For any self-starter, opening a business can be tough, but it can be overwhelming when you factor in the competitive nature of Durango’s fitness market.
That’s what Yo! Fitness owner Adrian Wengeng-Frank found when she opened her gym in August 2022 at 450 South Camino del Rio. Luckily, Wengeng-Frank was well-known from her time as a personal trainer at Durango Sports Club, and it didn’t take long for her to attract new clients.
Durango Sports Club was a staple in the Durango fitness community until the club’s property was sold and changed ownership in November to become Durango Fitness Club.
Wengeng-Frank left Durango Sports Club in June 2022 because of health issues but said it worked out because she found out that the sports club would be under new ownership.
“There are a ton of gyms in Durango, but you also have outdoor sports to compete with, too. So you’ve got to make it enticing for those people that are also in the outdoor scene,” Wengeng-Frank said.
Currently, there are 16 fitness gyms in the Durango area, excluding gyms that may be housed in apartment complexes. In addition, places like Gravity Lab rock climbing gym also offer some weight lifting and cardio options with its membership.
Wengeng-Frank said this means gym owners must create a niche for their businesses. Some gyms focus on being open 24 hours and available to as many people as possible, while others focus on a more individual approach.
The Yo! Fitness owner was a competitive runner until she was 30 years old, but after tearing her left Achilles tendon, she decided she wanted to enter fitness and bodybuilding competitions.
Her experiences competing drove her interest in developing functional training and body transformation workout plans.
“When I tore my Achilles, I went to a coach in England and he's like, ‘Adrian, you're running like a sprinter for a marathon. You can't possibly keep that up,’” she said.
Functional training means workouts incorporate movements that are made in everyday life.
“I am huge on movement assessments and just making sure everyone has a sound foundation,” Wengeng-Frank said.
Yo! Fitness is different from some of the other gyms in Durango. Because of the gym’s size it focuses on smaller classes and private sessions. Wengeng-Frank’s goal is to create positive accountability within her classes.
She says that she wants to make sure people stay committed to their goals and that those participating can help by showing support.
Yo! Fitness also offers nutrition consultations. Wengeng-Frank said this is normally based on the client’s goals. For most people, she starts them out with a journal.
She has them track what they eat and decides what changes could be made for better results after evaluating their diet.
Yo! Fitness offers multiple classes ranging from $50 to $225 a month. Most of the classes are offered three days a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
For Wengeng-Frank, it was bittersweet to leave Durango Sports Club because she had developed what felt like a family there. She also said that she never tried to recruit clients from the club after she left.
She did notice once the sports club changed ownership and its name, more clients came to see a familiar face. She said her client base came from word-of-mouth.
She recommended starting small when opening a gym.
“I was scared to open. I didn't know if I would succeed in the first year. It was forcing me to find a lease that ... was one year and most of them have a lease for three to five years,” Wengeng-Frank said.
She would eventually like to grow the gym to a larger scale but said that her current situation is perfect for her 12-person per class limit.
“One thing I've learned through personal training ... (is) don't put all your eggs in one basket and don't get too stressed out,” she said. “It'll come if you have a good product.”
tbrown@durangoherald.com
