One spark ignites sisters’ dream in fitness
One spark ignites sisters’ dream in fitness
Last year they brought a shared dream to fruition with the opening of One Spark Fitness located in Phoenixville.
When Ramona “Rae” Leap, 51, and Jolie Martinez, 46, were growing up in Chester County as the youngest of four girls, they fought like cats and dogs.
But things took a positive turn in adulthood after they became parents and Martinez moved back to the area, where she now lives in Pottstown.
“We have been close ever since,” Leap said.
So close, in fact, that they are pretty much inseparable now that they more recently decided to merge their personal and professional lives together.
Always lovers of fitness, in November they brought a shared dream to fruition with the opening of One Spark Fitness located in Phoenixville.
“I have been passionate about fitness my entire life and my sister is the same way,” Leap said.
It all started with their interest in Zumba that led them to take up an opportunity to attend a local instructor training. Given that Leap was a full-time nurse and Martinez a secondary-school educator, they did it strictly for the fun of something to do together.
“We did not think we would ever teach,” Leap said.
That changed within a few months when each was asked to instruct Zumba classes at different fitness clubs, such as Final Results Fitness in Montgomery County.
After many years moonlighting as instructors, they began talking about the idea of having their own studio and their regulars offered them encouragement. Some were sad by the possibility of seeing them go, such as Stephanie Kindig, Oley Township, who was one of Leap’s former Zumba students at Final Results.
“She is so energetic and positive and she was really inspiring,” Kindig said. “She made it so much fun it was like going to a party and you didn’t think about it as exercise.”
Leap and Martinez found that over time they were beginning to feel stifled due to a lack of being able to offer everything they wanted at the various clubs where they taught, but the timing wasn’t right for them to branch out on their own until Leap made a shift in her professional life.
“Two years ago in December I decided to stop working as a nurse,” Leap said. “I was burned out and tired from working in an ICU for 20 years and running an opioid addiction program I started.”
Together, they realized this would be the perfect time to open their own studio centered on a wide range of group fitness classes. Next, they set out to look at real estate to find the perfect location.
“Before we knew it, we were going to be fitness studio owners,” said Leap, who added that while she ended her career in nursing, her sister still teaches full time.
All was on course until a health hurdle was put in their way. It all began on the same day they went to sign the lease on what would become their new studio space. Martinez also had a breast biopsy that day, which she figured was routine and wasn’t concerned.
“The next week she went to the doctor and found out she had cancer and we thought, ‘Oh Crap’,” Leap said.
They decided not to let this health scare sideline them and forged on with their plan, even though a mastectomy and chemotherapy that just finished for Martinez last month.
“This is probably what got her through this,” Leap said of the distraction her sister had with the establishment of their studio.
Martinez said she decided to take her diagnosis and treatment head-on with a positive outlook.
“For me, it has never been a death sentence or devastating diagnosis,” Martinez said. “It has been a ‘what’s next?’”
One of the first things on her agenda after recovery from her surgery was getting back to fitness.
“I went back to working out three weeks after my surgery and teaching high- intensity classes five weeks after,” Martinez said.
Despite that bump in the road to establishing their dream business, they never lost track of their shared mission for the club, which is what they feel sets their business apart.
“We are like family — every person that comes in here we know,” Leap said. “It’s a very personal feeling and it feels like home when you walk in here.”
They want everyone to feel welcome, regardless of experience or other factors that might deter them.
“That is important to us, that no matter what level your fitness or what size you are that you feel welcome and that you can do it and that you are encouraged,” said Leap. “We want to lead people to fitness so they can enjoy fitness like we do.
They see their club as a place that is made up of a supportive community where women encourage women.
“It’s about the people who come here supporting each other,” Leap said. “They are an extension of what we do here.”
Their aim is to impact people’s lives beyond the confines of their studio through encouraging positivity and offering self-enrichment centered events.
“We had a Women’s Empowerment Zumba class here and donated $600 to St. Jude’s,” Leap said. “We’re also having a MyIntent Bracelet women’s event — they come with their word, which might be ‘believe’ or ‘strength’ or ‘hope’ and you are encouraged to work toward that word.”
Kindig paid a visit to Leap and Martinez’s new studio for their Women’s Empowerment event.
“The positive vibes there are incredible and they are so upbeat,” Kindig said.
Martinez and Leap said they take great pride in seeing people’s progress as they strive to meet their personal goals and push themselves where they didn’t think they could go.
“Each person has their own fitness journey,” Martinez said. “It’s not about being a size 4 — it’s about being the best version of yourself you can be and I found that through group fitness.”