Fitness used to lean so heavily on a single image—that ripped, runway-ready ideal—that most people felt the gym wasn’t for them. Vice President of Fitness Services at Fitness World Nastasia Liavas thinks differently. As a leader in the movement to make gyms truly welcoming, she believes the future of fitness is less about look and more about belonging. “Fitness is one size fits one—not one size fits all,” she says. “We make fitness accessible to all abilities, all backgrounds and all levels.”
For Nastasia, inclusion starts with language and representation. “Language matters! The words we speak to ourselves and others, we start to believe,” she says. “When we only focus on appearance, we diminish the value and power of accomplishments such as getting stronger, becoming healthier, and changing the narrative in our minds. Fitness language today is focused on celebrating what our bodies CAN do—and in my opinion, that’s the only thing that matters.”
Fear of judgment is the single biggest barrier she sees. Newcomers often assume everyone at the gym is watching them—when, really, most people are looking at themselves. “An easy mind shift we can all make is remembering the gym is not a stage, but a place for self-improvement,” Nastasia says. Alongside that mindset work, she’s adamant that people need to see themselves reflected in the staff and leadership. “If we don’t see people like us in the gym—age, body, race, ability, gender—we’re more likely to feel we don’t belong. True inclusion starts with visual diversity in branding, leadership, peers and programming.”
So what does an inclusive gym actually look like? For Nastasia, it’s practical and human. It means offering diverse programming—prenatal and postnatal training, heart-healthy workouts, active rehab transitions from physio to the gym, Forever Fit classes, mobility sessions and high-intensity options—so everyone can find an entry point. It means investing in certified trainers who can safely guide people with complex needs. And it means layering in recovery, mind–body tools and small conveniences that help people return day after day. “Ancillary offerings such as recovery tools and mind and body relaxation devices keep people feeling great after a workout—which encourages them to come back again and again,” she explains.
Nastasia points to one simple program that moved the needle at her club: a member-wide “Success Stories” campaign that invited people to share their journeys. “I had the privilege of reading 200 submissions—stories of recovery, of beating addiction, of a grandfather who can now play with his grandchild,” she recalls. “It’s a great reminder that while fitness journeys are different, the way they impact us is the same.”
Looking forward, Nastasia imagines gyms that don’t feel like transaction points but like communities—places to sit, work, socialize and heal as much as to sweat. “Inclusive fitness spaces will include cardio, weight sections, group classes and recovery amenities. They’ll feel diverse, comfortable and safe—where we’re not competing, but we’re just humans exercising and thriving together,” she says.
Her message is simple and radical at once: make space, change language, show up with representation—and the rest will follow. “Inclusivity breeds community, and community breeds confidence,” Nastasia says. “When we feel like a part of something bigger than just ourselves, we are able to be inspired by others and also inspire others. That’s how transformation lasts.” —Noa Nichol
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