New year, new you, new ways to workout.
In Old City, a boutique fitness studio recently opened that aims to bring the community together in a non-intimidating and different way. And it lives up to its name.
Together Old City comes from Kate DeGennaro, a fitness veteran with previous experience in Flywheel and SLT, and the idea was born out of the pandemic.
“I’ve worked in the fitness industry in Philadelphia since 2014. After the outbreak of COVID, like many, I was left jobless,” DeGennaro explains. “The boutique fitness industry is made up of many successful and even global studios. These studios practice, preach and deliver the same thing every day and more than twice on Sundays. After working for many of these studios and even regulating their programs, I knew I wanted a studio of my own, one where instructors could express themselves through a multitude of modalities without class protocols or ‘this is how we do it’ formalities.”
“In the wake of COVID, instructors everywhere communalized online. Some taught barre, others taught yoga, HIIT and even cycling. I taught my first virtual class on March 18th in 2020. Since then I’ve grown my own brand and identity online and quickly realized I could grow organically, independently and with my own curriculum. So Together is a space for instructors. We believe in our trainers and their mission and we give them the space to see it through.”
Together promotes differentiation, community and inclusivity. DeGennaro says. The goal of this innovative studio is to create many spaces and use the studio to reimagine the boutique fitness industry, both online and in person. The Philly native, who created this idea with some help from her husband, also wants to give a platform directly to instructors who have something to say and do.
“We moved very quickly,” she continues. “My husband and I did all of the work on our own — aside from hanging our mirrors. With deliveries delayed everywhere, we sourced almost everything in-house locally. My husband James is a graphic designer and we worked together — quite literally — to brand our new space. Living only a few doors down from the studio also doesn’t hurt with moving things along.”
Kate acts as lead trainer at this space, which promotes “no front rows, no fancy equipment, and no bullsh*t.” Together’s hybrid method of combining pilates, yoga, strength training and HIIT band also features a slew of other trained professionals who pride themselves on having their own class curated to their participants. With class sizes ranging from 8 to 10 people, it’s easy to follow that formula.
“Guests can expect to be taken care of,” says DeGennaro. “With instructors branding and creating their own classes at Together, they dictate the experience. While James and I take care of everything behind [the] scenes, our instructors take ownership of their business, from check-in to goodbye. At Together you will be seen, heard, listened to and encouraged to try something new.”
Dropping in for a class starts at $15. There are also video libraries and live classes online, with memberships ranging from $45 to $99. And you don’t have to sweat being in shape. You can work with DeGennaro one on one whether you’re injured, pregnant, nervous, or what she says is her least favorite line: If you think you’re “so out of shape.”
“At Together we do more with less. Our equipment was chosen to be non-invasive or intimidating and our studio was designed to feel like the lounge area of your favorite spa,” DeGennaro says. “Together strips away the formality and singularity of a traditional boutique fitness studio and offers instructors and guests a blank canvas.”
“Together can be many things. We’re investing more in our instructors and our community. Aside from daily differing classes we look forward to hosting workshops, panels or even art shows. Because at Together, we believe working out is more than just sweat.”
The no-uniform class archetype may be new, but it seems effective in an age of just trying to find the best version of yourself. Health in the past few years has shifted from just physical to include your mental wellness also — and more popular even, a combination of the two.
For more information on Together, visit bandtogetherbykate.com
