The Sweat Shop Is a Fitness Community for All

Franklin Magazine Publisher and Sweat Shop owner Amy Skirvin has her eyes set on the future. With a new studio space and continued growth, Skirvin has taken an exciting and humbling step forward.

After outgrowing its previous studio, the Sweat Shop team came together to expand into a larger studio in the Jessen building at 197 East Jefferson Street. The new location allows for more room for classes, and the chance to welcome even more women into the community. With an open floor plan, lengthy mirrors and fun lighting, the new space reflects the fun-loving group that is the Sweat Shop. With plans for new classes, programs and partnerships, the future of the Sweat Shop looks incredibly bright.

Among the many exciting changes, Skirvin is launching mommy-and-me classes in partnership with Becky Balz, who has worked with preschool-aged children since 2012, and has found support and joy through the Sweat Shop community since June 2023.

Sweat Shop staff (photo by Emily Stewart)

Balz has gone through her own transformation over the last year and half. “I have never worked out this consistently or been this healthy in my life,” she says. Balz was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2017 and has had two children since then. With a busy life, it hasn’t always been easy to manage her sugar levels. However, since starting at the Sweat Shop, her checkups have gone great and she is now falling within the prediabetic range.

“Having a place where I can feel comfortable exercising while having fun and being part of a welcoming community has definitely played a huge role in improving my health,” Balz explains. She is looking forward to sharing the space with many of the families she cares for, who know her endearingly as Miss Becky. These classes are designed to help mothers bond with their young children while also benefiting from a supportive fitness community.

In addition to these new classes, Skirvin is working on creating accountability groups where women can support each other in their fitness and wellness journeys. Having built the Sweat Shop on the power of community, Skirvin continues to show the importance of group fitness. When reflecting on why Franklin is important to her small business, Skirvin says “it is home to me, and that’s what I want the Sweat Shop to be for women; a place to belong.”

The new studio will also offer more advertising opportunities for local businesses, and Skirvin sees this as an important step in building stronger community ties. The Sweat Shop is all about women supporting women. Within the Jessen building, the Sweat Shop will be neighbors with several fantastic small businesses such as Pillar Wealth, J Avenue Boutique, and Essential Aesthetics Wellness & Body.

Class is in session (photo by Emily Stewart)

Looking ahead, Skirvin is excited about the possibilities that 2025 will bring, especially as the Sweat Shop continues to grow. For her it’s not just about expanding the business, but about continuing to offer a place where women can focus on their physical and mental health, build confidence, and forge lasting relationships.

The Sweat Shop has become a place for women of all ages and stages of life to come together, prioritize their health and grow stronger together. Since its humble beginnings, the community has grown to include women from all generations. The diversity in the age and backgrounds of members is something Skirvin takes great pride in.

“I am so thankful for the women that have become such close friends now too,” Skirvin says.

The journey to this point wasn’t always easy, but it’s one Skirvin is grateful for. In 2019 Skirvin made a Facebook post asking for people to come work out with her in the local park. In the beginning, four women showed up to work out on a scorching basketball court with Skirvin. She then moved the small fitness group she started into a space in the basement of 10 Pins. Not long after, the group quickly outgrew that space, and Skirvin took another leap of faith by moving into a studio on South Main Street in Franklin, next to Richard’s Brick Oven Pizza. It was a big step, but Skirvin was determined to build something more than just a place to work out.

“I never thought it would turn into a space that would be mine,” she recalls. At first it was just something she needed to regain her sense of self. “When I saw the impact, that’s when I began to dream bigger,” she adds.

Her vision for the Sweat Shop became clear as she saw women’s confidence grow, not just in their fitness levels, but also in how they felt about themselves. Skirvin describes the transformation she witnessed: “I would see women come in completely covered up, and over time they would start wearing different clothes, becoming more comfortable in their bodies.” For Skirvin, this was one of the most rewarding aspects of the Sweat Shop’s journey. Seeing women take pride in their appearance and health, and finding strength and confidence, was a driving force for her to continue building the community.

Skirvin didn’t embark on this journey alone. Her family has been a constant source of support and encouragement from the very beginning. Her mother, Teresa Crawford, was her biggest cheerleader and has always believed in her dream. “I have been there since day one, and I could not be more proud of watching her change lives and encourage women to be their best,” Crawford says.

Skirvin’s sister, Bekah Crawford, also played a key role in the Sweat Shop’s success. “She believed in me before I could believe in myself,” Skirvin says.

Skirvin’s husband, Steve, and their three children, Abby, Samantha and Henry, have been there every step of the way, and their pride in her work shines through. In 2023 Johentte Cruz joined the Sweat Shop community, bringing her love for great music, dancing, contagious energy, and fitness and business knowledge.

Over the years the Sweat Shop has changed many lives. Dawn O’Connor Klinge, who has been a member of the Sweat Shop since 2021, says “Amy is amazing and she motivates us all. It’s a family. I’m so much stronger and it gives me a purpose to keep going. I love the Sweat Shop.” Another Sweat Shopper, Sharon Purdue Todd, says the Sweat Shop “has been my savior. I started when I was 65 and that was two years ago, and I am stronger and healthier mentally and physically than I have ever been.”

Kiersten Nixon, like many other Sweat Shoppers, is a mother, with two young children trying to find time for fitness. “When I first started working out, I was intimidated because I had no idea what to expect,” she says. “To my surprise, the Sweat Shop was far from intimidating. Amy was fun and welcoming. Now, I couldn’t be more comfortable working out and I look forward to every class.”

Crawford has changed her life through the support of the Sweat Shop. “I’ve struggled with weight my entire life,” she says. In January 2022 Skirvin came to Crawford with the idea of starting a coaching program, and asked if she’d like to be the first client. “At that point I was 370 pounds and had been working for the studio for a year,” she says. “I started with a few classes a week and modified everything, and made slow changes to my diet. Neither Amy or I knew how serious I’d end up taking it. I fell in love with taking care of myself, working out, and everything just became natural.”

By May 2023, Crawford had lost 100 pounds. Today she is down 145 pounds, and says “I am the healthiest I have ever been in all ways.” Now Crawford is preparing for her wedding and setting new goals with the constant support of the Sweat Shop. “The Sweat Shop and my sister have changed my life,” Crawford says. “Yes, it’s a fitness studio and I’ve lost 140-plus pounds, but what I’ve gained is like no other – my health, friendships, support, love, confidence and overall happiness I didn’t know existed.”

The Sweat Shop has always been about more than just fitness. It’s about women supporting one another, building confidence and fostering a sense of belonging. From its humble beginnings to its growing community of around 100 women, the Sweat Shop has become a place where laughter, sweat and support go hand-in-hand.

The studio offers a wide variety of classes including restorative yoga, strength training, wall pilates, boxing, Zumba and line dancing, to name a few. There’s something for women of all fitness levels and schedules, and virtual classes are available for those with limited time. No matter which class women choose, they can count on a supportive, empowering environment where they can grow stronger, both physically and mentally.

Whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned fitness enthusiast, you’ll always feel welcome and celebrated at the Sweat Shop, where laughter is just as important as the sweat.

“If you are even thinking of joining us, do it,” Crawford says. “Amy is an instructor like no other and the community is welcoming. You won’t regret it.”

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