Lioness Fitness

Lioness Fitness Small group weight lifting for women. Low/no impact, prenatal/postpartum friendly. Group strength training for women, and especially for moms.

Classes led by certified personal trainers.

Let's hear it for our next Lioness of July... Zoe!🥳 I have to say I am straight up embarrassed that we've overlooked Zoe...
07/31/2026

Let's hear it for our next Lioness of July... Zoe!🥳

I have to say I am straight up embarrassed that we've overlooked Zoe as our Lioness of the Month for this long. Zoe is the definition of a Lioness! She is a supreme badass, everyone's biggest cheerleader and the definition of consistency and commitment. She recently celebrated 2 years with Lioness and is coming up on her 200th class! And while those milestones are always impressive, it's her accomplishments across the years that makes me so proud. Zoe works against hypermobility everyday and has had to train her body to work with its flexibility, rather than against it. She's been eager to learn how to lift safely while not being afraid to challenge her body and her numbers on the bar are clear evidence of those efforts. I know she's working on her deadhang and will no doubt reach that goal, plus so many others she hasn't actually stated out loud. We love having you in the pride, Zoe!

Keep crushing it!💪

Here's her story...

💜Tell us a little about yourself outside of the gym:
I'm a cat lady, horror media lover, and birder. My kitty Naomi is three legged and filled with love and spite. The leg she lost was filled with love, so she's majority spite. If you are looking for me on a Tuesday, I won't be at the gym. You'll need to head to the theater, as I see a new movie every single Tuesday of the year. I have aimed for 52+ movies every year for the last 3 years, and I haven't failed yet! When the weather is nice, I love hiking and paddleboarding at Devil's Lake while looking for birds. I own far too many bird feeders, and I'm desperate to convince the orioles to visit my front window.

💜What brought you to Lioness and what keeps you here?
I had been in a yoga sculpt class for years when I finally realized that I mainly enjoyed it for the weightlifting portions. However, I was way too scared to grab a classic gym membership and start winging it, so I googled around and found Lioness! The first day I actually held my body in a plank during that yoga sculpt class (after working towards it for many many months), I felt invincible. I had never built any kind of muscle before, and I felt powerful. I have continued chasing that high ever since I started properly lifting with Lioness. There isn't a Strength or Power class that goes by without me feeling like a total badass.

I've been at Lioness for 2 years now, and what keeps me here is the people. I need my Monday Power socialization! I need my post Strength chats! I work from home, and these moments are so important to me on days when I haven't seen or spoken to another person until I get to the gym. If you've ever been in a class with me and we've chatted, just know I loved it. I'm so grateful for every Lioness who has worked out with me and shared about their day.

💜What is your favorite muscle group to work?
If I could bench press every single day, multiple times a day, I would. I want everyone to fall in love with bench pressing. Nothing has made me feel like more of a badass than benching.

💜What are you most proud of accomplishing with Lioness?
I stopped being so scared! I genuinely believe that lifting weights and building muscle has altered my brain. I love challenging myself and committing to new goals in a way I never used to.

💜What is the fitness/wellness goal you would like to accomplish in the next 6 months?
I am reaching for my 40 second dead hang! It's been my main goal for 2026, and I'm still working on it!

💜What advice do you have for our newer members or those thinking about jumping in?
Be loud, drop weights, make noise, leave sweat marks on the bench, and drip sweat on the floor. Don't be afraid to exist here.

07/24/2026

Happy Friday, Lionesses!💜

There’s nothing like leaving town for a week that reminds you of all the little tasks that have to get done before you go! The extra hassle with a broken window shade didn’t help.🤪

I didn’t really want to leave without sneaking in a workout, but it definitely needed to be efficient. It’s in these moments that I pick a muscle group I want to focus on and dig into some super sets! I certainly don’t make it a habit to do this many squats in a single workout on a regular basis, but adding in some pulses and half reps helps to keep it from destroying me tomorrow.😉

We talk often at the gym how about the importance of consistency over perfection. Remember that all movement is good movement and it’s better to put in some time even if you don’t have enough for a full session.

And if you’re looking for a place indoors, when the heat revs up again this weekend, we’ve got some spots available! If you’re new, the first one’s on us!

Have a grrreat weekend!🦁

Let's hear it for our second Lioness of July... Cara!🥳 Cara is about to celebrate one year with Lioness and it has been ...
07/23/2026

Let's hear it for our second Lioness of July... Cara!🥳

Cara is about to celebrate one year with Lioness and it has been an absolute delight to watch her step into her strength over the last 12 months! Joining a gym can be really intimidating, especially if you aren't super familiar with the equipment and exercises, but Cara has been curious and eager to learn from the very beginning. She is incredibly consistent in her attendance and just celebrated her 150th class!!!🤩 She brings great energy to the workouts and is always welcoming to members new and old. She would tell you she's boring, but I just learned this morning that she's been skydiving and now I can't wait to see what else she's been hiding.😆 She's got great goals in mind for the coming year and it will be so fun to watch her check them off the list, along with so many other amazing accomplishments!

Keep crushing it, Cara!💪

Here's her story...

💜Tell us a little about yourself outside of the gym:
Outside of the gym I love to spend time with my husband, Erik and our 4 kids- Piper (8), Theo (6), Owen (4) and Aiden (21 months). We spend lots of time playing at parks and taking walks around our neighborhood. Currently, I am a stay at home mom and stay busy with the kids' sports and activities. When I have extra time, I love to bake desserts and try new recipes. My favorite ways to relax include reading, watching movies at home (while eating my favorite snack- popcorn) and spending time with girlfriends.

💜What brought you to Lioness and what keeps you here?
I was a year postpartum and felt ready to commit to a regular workout routine. I had done an online exercise group off and on throughout my pregnancies/postpartum periods, but it never really stuck for me. I knew I needed to find somewhere in-person to have accountability and found a place (Lioness!) recommended in one of the mom/baby Facebook groups I'm in. I did a free class last August and then jumped right in with the September back to school promo and decided Lioness was a perfect fit for me. I've continued with Lioness because of the encouraging coaches, variety of workouts, small class sizes and the supportive community.

💜What is your favorite muscle group to work?
Arms and legs.

💜What are you most proud of accomplishing with Lioness?
When I first started Lioness, I had close to zero grip strength. I always had to set the kettlebells down during a farmer carry and couldn't make it the full time. I'm proud to say that now I can carry the kettlebells for the full 40 seconds! Something unexpected that happened was when I decided to take advantage of the Lioness health coaching. In addition to nutrition goals, I wanted to walk/run with my daughter for her very first 5K, which we successfully completed in May!

💜What is the fitness/wellness goal you would like to accomplish in the next 6 months?
Through the Lioness health coaching program, I learned how to properly fuel my body while being active. I plan to continue focusing on my nutrition goals and remain consistent with workouts and increasing my daily step count.

💜What advice do you have for our newer members or those thinking about jumping in?
Starting something new can be scary and overwhelming, but the Lioness community is so warm and welcoming it makes it easy to jump right in! Lioness has a variety of class times so that you can flex your schedule to fit in a workout when it works best.

Let's hear it for our second Lioness of (almost) June... Colette!🥳 This one is a special post as I met Colette years bef...
07/01/2026

Let's hear it for our second Lioness of (almost) June... Colette!🥳

This one is a special post as I met Colette years before she joined the pride! She was the amazing counselor who helped usher my youngest, and his fellow Kindergarten buddies, through the pandemic. Her care and concern for our family will never be forgotten, along with our constant reference to her favorite word... yet.☺️ This same care and concern is evident in her attention to detail at the gym. She is one of our most curious lifters. She loves to be coached, she wants to make sure she's as dialed in as possible, but she does it all with a big smile and a positive attitude! She's a cheerleader for everyone around her, loves to be silly and have fun, all while understanding the importance of lifting heavy as we age. It's been such a joy to watch her progress at the gym and know she will chase those goals until she's back out on the tennis court.

Keep crushing it, Colette!💪

Here's her story...

💜Tell us a little about yourself outside of the gym:
I work at EAGLE
I have a kid in high school and a kid in college.
I have a neurotic dog.
I love to travel and garden.
I love salty foods.

💜What brought you to Lioness and what keeps you here?
One of the more serious reasons is that I watched my mom's health decline in recent years partially due to years of taking care of others and not herself. She also died from a fall so balance work is important to me. I am lifting for my future self.

💜What is your favorite muscle group to work?
Arms and shoulders

💜What are you most proud of accomplishing with Lioness?
Even though I had to take a break at one point, I came back. Every day stuff is easier. If I come 3 times a week, I have much less body pain from old injuries and sore spots. I fell on the ice last winter. And, I fell well and was not hurt. I think that is because of the work we have done.

💜What is the fitness/wellness goal you would like to accomplish in the next 6 months?
I would love to be able to return to playing tennis which means sorting through back/hip pain.

💜What advice do you have for our newer members or those thinking about jumping in?
The first few times are hard, but everyone will help you learn the machines. And, TRX gets better.

Let's hear it for our first Lioness of June... Heather!Coming in just under the wire this month, but summer has a way of...
06/26/2026

Let's hear it for our first Lioness of June... Heather!

Coming in just under the wire this month, but summer has a way of doing that. And truly I was just building suspense to get you all excited to meet our two Lionesses of the month, starting with Heather!

Heather joined the pride a year and a half ago and is well on her way to the 150 class milestone!🥳 She is one of our Power lifting regulars, showing up every Friday to put in the work and really challenge herself to push the boundaries of her comfort zone. Her demeanor might be chill, but her inner beast shines through and it's so fun to watch her reach new levels! Plus she brings just the right balance of humor, sass and sarcasm to each class.😏 She's already ticking off those goals, but it will be so fun to see where the next year takes her!

Keep crushing it, Heather!💪

Here's her story...

💜What brought you to Lioness and what keeps you here?
I needed a positive coping mechanism for the stresses of life and the challenges in the world around us. Lioness has provided not only the physical benefits of exercise, but also a supportive community to help with that goal.

💜What is your favorite muscle group to work?
I love the challenge of working on my bench press! It's the most difficult and most rewarding!

💜What are you most proud of accomplishing with Lioness?
The 100 classes milestone was a big moment for me. I'm proud that I've found a place that keeps me motivated and consistent.

💜What is the fitness/wellness goal you would like to accomplish in the next 6 months?
Keep consistent.

💜What advice do you have for our newer members or those thinking about jumping in?
You're stronger than you think. My first class, I was out of breath and had to rest half way through. The coach was supportive and made sure I was comfortable and safe. Keep coming back!

Let's hear it for our second Lioness of May... Katie!🥳 Yes, that smile is real and one of my favs! Now, let's be real, w...
05/28/2026

Let's hear it for our second Lioness of May... Katie!🥳

Yes, that smile is real and one of my favs! Now, let's be real, we don't always show up to the gym excited to work hard, but that has never stopped Katie. Even on a day when life is heavy or the schedule is busy, Katie comes in and gives it everything she's got. She's a great role model for those around her, always working to improve her skills while pushing to the next level. She's ready to jump in and help a fellow Lioness, encouraging them to try a new move or progress their weights. It's only a matter of time before I put her on the payroll.😏 We know she has big goals on her list and can't wait to see where the next year takes her!

Keep crushing it, Katie!💪

Here's her story...

💜Tell us a little about yourself outside of the gym:
Outside of the gym, I like to spend time with my husband (Craig), son (Porter), and my pups Scout and Moose. I work from home and travel occasionally! I also like to play golf with the LPGA Amateur group in Madison. To scratch my creative itch, I like to get my big camera out and take portraits as well as family photos for friends.

💜What brought you to Lioness and what keeps you here?
I was looking for a new gym community in Madison and a fun place to work out. Lioness being women-only is a new concept for me, but I love it. I find that the ladies that I work out with are supportive, kind, and genuine.

💜What is your favorite muscle group to work?
Arms- triceps

💜What are you most proud of accomplishing with Lioness?
My proudest accomplishment thus far has been consistency in my workouts! I have been trying to attend 3-4 times a week since I joined and also make it a habit to do hotel workouts when I can if traveling. I have also found new appreciation/love for barbell movements. I quite enjoy pushing myself on deadlifts and bench press.

💜What is the fitness/wellness goal you would like to accomplish in the next 6 months?
I'd like to continue to progress in my barbell movements as well as work on getting more steps in throughout my work day.

💜What advice do you have for our newer members or those thinking about jumping in?
Do it! Just start. This gym is so easy to work into your lifestyle and attending classes is one of my favorite habits.

Let's hear it for our first Lioness of April... Barbara!🥳 Barb joined the pride last summer and has made incredible prog...
04/21/2026

Let's hear it for our first Lioness of April... Barbara!🥳

Barb joined the pride last summer and has made incredible progress over the last 9 months!!! From needing to do warm ups standing or seated to fully kneeling in most moves, her strength, mobility and confidence has exploded! Her consistency is top notch, she brings incredible energy to the room and is always excited to support her fellow classmates. Plus I love that she is always rockin' some Lioness swag! Her support extends well beyond the gym and I couldn't be more thankful for her encouragement. She has big goals on her list and we will all be excitedly cheering her on!

Keep crushing it, Barb!💪

Here's her story...

💜Tell us a little about yourself outside of the gym:
I have two adult children. Leo is 20 and Emily is 18. My husband Steve and I enjoy hiking, biking and live music. We plan to travel a bit after our youngest is settled at college in the fall. I recently retired from teaching after 33 years in Madison Schools. I have started painting and sewing in my retirement. I also enjoy reading.

💜What brought you to Lioness and what keeps you here?
One of my retirement goals was to find consistent exercise to ensure I would be healthy and live long. I am grateful for noticeable improvement in strength and mobility gained from working out weekly since July 2025. What keeps me coming to Lioness is the encouragement and gentle pushing from the coaches. I have done more than I could have hoped for.

💜What is your favorite muscle group to work?
Arms and legs

💜What are you most proud of accomplishing with Lioness?
It is amazing to workout in a gym that honors all shapes and sizes of women. I have gained body positivity.

💜What is the fitness/wellness goal you would like to accomplish in the next 6 months?
I would like my abs to get stronger and do an actual plank for the whole 40 seconds.

💜What advice do you have for our newer members or those thinking about jumping in?
Introduce yourself to your station partner at the start of each class. You will have more fun encouraging each other. Everyone is friendly.

Happy (belated😬) birthday, Coach Claire!🥳 I’m so sorry I missed the actual day, but we all hope you had a fantastic cele...
04/20/2026

Happy (belated😬) birthday, Coach Claire!🥳 I’m so sorry I missed the actual day, but we all hope you had a fantastic celebration! We are so thankful for the support and expertise you bring to our community and the cool, calm vibes you bring to every class. We could all stand to absorb a little of that energy during these high stress times. Cheers to another year around the sun! We know this will be an exciting one!🤩💜

Address

6200 Nesbitt Road, Suite F
Fitchburg, WI
53719

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