Starting a fitness journey can feel daunting, but in Long Beach, a group of dedicated individuals and spaces are reshaping the landscape. Meet the visionaries behind Makai Pilates, Hybrid House, Club Studio, Long Beach Rising, and Annex Training Center. These pioneers are crafting transformative experiences tailored to diverse needs. From intimate Pilates classes fostering mind-body connections to inclusive spaces shunning stereotypes, these fitness havens prioritize community, comfort, and progress over perfection. Discover how these passionate leaders are redefining fitness, making it accessible, inviting, and empowering for all.
Makai Pilates, Eden Paul and Ryan Donahue
Founded just over a year and a half ago by Eden Paul, who has over 30 years of experience, Makai Pilates offers lessons that emphasize the relationship between body and mind. “We do things that will challenge you but ultimately, you make your own experience,” Paul said. “It’s a very forgiving practice.”
Makai Pilates is an intimate studio tucked away on 4th and Junipero, offering up a wide range of classes for all skill levels. “We’re the only studio around here that offers an introductory class,” said Ryan Donahue, an instructor who has been an integral part of Makai since its inception.
Donahue’s Reformer Essentials class is taught at a slower pace than the other classes offered at Makai in order to allow clients to familiarize themselves with equipment that might otherwise be intimidating. “Don’t be intimidated,” Donahue said with a smile. Her sentiments are echoed by a phrase on one of the walls in the studio that reads, “Progress over Perfection”.
Pilates is a practice that allows people to build on the skills they are learning. Moreover, it works well in tandem with any other workouts one might be engaged in outside of Makai. “Pilates works well for those who do strength training to improve mobility,” Paul said. “For runners, it can improve stability.”
Paul’s studio seeks to challenge some of the stigma and falsehoods associated with pilates. “It’s not just for women,” Paul said. “It was actually created by a man, Joseph Pilates, and was originally used to help soldiers. You really don’t have to be fit to start.” If the idea of working out in front of strangers seems intimidating, Makai also offers private sessions and pilates parties where you and 5 of your friends can work out together.
Whatever your experience level, Makai offers state-of-the-art equipment in a clean, safe environment along with instructors who are more than willing to ensure your comfort. Get started here: www.MakaiFitness.com
Hybrid House, Timmie Brann Hunter
Affectionately referred to as the “Anti-Gym Gym”, Hybrid House is a gym that looks to veer away from some of the stereotypes often associated with strength training facilities. To start, there are no mirrors in the gym, the space is intimate and inviting. “A lot of gyms can give you great workouts,” said owner Timmie Brann Hunter. “But we focus on how the space feels.”Hybrid House aims to keep things simple by limiting the number of machines in the space, instead focusing on things like free weights, kettlebells, and barbells.
Hunter’s desire to create Hybrid House was born out of a love for strength training, primarily. She started training at the age of 14, finding a sense of community amongst other like-minded individuals who shared her desire to learn and build on the skills they’d gained. “Everyone was so helpful,” Hunter said. “There was no ego. In my adult years, I found myself longing for that feeling again.”
Hunter delved back into the world of fitness, initially starting as a personal trainer for corporate-style gyms but she felt as though something was missing. In some spaces, she saw that there was too much emphasis on physique, and in other spaces she felt as if the movements were too repetitive or boot-camp-like.
Realizing that there were other people like her, Hunter created Hybrid House 7 years ago, bringing along friends she’d met along her way. “I’ve never looked at a resume,” Hunter said. “I really feel like personal training and fitness is coachable but personality is not. When it comes to fitness, connection is everything. That’s what keeps people coming back to train.” In fact, some of the coaches at Hybrid House started as clients who showed a genuine understanding of the essence of community building.
With two locations, Signal Hill and Retro Row, Hybrid House offers group fitness classes that are small enough to allow coaches to focus on form and building genuine relationships with their clients. Classes start as early as 5 a.m. and slots are available throughout the day, the latest available being 7 p.m. If you’re interested in exploring the idea of working out in a space that feels inclusive and safe, Hybrid House offers a free 7-day pass during which you can try different classes and meet the coaches.
When it comes to starting a fitness journey, Hunter says it’s important to start with the idea of how you wanna feel and break that into small, tangible goals. Start with working out 2-3 days a week and allow that consistency to form a habit. Once fitness feels like a regular part of your schedule, you can focus on nutrition (Hybrid House offers assistance with nutrition as well) and before you know it, you’ll start to see results that are sustainable.
For more information, visit them on the web: https://www.hybridhouse.co/
Club Studio, Sierra Lauati-Nicholson
For those looking to treat themselves to a fitness experience that feels like a spa day, Club Studio offers a beautiful facility with amenities like cryotherapy, a dry sauna, filtered water, and complimentary towels. At the club, members can work out on their own or take any of the classes offering a wide range of modalities such as boxing, pilates, or spin.
Spin, in particular, is a great movement for those who aren’t the biggest fans of cardio and for those who are in physical therapy. Of all the cardio exercises there are, it is the one with the least impact on the knees. In her spin class, coach Sierra Lauati-Nicholson focuses on the idea of inclusivity by eliminating the intimidation factor often associated with spin cycling classes.
“There is a stigma on spin, especially in SoCal where everyone looks the same in their Lululemon sets,” Lauati-Nicholson said. “The first class I took was intimidating and I never returned. So now, inclusivity is my number one thing. I’m not the most petite coach, and I am Samoan and Korean… Hopefully, within me, people can see themselves represented.”
Having initially started coaching in studios in the OC, Lauati-Nicholson was drawn to Long Beach because of the city’s diversity. She has seen firsthand how representation adds to comfortability, especially when taking on the challenge of something like spin. Lauati-Nicholson gravitated toward coaching spin because of her background in dancing. She appreciates the way music plays heavily into the workouts. “The last thing I thought I would be doing is dancing on a bike for a living,” Lauati-Nicholson said with a laugh. “But I love coaching and being able to do the same movements along with everyone.”
As a spin class progresses there is typically a “hill”, a moment where resistance is the highest and one has to dig deep in order to make it to the metaphorical top. In these moments Lauati-Nicholson can be heard encouraging her class in between her own labored breaths, “I’m right here with y’all.”
“It doesn’t matter where you’re starting. You’re always welcomed at Club Studio, especially in my class,” Lauati-Nicholson said. She teaches at Club Studio on Wednesdays and Fridays at 9:30 a.m. and Sundays at 8:15 a.m. When it comes to working out, Lauati-Nicholson expresses the importance of recovery. Club Studio has a recovery room complete with theraguns, massage beds, and red light therapy.
If you’re curious, Club Studio offers guest passes through their website for those looking to try any of the classes available. For more information check out their website: https://clubstudiofitness.com/Pages/Default.aspx
Long Beach Rising, Brett Nelson
Long Beach Rising is a community-focused gym that understands how the privilege of a gym membership is not within everyone’s budget. They offer flexible membership options with affordability catering to a wide range of people like students, single parents, and those who identify as queer, trans, and/or BIPOC. All are welcome in the space that offers yoga classes, pole fitness, hip-dance classes, and rock climbing.
“We’re a small business with one location that is trying to provide the best experience for the customer,” manager Brett Nelson said. “When you walk into our space, it’s inclusive and encourages your growth whether that be physically or socially.”
Founded by Santa Monica native, Grayston Leonard who has a long-standing love for the sport of rock climbing, Long Beach Rising’s primary focus is bouldering. They seek to promote the message that all bodies can rock climb. “Whether your mindset is looking to challenge yourself or just showing up to the gym is the challenge,” Nelson said. “We have climbs that you can attempt.”
Rock climbing is taught in a group setting at Long Beach Rising but private sessions are available. Nelson said the best way to get started is to simply dive in. “Come, attempt and make slow progress over time,” Nelson said. “Whether you’re afraid of heights or you feel that you lack the strength, the community will support (your) growth over time to conquer your fear or reach your desired level of fitness.”
Long Beach Rising is open Monday through Friday 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information on how to get started, visit their website: https://www.longbeachrising.com/
Annex Training Center, Blake Reuter
For current athletes and former athletes looking to return to fitness, the Annex Training Center offers a wide variety of strength training programs. It’s a space where like-minded people can focus on “training seriously, without being too serious”.
“This is our favorite thing to do,” trainer Blake Reuter said. “Passion is just as important as having the guidelines and rules of training, we provide a good balance of both.” Reuter started in the fitness industry at just 15 years old, shadowing other trainers. There was one in particular who urged them to pursue training as a career, none other than Timmie Brann Hunter (scroll up). “I always had a passion for helping people, but I was never really sure in what capacity,” Reuter said.
At Annex, the community encourages clients to make their own safety the number one priority. “Don’t let your ego take over,” Reuter said. “You’re not in there to impress anyone. Slow down and experiment. We don’t expect you to have it all figured out.”
In addition to the variety of weightlifting classes offered, Annex also teaches “revamped” Crossfit classes that are tailored to be more accessible to a wider audience. Keeping class sizes relatively small allows Annex to focus on the needs of clients and eliminates some of the fear that can come with larger group settings.
For more information on how to get started, visit them on the web: https://annextrainingcenter.com/new-to-annex/
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