A Love Letter to D.C.’s Fitness Community

I’ve lived in Washington, D.C. for a little over 10 years now. To that note, I would consider myself a true Washingtonian. I also like to think I’ve kept my finger on the pulse of fitness throughout my life from lifting sand-filled dumbbells in my bedroom watching the “Wonder Years” in middle school to recently running 100 miles nonstop for charity. What the ongoing pandemic has taught me is we as a community can get creative when we need to: we can push our bodies and our minds. And during Covid-19, we weren’t doing it alone. The only thing constant in life is change — and the instructors and trainers in D.C. adapted to help residents roll with the changes while maintaining their fitness goals. Here’s our shortlist of who to keep an eye on and maybe join for a sweat sesh in the area, and notable playgrounds for all your fitness endeavors.

10 Pros to Know

Dontrell Britton // Trell the Trainer
CEO + Founder, Twenty3N1
As a formerly incarcerated person, Dontrell Britton turned his struggles into ambition. He grew his fitness business Twenty3N1 by starting a self-described “prison-style bootcamp” that provides released and returning citizens jobs as fitness instructors. Also, he owns local-based food truck Glizzys’ DC, which offers vegan half-smoked sausages and employs at-risk youth. twenty3n1.com // @trellthetrainer

Pablo Brown
Master Personal Trainer, VIDA Fitness
Brown has worked in the fitness industry for 18 years. As a former business owner/partner at various bars and fitness studios in the area, one role has remained consistent: trainer. He tailors himself to what people need with a “one size doesn’t fit all” mentality. Brown brings the energy needed for each facet of fitness: training a mom with pre-natal/post-natal guidance, leading a boot-camp class, or working with an athlete. During Covid, Brown coached people virtually (some who were quarantining in other countries) and outside in parks. vidafitness.com // @doughyfitness + @vidafitnessdc

Gerard Burley // Coach G
Founder, Sweat DC + Cycle Instructor
With a background in sports and theatre, Coach G.’s classes are high energy, a.k.a. “a good time.” He’s the founder of Sweat DC, where he focuses on the power of strength training. The pandemic has D.C. folk even more wound up than usual, so he tries to provide a little levity to life and a place for release. He prioritizes diversity and inclusion across gender, age, ability, sexual orientation and race. Coach G. is also an instructor at SoulCycle, where he likes to give members a space to let go. coachgfitness.com + sweatdc.com // @coachgfitness + @sweatdc

LaMae Caparas
Dance Teacher + Wellness Coach
Caparas moved to Washington, D.C. from NYC shortly after touring as a principal dancer in the Lincoln Center’s “The King and I,” directed by Bartlett Sher. Hungry to stay active and creative during the pandemic, she found herself dancing and choreographing for virtual and socially distanced in-person projects, producing virtual wellness event experiences and teaching virtual private and group dance classes to students as close as D.C. and as far away as the Philippines. She also used the lockdown to get certified as an Ayurveda Wellness Instructor through Chopra Health, which inspires her teachings in movement, dance and embodiment classes. lamaezing.com // @LaMazing

Mona Laviñia Garcia
Endurance Athlete + Trainer
A fitness enthusiast, notable instructor at Rumble in D.C. and Lululemon Ambassador, Garcia has inspired residents to push themselves with what has been a less than desirable time for most. With two of her friends she formed the Northeast Track Club, creating a space for people to push themselves athletically. @monalavinia + @ne_trackclub

DJ Gerrish
Instructor, SoulCycle + Barry’s Bootcamp
Gerrish has been at SoulCycle since 2016 and is a founding instructor at Barry’s Bootcamp in Clarendon. He always provides a high-energy environment in his classes and leads with an ode to current and past pop music, providing a soundtrack of sing-a-longs that sets a fun tone for clients to push themselves. During Covid, he moved to teaching online classes on Instagram and YouTube, while also training privately. barrys.com + soul-cycle.com // @djgerrish + @soulcycle

Chase McKesey
Co-Owner, Sweat DC + Founder, Trophy Body
Within the DMV McKesey leads community health initiatives for the Mayor’s office, MLB and NFL. Most recently, he became co-owner of Sweat DC. McKesey hopes for every client who trains at Sweat DC is to leave each session with more than just a workout. Since access to gyms, equipment and health services was at an all-time low during the pandemic, he began what he calls a “green eggs and ham” training policy, meaning training anywhere with anything. beacons.page/trophybody + trophybodyonline.com // @trophybodypt

Caren Plummer
Founder + Yoga Instructor, cp: yoga
She’s your classic DMV yoga instructor grinding at a desk job during the day. During the pandemic, Plummer saw an opportunity to make an impact: she picked nonprofits each month to raise money for, and got serious about launching her own brand, cp: yoga. Since the IG days (offering sessions during the lockdown), her community of friends, family members and peers have raised close to $10,000 for organizations like SYMAL, Hearts of Empowerment, To Write Love on Her Arms and many more. cpyoga.fitness // @care_plummer

Frank + Shekinah Tramble
Co-Founders, DC Run Crew
The Trambles started DC Run Crew as a safe place for people to begin their fitness journeys and mentally train along with their bodies. Since starting, over 3,000 people have joined for runs. During Covid, they got creative and posted virtual workouts to keep the community connected, supported frontline workers with food donations and checked in on people so community was always felt. DC Run Crew is now back in person. The Trambles continue to preach the same message every day: “Tackle a Monday and you are set up for success throughout the week.” dcruncrew.com // @fit_tram + @shekinahasana

Timbo Williams
Group Fitness Instructor, Equinox
Williams finds fitness as the best opportunity for escape: facing one’s fears, stress, frustrations, or anxiety and applying it to the workout at hand. Each day he supports and encourages his community through fitness to become more physically and mentally grounded. During Covid, Williams offered fitness tips on social media and led outdoor bootcamp classes. equinox.com + timbowilliams.com // @equinox + @timbowilliams

10 Fitness Playgrounds to Visit

Balance Gym
Balance inspires members to create balance within their lives by demonstrating how fitness can be fun and sustainable. They know there’s more to staying fit than just getting regular exercise. While there, explore their fitness arena which helps you discover your true inner athlete. Various locations; balancegym.com // @balancegym

cp:yoga
cp:yoga was created as a welcoming and open space for all, inspiring people to show up intentionally. Community is at the root of all cp:yoga does; they’ve seen its power to move, change and inspire people to leave this world better than they found it. Online + various locations; cpyoga.fitness // @cpyoga.fitness

Cut Seven
Founded by a married couple, Cut Seven classes focus on different muscle groups each day to achieve complete muscle failure with optimum recovery. Each isolated workout plays into a larger program. At their Logan Circle location, indoor classes require vaccines; those who opted out of the vaccine can attend classes at their outdoor space at 1401 Swann Street.
1101 Rhode Island Ave. NW, DC; cutseven.com // @cutseven

District Pilates
#Pilatesforthepeople! A boutique Reformer Studio located in the heart of Shaw and Petworth, District Pilates offers private, semi-private and group classes using both Peak Pilates Reformers and Chairs. Classes range from beginner to advanced and can be targeted and tailored based on clients’ needs. Various locations; districtpilatesdc.com // @districtpilates

HARD Training Club
Based in Adams Morgan, HARD Training offers private and group boxing classes. They provide that old-school vibe of a down-to-earth boxing environment with all the aesthetics. During Covid, HARD Training offered socially distanced, outdoor sessions in Meridian Hill Park. 1726 Kalorama Rd. NW, DC; hardtrainingclub-dc.com // @hiithardtraining

Northeast Track Club
During the pandemic a group of three friends, Carl, Vonks and Mona, formed the Northeast Track Club, bringing together their passions for running and community. Northeast Track Club prioritizes inclusion and motivation, enabling members to pursue self-betterment by knowing and pushing your own limits. @ne_trackclub

Rumble Boxing
Rumble’s private boxing studios are decked out with a stockpile of weights and sports performance equipment, including individual aqua bags. Whether you want to clean up your boxing technique, ramp up your fitness routine, work with a Rumble trainer on personalized fitness goals, or get a behind-the-scenes boost before your first class, they’ve got you covered. 2001 M St. Ste. 120, NW, DC; rumbleboxinggym.com // @doyourumble

[solidcore]
Pilates redefined: a 50-minute, full-body workout that utilizes slow and controlled movements, designed to break down muscles to failure so they build back stronger and leaner. It’s an immersive experience under blue neon lights with energizing music, an encouraging coach and a community of people working to create the strongest version of themselves. Various locations; solidcore.co // @solidcore

Sweat DC
Find your sweat in Petworth with Sweat DC, a studio that believes fitness should be fun, inclusive, challenging, and inspirational. Sweat DC was founded on the “come as you are” principle. It combines dope music, top-notch coaching and science-backed workouts with a supportive community geared to help you become confident in your skin. Various locations; sweatdc.com // @sweatdc

VIDA Fitness
A premier fitness space, VIDA offers an array of services to meet every fitness need throughout the city. During the pandemic, they formed the VIDA Fitness Medical Advisory Board to ensure a safe space for members to work out. Various locations; vidafitness.com // @vidafitnessdc

An Anchor to Ground Me

This past year, like the fitness spaces and coaches listed above, I wanted to get creative as a small business owner and in my athletic goals. To push myself, I took on the task of training for eight months with a coach and utilizing modified CrossFit endurance training. The purpose? To run 100 miles nonstop on October 7 to raise money for LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs who needed Covid-19 relief funds. Along with the rest of the world, I went through ups and downs in many areas during the pandemic. My most hit area, though, was my mentality. The 100-mile training provided an anchor to ground me and help with my thought processes and routine. I commend the entire fitness industry of Washington, D.C., who roll with the punches and help ground locals physically, mentally, and in many cases spiritually.

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