“Jump and know that the net will appear.” For Ben Fogel, that is not some polished line he came up with after the fact. It is the truth he has lived. Long before Epic Fitness became the welcoming, community-driven place it is today, Ben was a small-town kid from Nevada City, California, who participated in almost every sport, and kept finding himself called toward the next challenge, even when the path ahead looked anything but certain.

“Our motivation has always been to have something that brings as many people along with us as we can - and creates a positive experience for everyone involved - instead of focusing on how Lynndsey and I can just elevate ourselves.” That is how Zac Eldridge describes what he and his wife, Lynndsey Eldridge, set out to build at Big Mountain Barbell, their Midvale gym that has grown from a 2,500-square-foot warehouse into an 11,000-square-foot training facility rooted in community.

“Slow Movements. Fast Results. That is the promise inside btone Fitness Brickyard, and it is the heartbeat of owner Janeen McCormick’s journey - a journey that has taken her from a small farm town in Northern California, through corporate America and two battles with breast cancer, and finally to Millcreek, where she has created far more than a fitness studio.

“There is a connection, I don't even know how to explain it, between just moving your body and being healthy.” Lya Wodraska has carried that belief through every chapter of her life. Today, it sits at the center of The BackLine SLC, the gym she built to help people find what their bodies need, whether that means building strength, easing chronic pain, or simply learning how to move with more confidence. 

“I didn’t just want to open a studio. I wanted to change the way people feel about moving their bodies, and about themselves.” Tessa Arneson opened Maven STRONG with more than just fitness in mind. The sleek, light-filled Pilates studio was the first brick in what would become the Maven DISTRICT - a hub of women-owned, health-focused businesses in Salt Lake City’s Central City neighborhood. But in the beginning, it was simply about creating a space for strength and self-trust, built from Tessa’s own personal transformation.

“I called it Define Fitness because I believe health looks different for everyone. You get to decide what it means to you.” From the border city of El Paso, Texas, to the heart of Millcreek, Utah, Valeria Macias has carved out a space that is deeply personal. Define Fitness, her women-centered studio, opened in the spring of 2025, is the culmination of a life journey shaped by hardship, healing, and the belief that fitness is for every kind of body.

“Edison House is not your grandfather’s social club,” explains George Cardon-Bystry, one of the co-founders and visionaries behind this dynamic, upscale social club in Salt Lake City. With deep roots in the area as an eighth-generation Utahn, George returned home to create a space that reflects the changing nature of the city and its community. Opened in late 2022, Edison House stands out as a modern reimagining of traditional social clubs, offering an inclusive, vibrant atmosphere that attracts a diverse membership.

“This is my first interview ever,” Molly Mullane laughs, admitting her slight trepidation at sharing her story. As the owner of two Club Pilates studios in the Salt Lake City area, Molly’s journey from a small farm town in Indiana to becoming a fitness business owner is both inspiring and relatable.