Today we’d like to introduce you to Anitha Kerst & Jonathan Wiens.
Hi Anitha & Jonathan, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
We grew up together, just outside of Washington D.C; we went to the same church and schools and even lived in the same neighborhood. Despite having a crush on Jonathan since I was six years old, we didn’t start dating until 2014, when I was finishing grad school and Jonathan had moved to Colorado. After graduating, I followed him, and we lived in CO for about four years, where Jonathan was a personal trainer at a boxing gym, and I was a child protection case worker. When we decided to move to California six years ago, we didn’t imagine it would lead to being business owners.
After working for and being mentored by world-renowned fitness instructors Rachel and Alwyn Cosgrove (Results Fitness, Santa Clarita), Jonathan realized his desire to create a gym of his own in 2023. We started Archway Fitness as a strength-based alternative to the barrage of fat-loss gyms that are too ubiquitous in the Los Angeles area. Our mission is to build sustainable strength and care for one’s health. We also focus on creating a safe place for women, especially women of color. For too long, women and women of color have been told we are not pretty enough, thin enough, and if we were strong, we were not feminine enough. We know that gyms can be intimidating, but at Archway Fitness, we are building a community where everyone feels welcome.
Jonathan has been a coach since leaving college and has over 12 years of experience. He has trained everyone from novices who have never touched a weight to professional athletes to middle schoolers. He loves the process of guiding people from where they are to where they want to be. Coupled with that, I also have a passion for helping people and am a trained Social Worker. Since living in CA, I have worked in a variety of fields including TV and Film and the Food Service industry.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
A big challenge we ran into was when I lost my job several months into starting the gym. We obviously live in one of the most expensive cities, maybe in the world, so we had to pivot and figure out how to make ends meet, how to pay two rents, two insurances–basically double everything. For at least six months we went down the hole of draining our savings account, racking up credit card debt–the whole nine. Fortunately, this year we have seen our business grow 75% just in the first quarter and are excited to see what the rest of the year brings us.
Another significant challenge we faced was finding and creating a new sense of self as business owners and as partners within our marriage. Being a business owner becomes an identity and one that we both have fallen in love with, but getting to this place has come with lots of highs and lows. After the remodel, we were quickly running out of money, which was coupled with not having as many clients right off the bat that we had hoped for. This created a sense of worthlessness, at times loneliness, and, to layer on top of that, a feeling of letting down your partner. To get us through those times, we were fortunate to have each other, supportive families, and, eventually, the gym community that we built.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next, you can tell us a bit more about your business.
Archway Fitness is a small boutique, membership-based gym. We are a strength-based gym where Jonathan develops personalized plans that help each member find their way. Training at Archway Fitness is delivered in small group settings with no more than four people at a time. We are based in Santa Monica, California, and were founded by Coach Jonathan Wiens and Anitha Kerst.
One of the most important things that we wanted to create with Archway Fitness is a sense of community. We have been fortunate to be able to provide free classes at Wise & Healthy Aging, a center in downtown Santa Monica that curates activities for the over 50 crowd. We also have participated in local events like the Montana Avenue Wellness Walk in March. Jonathan is an avid pickleballer and an active member of the West LA and Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce. To be a part of the community, and to be working for a better community is what we are all about.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs, or other resources you think our readers should check out?
Jonathan and I have very different tastes in books and podcasts. Jonathan loves fantasy and sci-fi, and I… don’t. Jonathan is a ferocious reader and can get through a new book every week, ranging from Mary Shelley to Frank Herbert to New Rules of Lifting for Women. I, on the other hand, opt for audiobooks and right now am fully immersed in the world of The Thursday Murder Club series. As for podcasts, Jonathan listens to The Strength Coach Podcast, while I lean towards self-help podcasters like Jay Shetty and for fun, The Office Ladies.
We try not to spend too much time on the social media apps but are intentional with who we follow. One local ‘fitness influencer’ we feel is aligned with our messaging and everyone should check out is @laura_ghiacy. Laura Ghiacy speaks on lots of harmful ‘fitness influencer’ trends like ‘before and after’ photos, ‘what I eat in a day’ videos, and the racial and gender biases within the industry.
Pricing:
- Annual Memberships starting at $125 (billed biweekly)
- Monthly Memberships starting at $147 (billed biweekly)
Contact Info:
- Website: www.archwayfitness.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arch_way_fitness/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archwayfitness
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-wiens-862880291/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8dSv3AulQKiLalSx0RS9BA
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/archway-fitness-los-angeles
- Other: https://classpass.com/studios/archway-fitness-los-angeles
Image Credits
Portlyn Polston
Anitha & Jonathan
