Today we’d like to introduce you to Alyssa Nichols
Hi Alyssa, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
EUNOIAFIT was founded in 2015 from a desire to serve the under-served. After working with affluent communities, the lack of resources available and health disparages plaguing my community, drove me to start EUNOIAFIT in my hometown of Cedar Hill. EUNOIAFIT quickly grew as I moved my business to an all women’s gym downtown and then decided to opened my own private studio in 2017. We continued to grow, down-sizing to weather the uncertainty of COVID, and then expanded to our current location in OakCliff Bishop Arts in 2023, where we are the only 100% woman-owned, women-operated, and women-only strength training gym! It has been such a wild, but rewarding journey!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Nothing about entrepreneurship is smooth! lol Surviving the shutdown was one of the biggest struggles. There was just so much uncertainty surrounding small business, but it forced me to think on my toes and figure out how to pivot quickly! Expansion and scaling my business post-Covid has been another transition chalked full of obstacles. Trying to work with architects, brokers, and property managers as a one woman, show was tough. When I expanded, I also decided to forgo investors and maintain full ownership of my company. Acquiring funding is already a challenge for minorities and having a service-based business makes that process even more difficult. I was able to secure a few grants and a loan, but start up for a gym are high, especially when you’re taking on the responsibility of employing people and building a team! It’s been tough to go from being a solo entrepreneur for 8 years to learning how to manage people and make sure they are taken care of. While entrepreneurship is stressful and has it’s challenges, I’m grateful for the way the obstacles have shaped who I am as a business owner and a person. It has forced me to be better, sharper, and more flexible.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am the owner of EUNOIAFIT, where I teach small group strength training classes as well as personal training. I specialize in strength training and prenatal and postpartum fitness. I also work part-time as a full spectrum doula, helping advocate, support and coach women through labor and delivery. I am known for creating a unique environment for women to explore strength training and improve their health on their own terms and honestly that is what I’m most proud of. It has always been my goal to create a safe, judgement-free community for women, especially women of color, to train and that’s exactly what I’ve done. There a few qualities that separate EUNOIAFIT from most other gyms. We are an all women’s gym that takes a client-centered approach to training. There can be a lot of ego in this industry. We care about our clients outside of what before and after picture progress they have and we prioritize their needs over our own. At EUNOIAFIT we also take pride in how we structure training to progress women of all fitness levels and expose them variety of training styles and formats. We also prioritize form, safety and longevity over what looks trendy and cool. With the goal of our women being able to train forever and have improved quality of life over everything else, the whole experience is just different!
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
None of my life or business has ever been about luck. It has always been about aligning myself and my business with what God has called me to do in any given season. While yes, some seasons have absolutely been more difficult than others, it’s more about glorifying God in all seasons and understanding that regardless of what is going on, everything is working for my good as long as I trust Him. I expect to struggle because I’m aligned, so I do the work with as much gratitude as I can.
Pricing:
- $170/mo: Functional Strength 2x/Week
- $185/mo: Functional Strength 3x/Week
- $27.51: Class Drop-in Rate
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.eunoiafit.com/group-training
- Instagram: @eunoiafit
Image Credits
Shelby Kilgore
