Travel + Leisure, US News & World Report and Essence.com.
It’s hard enough to get to the gym. What’s even harder is the intimidation of not looking like everyone else there. C’mon, it often seems like everyone at the gym is a size 0, right?
For many full-figured individuals, the greatest barrier in making a commitment to health and fitness is finding size-inclusive gym options — minus the stares, intimidation and lack of assistance for modifications.
Though not every fitness environment is plus-friendly, there are a few body positive gyms that allow you to feel comfortable within your own skin, without having to pound on the traditional gym treadmill pavement! At these gyms you can be any size, enjoy (and kill) a fitness routine, and push your body to the limit.
Spiked Spin (New York, NY)
Move over SoulCycle, there’s a new spin class in town! Spiked Spin is a weekly fitness movement dedicated to creating “an atmosphere that is non-judgmental, accepting, and most importantly encouraging of your individual journey.” With a variety of classes such as “Turn Up Tuesdays” and “Trap Thursdays,” the brand encourages attendees to be their best self on the bike, but more importantly in everyday life! In an effort to create a “for us, by us” environment, founder Briana Owens decided to create Spiked Spin, where she infuses hip hop with cycling classes that throw traditional gym stereotypes right out the window.
Studio Three (Chicago, Ill.)
Where else can you get three fitness studios under the same roof? Here, you get to choose between three disciplines: Interval, Cycle and Yoga — all which can be tailored to all fitness levels. Studio Three is the first-of-its-kind boutique fitness mecca that allows members to access three types of workouts but with a common community that values inclusivity. In fact, inclusivity is one of the gym's core values (along with openness and honesty!). While the name represents the number of studios available within their space, it also stands for your third place: home, office and the place that you sweat and seek community. The people you are working out alongside are all sizes, and the message instructors echo is not focused on weight but instead on mental strength.
CITYROW (New York, NY and Ann Arbor, Mich.)
The boutique fitness studio that offers a triple threat workout; rowing — and so much more — was founded on the idea of finding an efficient, effective workout that enables anyone to feel empowered and energized. Rowing works 84% percentof your body in just one stroke, and anyone is capable of doing it — regardless of age, height, weight, gender. It is a workout for all levels — you get out of it whatever you put in to it! You’re sure to put your body to work with this high-intensity yet low-impact burn that offers total body results.
EverybodyFights (New York, Boston, Chicago, and Kentucky and soon, Philadelphia)
Looking for a fun full-body workout that will also help you relieve some stress? Well at this boxing gym, you’ll get all of that and more. The concept of "everybody fights" is that we all have our own struggles — outside the ring everybody fights for something. As a result, the brand is extremely welcoming to everyone from all walks of life.
modelFIT (New York, NY)
Don’t let the name fool you — you don’t have to be a model to get fit here. Focusing on the people, and varying “models” of fitness, you’ll never expect to have the same workout twice here. At modelFit, there are no pre-planned workouts from the trainers. Instead, in each class, they access the agility and fitness level of the attendees to decide the direction of the workout. It’s like having your very own personal trainer!
SPEIR Pilates (Santa Monica, Calif.)
Founded a little over two years ago by celebrity trainer Andrea Speir, Speir Pilates was designed to be a place where people of all fitness levels, backgrounds, etc. could come and form a community. SPEIR’s group classes are kept small so that each client receives hands-on attention during their workout, no matter whether they are beginner or advanced. Andrea is also pre-/post-natal certified, so she can work with moms-to-be in each stage of their pregnancy, as well as new moms who are getting back into their fitness routine after baby. SPEIR’s reformer-based workouts are also great for anyone rehabbing an injury, thanks to the low-impact, toning moves.
MINT Gym & Spa (Washington, D.C.)
The nation's capital is known for its history, culture, food and now — plus-size fitness. MINT's community is welcoming for all those in the district looking for a boutique gym option, offering a variety of equipment and options. Most of the people at MINT are working professionals (ages 25 to 60) with all kinds of body types, levels of fitness and physical ability, so you’ll never have to worry about whether you’ll fit in here. Furthermore, MINT takes a very body-positive approach to classes and coaching. MINT instructors often teach about holistic health and nutrition.
Equinox (Nationwide; locations vary)
Celebrating its 27th year in business, Equinox continues to push its mantra: “It’s not fitness, it’s life.” And if you’ve ever visited any Equinox location, then you know this motto sets the tone for the entire gym culture. The people here are extremely passionate about cultivating a healthy mind, body and spirit — no matter your size, which is typically rare for gym chain so large. Offering customized experiences and classes, the people here will motivate you to want to come back day after day. And with the gym’s monthly price tag, you’ll want to to get more bang for your buck!
HK Fitness (Los Angeles, Calif.)
“HK” literally stands for Human Kindness. So much so, that it was printed on the studio’s storefront to promote their all-inclusive, radically-accepting community of people of all fitness levels and background. Founder and head trainer Steph Wilberding went through her own weight loss and fitness transformation journey (starting out as a plus-size person herself, then losing 50 lbs) and wanted to foster a culture and community that is welcoming to everyone. The classes are also very intimate (no more than 12 people per class) so she can customize routines for her plus-size members to make sure the moves are modified enough for them to be able to make it through the class.
Rumble Boxing (New York City, Los Angeles)
Let’s get ready to rummmmmmmble! Grab a pair of boxing gloves and get ready to break an intense sweat, gain confidence, challenge yourself mentally and physically — all while listening to your favorite Top 40 playlist. If you want a change to your normal treadmill or elliptical workout, then Rumble Boxing is definitely for you. The club-like atmosphere with its dimmed lights and DJ sound system, allows you to get in the zone, while participating in boxing drills and total body conditioning, with your own private area to work at your own pace. At Rumble, it’s just you versus you, while having a good time doing it.
Orangetheory Fitness (Nationwide; locations vary)
Orangetheory Fitness is an interval-based workout that uses heart rate monitors to encourage you to push yourself (based on your own fitness level) and includes three different components – interval training on the treadmill, indoor rowing and weight room floor exercises. Though intense — because the goal is to keep your heart rate up throughout the duration of the class — you’re sure to burn off at least 600 calories with just one session. Whether you choose to walk on the treadmill and challenge yourself with inclines or kick things up and sprint your heart out, you can modify the workout to make it suit you and your current fitness level. So no need to feel like you’re competing with anyone else while you’re working up a sweat — unless you want to, of course.
Harlem HIIT (New York, NY)
Harlem HIIT offers more than just affordable fitness for the Harlem community. With its $15 daily classes (offered both morning and night), you’re not only getting high intensity interval classes, led by its elite trainers Jahkeen Washington and Thomas Boatswain, but also a family environment through its base of clients that show up day after day to support each other. The intimate environment allows the trainers to tailor classes to any fitness level, but also provide individual coaching and support. Harlem HIIT’s owners encourage a healthy lifestyle for their clients through programs such as weight loss challenges and group fitness outings.
[solidcore] (Nationwide; locations vary)
If it’s good for Michelle Obama, it’s good for us! The former first lady’s former workout hub is intensified and redefined hybrid of the highly popular Pilates and bootcamp-style fitness concepts, which sculpts one’s physical and mental state. The workout is challenging, but that's the point.... to push not only your body, but also your mind to become the strongest version of yourself -- the goal at [solidcore]. It's not about being it skinny, it's about being strong and that's what attracts people of all shapes and sizes. People come for a workout that works your mental and physical state.
