What Running My Own Fitness Studio Really Looks Like

Running my own studio has been exciting, exhausting, empowering, and honestly a little surreal—all at the same time. There have definitely been changes since moving into my own space, but what stands out most is the incredible group of people who have continued showing up, supporting me, and becoming such a meaningful part of this chapter. I appreciate my clients—and the friendships that have grown from training together—so damn much. 

I feel incredibly special that people don’t just come here to work out. They think of me outside of their sessions too. Just last week, Ashley brought me flowers from her garden that she grew from seed. Robyn brought me pickles that she made herself. Reena brought me a new OWYN flavor I had never tried before: matcha latte. I still don’t believe I’ll ever acquire the taste for matcha, but I appreciated the effort. 😂 Lee also brought me her favorite kind of coffee beans so I could try them myself. 

They also showed up for my very first vendor event, which meant so much to me. I went into that day hoping to introduce Tapp Into It Fitness to more people and keep growing the community around what we’re building.

Whitney’s rainbow-logo shirt and our rainbow stickers ended up being a huge draw, which honestly made me pause for a second.

I think I sometimes forget that there is something genuinely unique about this space and about being a lesbian trainer, because to me, this is just normal life. It’s simply who we are.

But having a private studio where people can train without the pressure or energy of a big gym—and knowing that the person coaching them understands what it can feel like to want a space that feels more personal, relaxed, and real—is special.

The vendor event reminded me that this part of Tapp Into It Fitness matters too. Not as a gimmick or a marketing angle, but as a reflection of who I am and the kind of space I’ve created.

Those little things mean so much to me. They remind me that this studio isn’t only a place where I coach exercises. It’s a place built around real relationships, and I never want to take that for granted. 

The Excitement—and Then the Wall 

During the first few weeks, I think everyone enjoyed coming in and seeing what new thing I had hung, moved, organized, or added. And I was all in. After finishing sessions each day, I was spending nearly every evening in the studio trying to get it as perfect as I could. I wanted every piece of equipment in the right place, every wall to feel finished, every detail to make sense, and every part of the space to feel like me. But honestly, that pace had been going on long before the studio officially opened. 

Now that I look back, I remember Whitney and me being up there through the winter and into the spring until 10:30 or 11:00 at night, working on insulation, shelving, drywall, painting, trim, flooring, equipment—whatever needed to be done. Then I’d get up and start the next day early as hell, like usual. And we just kept repeating that cycle. 

Work late. 

Wake up early. 

Train clients. 

Handle business. 

Go right back into the studio. 

Do it all again. 

We were so focused on getting everything finished that I don’t think either of us really stopped to process how much we were asking of ourselves. 

And then I hit a damn wall. It honestly felt like the biggest central nervous system crash I have ever experienced. I’ve talked to some of you about it, and maybe others sensed it. I felt completely drained. Not just physically tired—more like my entire system finally decided it had done enough and shut down. 

I literally required a nap almost everyday for a couple weeks there.

At first, I struggled to understand why it hit me so hard. Then I watched a video I had made on Instagram about the process of creating the studio, and suddenly it made perfect sense. We started permitting in 2023 leading to monthly permit revisions. Finally construction began in 2025. 

So much planning. 

So much physical work. 

So many decisions. 

No wonder I crashed hard. Hard hard. I don’t regret any of it, but I think my body finally collected on a bill I had been ignoring for a very long time. 

The Emotional Shift I Didn’t Expect 

There has also been something really special about moving into a space of my own. I have so much pride in this studio—especially because Whitney and I built so much of it with our own hands. I take pride in how neat and clean I can keep it. I take pride in the way it looks. I take pride in the fact that it reflects me, my coaching style, and my commitment to my clients. 

And honestly, it’s not just the big things. It’s the little details too—figuring out what kinds of drinks people actually like and keeping the mini fridge stocked, moving things around so the flow of the room makes more sense, making sure there’s space for people to set their stuff down, keeping the equipment organized, and trying to make the studio feel comfortable instead of clinical. 

Those details probably seem small, but they matter to me because they shape how people feel when they walk in. 

Every detail feels personal because every detail is personal. I’m responsible for what happens in this space, how it operates, what services I offer, how I schedule, how I manage pricing, and what the overall experience feels like. 

Surprisingly, that responsibility has brought me a lot of ease. I expected owning my own studio to feel heavier. It hasn't. There are always decisions to make, things to fix, and details to think through of course, but there is also something freeing about being able to shape the space around what feels best for my clients and for me. 

I can coach the way I coach. 

I can make the space look the way I want it to look. 

We can play the music we want. My clients are having a blast selecting their playlists AND I am benefitting from introductions into new genres. 

We can set the lights to whatever color or dim level we want. Lee my earliest AM client has her own personalized setting for my lights in which they're all a moody blue because she can't stand bright lights that early in the morning. 

I can change something because I think it will make the experience better. 

There is an ease in simply being me. And I hope my clients feel that same ease when they’re here. I hope they feel comfortable being themselves, taking up space, learning, asking questions, trying something new, and not worrying about how they look while doing it. 

Even the ability to say sure, you're my last session of the day you can bring your doggo. This followed by a long amount of vacuuming and mopping LOL

Small Group Training Brought Back Something I Missed 

One of my favorite parts of the studio so far has been small group training. I love it. Love, love, love it. 

I love watching people connect during sessions. 

I love introducing clients who have never met before and seeing them start talking, encouraging each other, laughing, and building friendships. 

It has brought back a community feeling that I didn’t realize I had been missing so much. 

The groups are still small—no more than four people—so everyone receives individualized coaching and a real strength program. But there’s also an energy that comes from doing the work alongside other people. The current schedule is staying the same for now: 

• Monday at 5:30 AM
• Wednesday at noon
• Friday at 5:30 AM
• Saturday at 8:00 AM

 I recently released monthly memberships to encourage more consistency: 

Four sessions per month — $168

Eight sessions per month — $320, includes complimentary 30 min Contrast Therapy Session

TAPP INTO IT Membership — $456 per month, includes complimentary 60 min Contrast Therapy Session and 12 small group sessions.

I’m absolutely open to adding more small group times as demand grows. If you’re interested but the existing schedule doesn’t work for you, tell me what days and times would. The bigger the demand, the more groups I can create!

The Recovery Room Is Almost Ready 

The recovery room is finally close to being complete. The sauna is in. The cold plunge is running. I used the full contrast setup recently, and I am literally obsessed. I still cannot believe this is in my backyard. 

Next week, an electrician is coming to waterproof the nearby outlets and secure the wiring safely out of the way. Once those final details are handled—and once I’m sure the plunge isn’t going to create a giant destructive mess—the room will officially open for private bookings. 

For now, anyone interested in trialing the sauna can reach out to me directly. 

When the full room opens, I’m keeping the process simple: Wear a swimsuit or trunks. Bring your own towel. I’ll provide baggies so you can take your wet suit home without soaking everything else. And I’m asking everyone to bring a towel because it doesn’t feel fair to delegate even more laundry to Whitney. She has done enough. 😂 

The Cardio Space Is Becoming Something Really Cool 

The downstairs cardio space is also getting a full makeover. Whitney finished insulating it this past weekend. 

Thank goodness she can fit in really small spaces LOL

Drywall is going up literally as I type, followed by mudding and taping throughout the week. The polyaspartic floor (fancy epoxy?!) is scheduled for August 12, and we’re also adding better storage for Whitney’s tools. I’m gifting her a workbench too, because she absolutely deserves it after everything she has put into this project. Once the space is finished, clients will have access to: 

• SkiErg
• RowErg
• Treadmill
• Sled
• A turf lane (soft space to land those broad jump burpees :) )
• Space for warmups, independent cardio, and extra conditioning

The goal is for clients to be able to use the cardio area when it makes sense around their sessions—whether that’s to warm up, finish with some conditioning, or get in additional cardio independently. 

I Want the Community to Extend Beyond the Studio Walls 

Tapp Into It Fitness has never only been about what happens during a one-hour training session. 

I want it to stay alive beyond the studio walls. That means more challenges, more community workouts, continuing with Waldo Run Club, more fundraisers, and more opportunities to give back. I’d love to adopt a family for the holidays (thank you for the idea Ashley), and continue finding ways for this community to support people outside of ourselves. 

Our next event is coming up the morning of August 15, when Tapp Into It Fitness will team up with RunITBLKC Run Club for a run and circuit workout. 

Then, later in August or toward the beginning of September, I’m planning the official Tapp Into It Fitness Grand Opening. 

I want to kick it off with a group workout at the studio. Partly because I want everyone to see the finished space. Partly because I miss all your faces. And partly because I want to work out alongside my people again and get my own butt kicked too. 

If that goes swimmingly, I’m hoping it can turn into something recurring... maybe call it like "The Sunday Service." The idea is simple. I’ll write a workout on the whiteboard, and people can come join in and work through it together. It will give people a place to practice HYROXish-style training, challenge themselves, meet other active people, and build community. It will also help keep me accountable, which I’m not too proud to admit I need sometimes too. Caveat though, I'm NOT coaching it. I’ll be doing the workout right alongside everyone, so this will be more of a read-the-board, follow the flow, and use your best judgment kind of workout. Come ready to move, modify when needed, and figure it out together.

Heather got the first taste of a Sunday workout with me last week which had me think, why not have other's join for this kind of fun?!

Still Here. Still Building. 

I’m still figuring parts of this out as I go. I’m learning how much energy it takes to build something from the ground up. I’m learning that excitement can carry you for a while, but eventually your body will demand rest. I’m learning that owning the space brings responsibility, but also a lot of freedom and relief I didn't know I was needing.

Most of all, I’m learning how special it is to create a place where people feel known. 

There are probably ten more projects I haven’t thought of yet. But I’m still here. Still coaching. Still building. Still learning. And Tapp Into It Fitness is becoming something really special. 

Come stop by anytime the Batman light is on, I have so many new stickers I need y'all to rep! See you soon!