Finding Peace Through Fitness
The Studio @ Beacon’s focus on body positivity
Samantha Abby has never felt so at peace as when she is boxing.
“In that moment when you are hitting that bag, it is a great release and a great feeling,” Abby said. “That peace is not something that is common in day-to-day life.”
It only took one underground boxing class on the Upper East Side for Abby and her partner, Laura Leigh, to fall in love with the sport. Moving out of New York City to Beacon, New York in 2016, they found a market for small-group fitness classes. They soon opened The Studio @ Beacon.
“We wanted an extremely inclusive environment which is a tough thing to get in a gym,” Leigh said. “We wanted to create the city aesthetic of small-group fitness and to make it warm and welcoming.”
The Studio @ Beacon steps away from the gym chains for a more comfortable workout experience. It integrates boxing, spin, and yoga into a variety of classes. Classes are generally capped at 16 people, but boxing classes only accept 8–10 participants. There are eight different instructors specializing in everything from meditation to cycling. It costs $25 per class. Clip-in cycling shoes, boxing gloves, and towels are all provided, but newcomers are asked to purchase a $5 reusable hand wrap for when they are using the boxing gloves.
The studio’s signature Bikes & Bags class remains the most popular as it combines cycling and boxing for a full-body workout. For those looking for something less chaotic, there are classes focused solely on cycling.
The studio’s glass front looks onto Beacon’s main street and welcomes strollers with clean white walls dotted with pops of aqua. The bottom floor is dedicated to a smoothie bar with a staircase leading upstairs to the workout rooms.
Abby admitted she and Leigh knew nothing about nutrition; however, they added in the smoothie bar to reiterate the message of balanced fitness to everyone that wanders through the door. They brought in a food consultant to discuss menu options and to decide on the best way to serve fresh fruit.
“We tested every recipe and learned what it was we are giving to people,” Abby said. “A lot of customers pre-order their smoothie so they can grab it after class.”
The smoothie bar simply reiterates the couple’s approach to fitness: balance, positivity, and community. They want everyone to feel welcome and comfortable confronting whatever each participant is dealing with that day.
Boxing incorporates HIIT and mindfulness, rewarding participants with the equivalent of a runner’s high. Good boxing form results from matching one’s breathing with each motion, giving participants the opportunity to slow down and focus on body awareness.
This was one of the reasons Abby and Leigh attended their first boxing class. Soon after Abby’s mom passed away, they knew they needed a change of pace. That was when they found two professional boxers in the underground boxing ring to pummel them until the endorphins helped clear their minds.
“It is all about what makes you happy,” Leigh said. “It is all about your mindset. I want you to leave feeling strong and capable.”
Therefore, when they needed a focus for their studio, they turned to the exercise classes that made them feel their best. They want to simplify fitness for anyone who does not know where to start in their wellness journey. Leigh personally tried all classes to test each instructor. She also teaches classes most Friday and Saturday mornings. For newcomers, she suggests those new to the studio take her class so she can calm any nerves.
“For those who seem nervous, I guide them through the first class,” Leigh said. “People want validation and for you to meet them where they are. They want someone to say ‘you are going to be ok.’”
Leigh and Abby believe it is all about finding what you love. They want everyone to leave their studio with a new understanding of body positivity.
“I love knowing we created a community where everyone feels so confident,” Leigh said. “Especially as women, we can say we worked for it and we made it happen.”
