Shania Sparks and Lakara Winder wanted to see a space where black women could feel comfortable working out, and see themselves reflected in the room—so they created one.
In March, Sparks and Whynder started a group called Black Girl Fitness to fill a gap they had noticed in the Halifax area.
“There aren’t a lot of places you can go in the fitness space and see a lot of other people who are just like you,” Sparks said.
Last month, they partnered with Halifax gym R Studios to hold their first class, promoting it on social media and through word of mouth in their community. They were astonished by the response.
“We’ve had messages for days telling us how much everyone loved the class,” Sparks said. “How everyone loved being in this space, you know, full of black women. It just felt so powerful.”
“It was feelings and music”
Friends believe that the unique energy in the room is partly due to the reason for the class’s popularity. They helped plan the class, and chose their favorite R&B and hip-hop music to go along with the workout.
“We had a good workout, but it was more of an experience than just a fitness class,” Winder said. “It was all atmosphere. It was the feelings and the music.”
When they held the second term, attendance numbers increased. Gabrielle Grant, of East Preston, went to both classes and planned to continue attending.
“If I’m around people who are like me and women who support me and there is…a support system in it, I feel welcome to come,” Grant said. “I feel like there’s room for me.”
The best part, she said, was that the exercise wasn’t too dangerous, and everyone was there to have a good time.
“The places where everyone sees themselves are a little bit freer,” Grant said. “If there was a flight, there was an error, there was no problem.”
Winder and Sparks said the group’s goals reflect their lifelong fitness journeys. Two years ago, Whynder was part of the winning team at the local weight-loss competition The Biggest Loser. She said he taught her that she needed accountability.
“So working with groups of friends and family has given me that accountability,” she said. “And since then for me, I’m just learning that it’s not just about losing weight, it’s about getting stronger, friendships, mental health, things like that.”
Mubarak and thanks
This is what they want their group to reflect. They said they want any body type and fitness level to feel comfortable and respected in the classroom.
“If you’re older or younger, no matter what you look like, I think it’s important to see other women with different body types training on a consistent basis,” Winder said.
She said looking into the room and seeing a group of black women circling together made her feel “blessed and thankful.”
The friends plan to branch out to include new workouts in their Black Girl Fitness programs with R Studios, and they say they’re excited to make their events bigger and better.
Sparks said they’re also considering opening the classes to other women, or even black men in the future.
“It’s very important for everyone to come and not be afraid…getting people out and showing the people around us that the exercise is fun.”
