After losing 100 pounds during his own weight loss journey, Ryan Nolan opened Spite Gym on Cleveland Avenue.
Ryan Nolan was not always as passionate about fitness as he is today. For 14 years, his job as chef meant his passion was food.
But as the birth of his son approached, Nolan was motivated to get in shape for the sake of his child, a decision would later lead him to start his own gym.
Nolan had already worked at Crunch Gym during his catering career. Then COVID-19 hit and he was forced to close his catering business, so he started teaching fitness classes online out of his garage.
Spite Fitness opened in Santa Rosa Jan. 4, with a focus on “community powered fitness, offering group fitness classes, personal training, massage therapy and on-site chiropractic therapy.
Nolan said the gym’s name refers to his path to success in spite personal challenges. It’s a name also meant to motivate his clients to achieve their fitness goals despite their own hurdles.
“In spite of the world around us, in spite of our challenges we face, in spite of the story we were told, we can come together and become a healthier version of ourselves,” Nolan said.
Nolan said he wants to be the most inclusive gym in Santa Rosa, offering services to everyone — including those intimidated by starting a workout routine.
“I know how hard it was on that day one trying to get into that gym. So, a lot of our clients are people who don’t like gyms and didn’t know they could enjoy fitness, and they’re really seeing this whole community aspect and support they never knew was possible,” Nolan said.
Now a certified nutritionist, Nolan is proud he has lost more than 100 pounds since starting his journey to a healthier lifestyle.
“I realized how much better my life got when I started to reach my health goals,” Nolan said.
For those struggling to achieve their fitness aims, Nolan recommended connecting an emotional “why” to their goals.
“If you can start to reframe things in the sense of ‘would future me appreciate this?’ it’s much easier to grasp and focus on,” Nolan said.
The gym currently has about 60 members and 6 employees. A monthly membership starts at $159, A single fitness class costs $25 and 10 classes costs $200. They also offer a free trial and other packages that can be found on their website.
The Santa Rosa native said he hopes to open five gyms throughout the county one day but right now is focused on increasing the gym membership.
You can reach Staff Writer Melanie Nguyen at 707-521-5457 or melanie.nguyen@pressdemocrat.com. On X (Twitter) @mellybelly119
