LANSING, Ill. (February 29, 2024) – BYOB doesn’t mean Bring Your Own Booze. At least not in this case.
It means Build Your Own Body, and that’s what co-owners Regina Sams and Gloria White have been helping people do since opening BYOB Fitness in November 2022 at 17030 Torrence Avenue.
Fitness, smoothies, training
Sams is a personal trainer and nutritional coach, while White (who met Sams as a client) runs the smoothie cafe located inside the fitness center located in Suite M of the River Place shopping center.
Both members and non-members can order items there such as meal replacement shakes, immunity boosting shakes, and detox tea.
“I make all healthy, fresh-made smoothies,” White said.
Members can improve their conditioning by taking part in private, semi-private and group training sessions.
“Everywhere from yoga to HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) to boxing and strength and conditioning classes,” Sams said. “And then we also offer open gym membership where our clients can come in and utilize the facility.”
BYOB Fitness memberships and specialities
The cost of a monthly gym membership is $24.99 for men and women 16-years-old and up.
The cost is $119 monthly for unlimited group classes, while personal training costs vary.
A total of six employees work there, and Sams said all trainers are certified and have their own specialties, including for weight loss.
Members can utilize a massage chair at no extra cost, and a licensed massage therapist and a person who does body detox wraps share a room.
Large location, workplace ministry
BYOB Fitness had previously been located in Lynwood, and prior to that on Ridge Road in Lansing, but in much smaller spaces.
The new location and its 6,800 square feet has allowed membership to grow to 173 people, although Sams has a goal of a minimum of 500 members.
“We have all of the big box amenities in a private environment,” Sams said. “Most big box gyms are very intimidating, especially when you’re just beginning a workout program, you’re unfamiliar with the equipment, it’s tons of people. You know, it can be very discouraging. And when you come here, it’s a very welcoming environment.”
And there is a follow-up system to make sure members don’t fall off track.
“If they don’t come within seven days they get an email,” Sams said. “If they don’t reply to the email in 14 days they get a text. And then if they don’t reply to the text they get a phone call. So we actually make sure our members are utilizing their membership.”
White spoke of the joy involved with seeing the changes in the bodies and health of people who have been struggling.
“We’re not the normal gym,” White said. “We’re family.”
Sams referred to BYOB Fitness as their “workplace ministry.”
“Some people serve in a choir,” Sams said. “Some people serve in a pulpit, but this is our workplace ministry. It’s bigger than building a body. It’s building our clients spiritually, mentally, physically.”
BYOB Fitness is open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday. The hours for the cafe are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday.
More information can be found at buildyourownbodyfitness.com.
