A new fitness studio is bringing a personalized approach to wellness in Santa Monica, with an emphasis on making exercise accessible to residents who may feel intimidated by traditional gyms.
Spry Fitness, located at 2222 Pico Blvd., opened its doors this month under the ownership of Evan Spry, a Santa Monica resident who transitioned from teaching history to pursuing his passion for fitness and community building.
"As a fitness professional, I wanted to have the leverage to create a hospitable community for residents in the area to go to a gym where they feel truly known," Spry said. "Starting my own gym made this goal possible."
The studio offers one-on-one personal training and small group sessions for two to five people, focusing on strength training for clients ages 12 to 80 and older. Operating by appointment only from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, Spry Fitness distinguishes itself with a family-friendly and dog-friendly atmosphere designed to put newcomers at ease.
Spry said he deliberately chose Santa Monica for his business because of its strong sense of community.
"I chose Santa Monica as the location for my gym, one, because I am a Santa Monica resident," he said. "But two, Santa Monica is the most neighborhood-like area I have found in LA. I am attracted to the community Santa Monica has to offer because many residents in Santa Monica have lived here for a long time, and I want to be ingrained in this loyal community."
The gym is positioned between Lo/Cal Coffee and Lazy Daisy Cafe, placing it in the heart of a walkable neighborhood corridor.
For Spry, opening the studio represents the culmination of a career transformation that began with his work as a secondary school history teacher. Despite finding fulfillment in education, he felt drawn back to the athletic lifestyle of his youth.
"I originally started my professional career as a secondary school history teacher," Spry said. "Growing up with an athletics background, I felt like I was missing out on the healthy lifestyle that could be possible as a trainer. Therefore, with more education, and a leap of faith, I decided to start working as a contractor for different gyms. Through this process, I built up the confidence to start my own gym to expand my reach."
That confidence now fuels his mission to welcome clients who might otherwise avoid fitness facilities. Spry said many people share similar concerns about returning to exercise after a long absence or entering a gym for the first time.
"I would say to people who are intimidated by gyms or who haven't worked out in years that most of my clients said the same thing before they began to work with me," he said. "Those thoughts and experiences are more common than some may think, but no one is alone here at Spry Fitness, and I am here to guide them through every step."
The business has enrolled in the BuyLocal program and is participating in recognition for Most Loved local businesses, reflecting Spry's commitment to integrating into Santa Monica's small business community.
Interested residents can schedule a complimentary consultation by calling or texting Spry at (949) 290-8515 or emailing evanspryfitness@gmail.com. More information is available about services and scheduling options for both individual and small group training sessions.
The studio's appointment-only model allows Spry to provide focused attention to each client while maintaining the intimate, non-intimidating environment he envisioned when launching the business.
For Santa Monica residents seeking a personalized approach to fitness in a neighborhood setting, Spry Fitness offers an alternative to larger commercial gyms, with an owner who lives in the community and understands its character.