PEDALING JOY. StrongSoul, founded by Sam Johnsen (seated) and partner Ted (upper right) is bringing three class modalities under one roof, aiming to highlight the joy of exercising to feel good. (Photos by Brittany Young Photography)

Southside Eau Claire will ring in the new year with a brand new fitness space aiming to bring out the joy in exercise with its hot sculpt, yoga, and cycling classes. StrongSoul will open its doors Wednesday, Jan. 3, at 3868 Talmadge Road near Kahvi Coffee House and Down to Earth Garden Center.

Sam Johnsen, an Eau Claire native and founder of StrongSoul, will likely be a familiar face to folks who have dabbled in yoga and sculpt classes in the area. An instructor of both sculpt and yoga for about five years, Sam found a sense of self-acceptance through teaching that became the spark to building StrongSoul.

“I was a swimmer in high school, so my background with fitness began with that and competitions. After high school, I started running but found myself falling into the obsession of trying to change how I looked,” Sam explained. “I felt really bombarded and influenced with phrases like ‘look good, feel good,’ how I could get a ‘beach body,’ and how if I wanted to look a certain way I should be doing cardio or specific workouts. Over time, those things became detrimental to how I was using fitness.”

“We want people to be comfortable wherever they are on their fitness journey, whether you have never worked out in a class-setting or are someone who has  worked out your whole life. Everybody, at every level, is accepted.”

Sam’s blatant honesty about her own fitness ebbs and flows and self-perception became part of StrongSoul’s mission: inviting people to leave self-judgement at the door and find what makes them feel good, whatever that looks like.

StrongSoul will offer hot sculpt, cycling, and yoga classes, with variety being a stand-out point for the fitness center. For example, many yoga class options will be available: Hot yoga (95-98º), warm yoga (90º), foam rolling, restorative yoga, and a basics class for beginners to learn standard poses and more.

Sculpt classes focus on core, lower body, and upper body strength as well as some cardio, using your body rather than exercise machines.

Another defining offering at StrongSoul will be rhythmic cycling. Lights will be turned down and the music will turn up as the playlist guides the workout, following along the beat of the music. Clip-in shoes are required due to the nature of rhythmic cycling, which StrongSoul is equipped to rent to attendees (included in memberships, $3 rentals for drop-in classes)

Power Hour classes that infuse two of the three class offerings – cycling and sculpt or yoga and sculpt, for example – will add further variety to workout options.

“The variety we offer … and our mission focus of self-acceptance and mental health (is what makes StrongSoul stand out),” Sam said. “There’s not just yoga or just strength or cardio, and you can intermingle those or focus on one. There is no promotion of nutrition advice or diet or metrics. It’s about what challenges you in a good way, makes you feel stronger and better – that’s where consistency is created. It’s the side effect of finding joy in something.”

StrongSoul’s team is made up of instructors Sam met through trainings or as an instructor, and the team is learning new programming together ahead of its opening.

The space will begin with 15 bikes and adjust based on interest, while around 35-40 people will be the maximum for other classes to ensure a comfortable amount of space per class. Locker rooms with shower and bathroom spaces will be available, as well as cubby areas in the lobby for those just popping in.

The schedule is still being solidified as instructors prepare for the new year, but StrongSoul will be open Monday-Sunday with classes beginning as early as 5am and evening classes starting as late as 7pm during the week, and morning classes offered on the weekend.

Class sign-up will be done through the StrongSoul app, available through the App Store or Google Play store. There will be a plethora of membership options, including drop-in passes:

• Drop-in pass (1 class): $18
• Drop-in pass (10 classes): $150
• Trial Membership (unlimited passes for one month): $45
• Pre-sale Unlimited Plus pass (unlimited classes/month): $105
  • Includes guest passes
• Unlimited Sculpt + Yoga pass (unlimited classes/month): $95
• Unlimited Cycling pass (unlimited classes/month): $95
• Executive Membership: (unlimited classes of all types/month): $135
  • Includes guest passes, use of Theragun, chilled towels

“We want people to be comfortable wherever they are on their fitness journey, whether you have never worked out in a class setting or are someone who has worked out your whole life,” Sam said. “Everybody, at every level, is accepted.”

Visit StrongSoul's website for more information and follow its Facebook and Instagram. Download the StrongSoul app to sign up for classes. Get a sneak peek of the space online.