The Athleticus Personal Training Studio Offers Free Fitness to its Hurricane Affected Members

Hurricanes Helene and Milton devastated the Gulfport and St. Pete communities, affecting small businesses doubly. Not only were they damaged, but they in many cases received a double whammy – loss of clients who too were affected and so no longer able to patronize their local businesses. The Athleticus Personal Training Studio, a boutique members-only fitness club located on 49th Street South is one such business. Unscathed by Hurricane Helene, The Athleticus suffered wind damage and flooding from Hurricane Milton, losing power and internet for several days and dealing with water and wind damage. Much more concerning than the fixed costs that insurance of course excluded is the loss of clients. More than a dozen of their members lost their homes, businesses or both, with several others losing vehicles and valuable assets. For a small local studio, that number represents a very large portion of the business. Olya Schaefer, the Founder of The Athleticus, said that it’d taken her a year to gain this number of clients so the loss is significant. Unwilling to just give up or make uncomfortable staffing decisions, she decided to pivot. The Athleticus rolled out a new group fitness program, free to all the clients who were affected by the hurricanes and available to new members. A new offering at a more affordable price point, the semi private small group training allows a maximum of 5 members to train together, focusing on strength gains and fat loss, and it is now offered by The Athleticus Personal Training Studio on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. It will remain free for the original clients through all of 2024 and will continue to provide employment to The Athleticus team while bringing fitness to the larger community.