When it comes to creating a “unique, fun, and high-intensity workout” experience, fitness gurus Rashad and Tosha McDade along with their fellow husband/wife team members Jamal and Lauren Powers, are paving the way with Total Fitness Revolution (TFR), the largest Black-owned fitness facility in Atlanta.
Priding themselves on innovation, TFR offers a one-of-a-kind cycling experience with state-of-the-art equipment such as professional grade BH brand bikes – the select bike provider for Tour de France riders – Barre, CrossFit, Yoga, Pilates, Body Sculpting, Kickboxing, HIIT, Boot Camp, Strength Training, Cycling and so much more.
In fact, their 16,000 square foot studio where the “party meets the pedal” has gained so much traction, that stars like R&B crooner Usher and Real Housewives of Atlanta’s Sheree Whitfield have both been spotted spinning to some of today’s biggest hits.
Recently, BlackDoctor.org had the opportunity to chop it up with the superstar small business owners, who dished on everything from their upcoming event hosted by Angela Simmons (powered by Aquafina) to the joys and challenges of working together.
“We became partners back in 2014,” Lauren, who previously fronted a thriving boot camp revealed. “She [Tosha McDade] brought us together and Rashad brought the whole personal training aspect. I brought more of the CrossFit and classes aspect and together we’ve just grown the business experientially,” she explained, detailing how each has contributed to the success of the business.
“We both had a population that needed to be served, we didn’t have a place to do it, and that’s what brought us together,” she added of partnering with Rashad’s well-recognized personal training program.
“We’re very unique. We have multiple classes – between CrossFit, Extreme Cycle, Yoga, Barre, Kickboxing, Personal Training, Track [the list goes on] – we’re the only facility to have so many classes offered under one umbrella,” Rashad said of what makes TFR stand out from the pack.
Under that same umbrella, is Extreme Cycle, a movement the pairs are more than eager to share with the public. “Extreme Cycle is what we like to call a party on the pedal,” said Lauren. “We have a state-of-the-art cycling theater where our bikes are set-up on different tiers – lower tier, middle tier, upper tier – we cycle to music videos on big screen TVs,” said Lauren of the sessions complete with club lighting, fog machines, haze machines and effects. Did we mention the high quality bikes?
“I think what makes us stand out the most is our instructors. We have a squad of extremely talented, highly motivating instructors and people are losing a lot of weight in our programs,” said Lauren, adding that “You can’t get anything like us anywhere else.”
Up next, the complete fitness studio is kicking off its new year with a bang: the official launch of TFR Xtreme Cycle. “We have a huge event coming up. It’s called Fitness Revolution. It’s probably one of the largest events we’ve thrown at the facility here. It’s the re-launch of our Extreme Cycling program. As Lauren said before, we have a ton of really talented trainers and cyclists that come in each and every day and provide a very, very, rare fitness experience,” said Jamal.
“We do a very nice studio ride. We have stadium seating. The atmosphere and energy in the class is unmatched compared to anything I’ve ever seen around here. So, it’s going to be a lot of fun. We expect a lot of local celebrities to come out and sweat and get fit with us too. So, it’s just a really exciting time for us,” he continued.
“We’ll also have six Extreme Cycle classes — a Zumba class, a Barre class, as well as a nutritional seminar,” added Tosha. ‘It’s open to the general public. So, even if you can’t come in and put the party to the pedal, we want you to feel a part of it.”
Of course, finding their grove wasn’t always a cake walk. When it comes working together, the founders admit it “takes a village.”
“I’ll start with the joys; as we all laugh,” said Tosha. “Though we don’t always get along, we’re still like a family. We [Tosha and Rashad] don’t have children. We have fur babies. But, Lauren and Jamal do. So, their kids are obviously always up here. We feel as though ‘it takes a village’ is the true meaning of that here – but 90 percent of the time, I’d say we’re one happy family,” Tosha continued, adding that their network provides a great resource for a meeting of the minds – birthing new ideas.
Meanwhile, Rashad revealed that “the one challenge I have is Lauren is a spender and I’m a saver. That’s always a challenge when it comes to budgeting.”
Wrapping it up, Jamal added, “To put it more into a focal point, I think that any challenge you have with any kind of small business or endeavor you take on with more than one person – you just have to make sure that you’re all aligned in every aspect of the business. I think that with the four personalities that we have, we make up one conglomertive leadership team.”
With that said, the team is moving full speed ahead with their launch party, which takes place on Saturday, February 4, from 4p-8p. Although described as a great opportunity for “seasoned cyclists,” Lauren assures that their bikes provide a “smooth” ride and are “pretty much easy for anyone to use.” In other words, there’s no excuse NOT to check them out – beginners are welcome!
For more information on TFR’s unique fitness experience, visit TotalFitnessRevolution.com or check them out on social media: @TotalFitnessRev for Instagram and Twitter or Facebook.com/TotalFitnessRevolution.
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