Hi, my name is Gladys Santiago and I am the founder of Worth The Fight Boxing Denver. I struggled with my weight for my whole life. Kids teased me in school for my size. I tried different diets and exercise regimens but nothing ever stuck until I got into boxing and, later, fitness more generally. I decided to open Worth The Fight Boxing Denver to help other people achieve their fitness goals, but I never forgot how hard it was being in a larger body. That’s why it is mission critical at Worth The Fight Boxing that we have a fitness environment that is welcoming and accepting to all. Denver needed a body positive gym like Worth The Fight Boxing where everyone feels comfortable working out! I also founded body positive inclusive run club Thick Thighs Run Club in Denver for similar reasons. I love the inclusive fitness space!
Sign up to try a class at body-positive gym Worth The Fight Boxing Denver!
Which fitness studios or gyms in Denver are body-positive?
Gyms and fitness studios can be very intimidating and, at times, judgmental places, usually without bad intend on the part of anyone there. We just live in a very appearance-conscious society and we’re trained by the media from a young age to have insecurities about our bodies because they aren’t perfect like the ones we see on TV and social media (especially women). When you’re at the gym where people go to work on improving their bodies, some people are bound to be reminded of those insecurities and experience negative feelings as a result. Even though I’m very fit now, I still feel that way sometimes at gyms and fitness studios, and I know how that feeling can get in the way of working out for people who don’t have conventional gym bodies. I want everyone to have a place they can go for a workout and feel at ease. Try a week of unlimited classes at body-positive gym Worth The Fight Boxing for $29 without risk (does not roll into a membership unless you choose). That inspired me to open my body-positive fitness studio.
The thing is that, to be body positive, your gym doesn’t just have to be free from judgment (like Planet Fitness’ “judgment free zone”). You also need to actively cultivate a culture that is welcoming to people of all body types. That’s what I strive to do at my body-positive gym, Worth The Fight Boxing. I love seeing people with larger bodies in my fitness classes getting stronger and closer to their fitness goals (which may or may not include losing weight). People have told me Worth The Fight was the first fitness studio in Denver that they felt comfortable attending. Overall, we have a lot more body diversity at Worth The Fight Boxing compared to other fitness studios and gyms I’ve been to in Denver, and I am very proud of that! Fill in the form below if you’d like to try becoming part of our community:
Get a week of unlimited fitness classes at body positive gym Worth The Fight Boxing!
What do you do to make Worth The Fight Boxing Denver a body-positive gym?
There’s many things I do to make Worth The Fight Boxing one of the most body positive gyms in Denver. At some gyms you can’t even get hired if you don’t have a super-sculpted body and you’re not hot, for lack of a better word. It’s part of the unwritten job description. At my Denver fitness studio, I hire people who are super fit, knowledgeable about fitness, and energetic, without the requirement they have an influencer hard body. All our coaches are very fit and enthusiastic about fitness, and they can inspire a broader range of people to pursue their own fitness goals by showing how many shapes and sizes fitness comes in. We also train our coaches to be body-positive in the gym. One time we had a coach make a joke about how it is okay to eat dinner after doing such a hard class, and we talked to him about why we don’t make jokes like that in our fitness classes. If you’re from Denver and want to see what it’s like to work out in an accepting inclusive body-positive gym, come try a week of unlimited fitness classes at Worth The Fight Boxing Denver for $29 with no commitment. Don’t worry if you’ve never boxed before – about 90% of our members have not boxed before. We will have you come early to your first class so you can work with the coach one-on-one to learn the punches.
If you’re interested in trying our body positive gym but also still intimidated, here are some things that might help:
- Call or text me (the owner) at 303-720-6071 about any concerns or fears: I’ve been through the journey of being out of shape to getting in shape visiting many different gyms in the process. I am happy to talk you through any worries you may have, and I get it. I’ve been there. Not many other owners of gyms or fitness studios in Denver can say that – most of them are naturally fit and have always been fit. (By the way, I am also a personal trainer if you’re looking for a body-positive personal trainer.) I’m not saying that you can’t found a great gym for plus size people if you’re not plus size, but I do think it helps me relate and empathize better with plus size customers.
- Come visit our body positive fitness studio when we are in session before you actually come for your first class: Call or text us at 303-720-6071 and we can set up a time for you to come in. Checking the place out will help you know what to expect when you come for your first class.
- Come for a personal training session before you come for your first class: Text me at 303-720-6071 and I can give you our intro discount on a 30-minute personal training session! The personal training session will help you learn the punches and you’ll get to see the studio and get a feel for it before you come.
- Bring a friend for your first class! It helps a lot for first timers to have someone there with them for their first class, even at a body positive gym like ours. You can each get our one week trial of unlimited boxing classes for $29 or you could buy our 2 boxing class credits for $40 and each use a credit.
Worth The Fight Boxing Denver is also a great place for LGBTQ people to work out! Read more about our accepting Denver fitness studio
