Why Grassroots?
At Grassroots Fitness Project, we believe fitness should be accessible, effective, and empowering. We offer small group training, one-on-one personal training, and specialized programs to meet you wherever you are in your fitness journey.
Our approach is foundation-first—we prioritize building strong movement patterns that set the stage for long-term success. From there, our expert trainers customize and progress workouts to fit your personal health goals, ensuring you get the most out of every session.
Whether you're here to build strength, improve endurance, recover from injury, or simply move better, Grassroots provides a supportive community and expert coaching to help you succeed.
Our Story
Before “boutique fitness” was even a term, we had a vision.
After spending 15 years training and managing at large commercial gyms, we saw a fundamental gap—fitness companies were thriving, but many clients weren’t truly succeeding. A gym membership alone wasn’t enough. People needed guidance, education, and a supportive environment to feel empowered in their fitness journey, no matter their experience level.
So, in 2004, we built Grassroots Fitness Project—a fitness studio that offered everything commercial gyms were missing:
✔ Education on the “why” and “how” of fitness
✔ Expert trainers to guide and motivate
✔ A strong, supportive community where everyone feels respected
What started in our duplex apartment studio has since grown into a fully functional training facility in the Upper West Side, where our dedicated team delivers personal training, small group classes, and youth programming.
At Grassroots, we believe fitness is about more than aesthetics—it’s about true well-being, strength, and resilience. We are here to help people create lasting change, not just in their bodies, but in their lives.
This is the Grassroots Fitness Project.
— Heather Gunn & Wil Rivera
OUR VALUES AND BELIEFS
We treat every member of our community with utmost respect as we aim to meet their individual needs and goals.
We strive to be the driving force behind every fitness project's success, whether it’s beginning the fitness journey or training for a marathon.
We believe that our fitness studio should offer solutions for all members of the family. When everyone is on the same page, success can occur.
We believe in educating our trainers to always be at the forefront of fitness education and construct safe, effective, and personalized programs for each member.
We believe in the power of building a close-knit community that offers motivation, education, and connection to make working out an enjoyable part of the day.
Our members deserve guidance rather than superficial guarantees. We not only train them but serve as a guide toward long-term and sustainable success.
We advocate for accountability rather than a reliance on bursts of motivation. Every member will be given tools beyond the fitness basics to achieve personal goals.
We offer high quality training for every member, regardless of fitness level, past experience, or age. There are no limitations to the fitness training experience.