Fitness and Friends Abound at FITSOCIAL
The Marist Alpha Sigma Tau sorority, pictured after a group spin class at FITSOCIAL. Photo by Steve Farris.
If you struggle with getting yourself to the gym, FITSOCIAL might be the place for you.
Hudson Valley native Steve Farris is the sole founder and CEO of the company, which was in the works since 2015 until the doors opened just before the COVID-19 pandemic. While raising capital, he attracted a handful of private investors who saw promise in the business.
The idea for FITSOCIAL was based on building a different concept and approaching fitness as a social endeavor. According to Farris, it’s all about how to “create a social style gym that could also meet the needs of individuals through health and wellness.”
Farris has been in the fitness industry for much of his life; however, injuries had brought his progress to a halt. On top of that, he often found boredom at the gym and knew there had to be a solution to this common feeling.
“I took a look at all the different styles of fitness that were happening and did heavy research to figure out what are the leading most reliable fitness styles,” said Farris.
FITSOCIAL is the opposite of a boring gym. According to Farris, the aesthetic was inspired by Instagram meets Apple. When you walk into each class, music and lighting play a huge role in cultivating motivation, and the studio’s black and white walls give the whole space a modern look and feel.
In three years, FITSOCIAL has earned six Best of Hudson Valley awards from Hudson Valley Magazine, including Best Overall Gym, Best Yoga Studio and Best Boxing Studio.
Former FITSOCIAL employee and Marist College graduate Ally Joswiak ‘22 described her experience at the studio as one with a strong sense of community and family.
“I went from working out there to being an instructor. They have the best classes, best aesthetic, best instructors and, of course, the best smoothies,” said Joswiak.
FITSOCIAL offers circuit, indoor cycling, pilates sculpt, boxing and yoga classes, as well as personal training. The social bar is an extra special touch, offering a place to stay after your workout and grab a smoothie and food with friends.
The studio is a hot spot for Marist students, with group workout classes and a party-like atmosphere – student clubs and organizations also frequent FITSOCIAL for group sessions.
“It is a great environment to get active and have fun. We threw a sisterhood event with them through our sorority this past week, and all the girls loved the class,” said Simone Bolger ‘24. “There was great energy all around.”
Opening FITSOCIAL in Poughkeepsie was a joint effort between Farris and an investor — they knew the area would be a good fit due to the high population density and energy. The goal has always been to expand and build a brand that can franchise out from the model that started it all.
“We took a chance on the city of Poughkeepsie and said, ‘if it can make it in the city of Poughkeepsie, we can make it anywhere,’” said Farris.