Creating the 4%: Real Life Stories From The Fitness Industry

They believe in the power of group fitness to be transformative, not only physically but mentally. That group fitness can bring people together, even if we are apart. The sweatconnected mission is to help people feel their best. Founded by 3 seasoned Female Fit Pros, they share their story of how this labor of love was conceptualized from digital to now a new brick & mortar studio opening Apri...

Back in 2018 I met Emma Belluomo through my CYCLEBAR training. After taking her class, I immediately realized the power of a fun energetic cycling class. At the age of 24, after taking a few different fitness classes through class pass, Emma fell in love with group fitness. She slowly transitioned out of her corporate job in Fashion and began teaching Cycling and Barre classes. While working as Fi...

He has been a police officer, an actor, a comedian, a strength & conditioning coach for the professional basketball team in China, but Juddy Ferguson started as a part time trainer. He has traveled the world but eventually fitness brought him back to the blue track in Woodforest TX as an F45 Head Trainer. Juddy started grabbing the attention of the people of the gram as one of the most beloved...

Growing up in Zurich, her 3rd grade dream was to be an opera singer. Her family moved to California and at the age of 10 she auditioned and made a production of the nutcracker, and Anna Kaiser’s love affair with dance began. In 1996 the summer between her junior and senior year in high school, Anna taught her first dance fitness class where the intensity and rigor of what it takes to be in a dance...

Born & Raised a New Yorker, Angelica Wilson is a multifaceted fitness professional who has been guiding bodies through space for over a decade. Her big 3 are Leo Sun, Leo Rising & Aquarius Moon, and early on in her fitness journey, this plus size, tall woman of color, realized she had to become part of the representation she wished to see on and off the mat. Angelica currently teaches yoga...

Tatiana Lampa is from Queens, NY and she has been physically active her entire life.  Her love for sports grew in high school when she played volleyball and committed to cheerleading and dance in college.  She graduated with a degree in Nutrition and Exercise Sciences where she instantly fell in love with how the body functions. With a background with NYC group fitness, she absolutely loves coachi...

He believes fitness should be fun, inclusive, challenging, and inspirational. Growing up an overweight, gay, black boy in West Baltimore wasn’t easy for Gerard Burley, but it emphasized the importance of diversity and inclusion across gender, age, ability, sexual orientation and race in what would become his fitness journey.  Gerard Burley, better known as “Coach G” has over 15 years expe­ri­ence...

She is Hoda Kotb’s personal fitness inspiration you may have seen her on the today show, or read about her 50th birthday party on page six, or heard her on Sirius XM, but Sue Molnar is best known for her fiercely devoted tribe at SoulCycle. A Senior Master Instructor, currently teaching in studio & digitally on the equinox + app, Sue is known for her passion for music, and transformative rides...

She hails from the land that gave us Champagne Papi & Bieber and she is someone I have gotten to know via MANY voice notes the past two years when we connected through Ruth Zukerman (Featured in episode 3!) & Tru Community. Alicia Miller was a Master Instructor and a Talent Development Coach for Flywheel for 8 years from 2012 to 2020. She has developed over 200 instructors throughout the U...

Vice President & Founding Instructor of CITYROW, Annie Mulgrew brought rowing to the masses. Her passion for rowing; a modality that most people associate with college crew teams, has transformed the fitness landscape in studio and now digitally.  She is a real DAY ONE who grew & developed the instructor team at CITYROW from one studio in 2014 to a nation-wide franchise and now a digital p...

Personal Training & Coaching weren’t a part of athlete David Freeman’s aka Coach Freezy’s original plan. But once he discovered them as his calling, there was no looking back.  A health & fitness professional for over 15 years, he is the National Digital Performer Brand Leader for LifeTime Inc., also LT Inclusion Council Director & co-host of the LT Talks Podcast (a personal fave). Dav...

As the Vice President of Experience for CycleBar, a wife, mom of two, & former P.I., Tevia Celli is a pioneer in the indoor cycling community. In 1998 she started THE FIRST high end indoor cycling boutique studio called Body & Soul in Los Angeles. She ran it for over a decade, then worked for Flywheel as the Creative Director of the West Coast. In 2015 she joined CycleBar where she created...

Kristina Girod is the Owner & Chief Motivation Officer of Scottsdale's Premier Indoor Cycling Studio Power + Flow, which she opened September 2020 smack in the middle of a global pandemic. Former Athlete, Volleyball Player & eventually a Flywheel Instructor, Kristina was adamant about leading the change of the fitness landscape in Arizona.  Assertive & calculating in her decision...

PEP FOR FITPROS is designed to Preserve, Enhance & Protect Fitness Professional’s voices through best vocal health practices & tools used by performers.  Co-Created by Noel Nocciolo, a boutique fitness consultant & indoor cycling instructor who has led instructor trainings & business leadership events in 16 countries. Her Co-Founder Ashley FitzSimmons-Olsen, MS CCC-SLP is a license...

Amanda Brabec is a fitness instructor & personal trainer based in Boston whose mission is to make fitness FUN & approachable for everyone. Almost five years ago, she took a leap of faith, did a local fitness instructor certification & instantly fell in love with the connection & empowerment created in a group fitness setting.  Shortly after, she left her corporate marketing & e...

Born and raised in Mt. Vernon NY, Actor, Model & SoulCycle Instructor, Mike Press has become an instagram staple with his megaphone and hilariously candid PSA's.  His classes are the perfect blend of motivation, laughs and a wide range of music genres that will keep you coming back for more.   Mike is refreshingly honest about being a part of national headlines, creating boundaries as an...

She is the woman who pioneered boutique fitness and revolutionized how the world rode stationary bikes. Co-Founder of SoulCycle & Flywheel, author of the book “Riding High”, current member of the Board of Directors for F45, health & wellness ambassador for One World Spa, Keynote Speaker, a mom, a grandma, a Long Island native, whose story of resilience, perseverance & reinvention at an...

Karen Maxwell AKA KMAX, is a motivator, mother and creator.  She is a Senior Master Instructor at CYCLEBAR, one of the largest indoor cycling brands in the world.  She has educated over 2000 instructors and overseen 200 franchise openings. In the hustle & bustle of life as a Mom & Fit Pro, Karen partnered with a Denver CBD manufacturer to create Kinisi Performance; a line of products for a...

Shaun Patrick Tubbs hails from Cleveland, OH. He has been in the fitness industry for over 10 years and has worked with some of the most dynamic fitness companies in the country.  Actor, Director & Fit Pro at MYX Fitness, CITYROW, Harlem Cycle, CardioCast and owner of Black By Brand, Shaun has helped so many individuals on their road to a healthier self.  Shaun believes that true health has to...