FROM A DREAM TO REALITY: THE STORY BEHIND BENCHMARK FITNESS

You know those moments in life when everything just clicks? Like when you meet someone and immediately know you’re going to be best friends, or when you find that perfect coffee shop that feels like home? That’s exactly how Benchmark Fitness came to be for me.

I didn’t just wake up one day and decide to own a gym. Nope. This was a journey—a wild, exciting, sometimes chaotic ride that turned a dream into a thriving fitness community in Burlington, Ontario, alongside my husband, Matt.

THE SEED OF A DREAM

Flashback to 2017-2018… Matt and I had this wild idea: What if we owned a gym? It was a “someday” dream, a five-year plan at best. We even looked into franchise opportunities. But instead of just dreaming, we took action. Matt dove headfirst into the industry, becoming a personal trainer to learn the ropes from the inside.

And then? The universe answered.

Right when we were putting the feelers out, the exact gym we were already members of—one we loved but saw so much potential in—became available for purchase. Talk about timing, right?

TAKING THE LEAP

Buying a business isn’t just about signing papers. It’s about sacrifice. Big, scary, life-changing sacrifices. Matt and I had to make some tough decisions, including selling something he really loved to invest in our bigger vision.

Alex Hormozi, a well-known gym entrepreneur, talks a lot about the price of success, and we lived that truth. We knew that in order to create something incredible, we had to let go of some comforts. But the trade-off? So worth it.

MORE THAN JUST A GYM

If we were going to do this, we were going to do it with style. That was our mindset going in. We didn’t just want a gym. We wanted a brand. Something people would wear proudly—on hats, hoodies, even gym bags. Something that felt cool and inspiring.

The gym had a name before, but let’s just say… it wasn’t an energetic match for us. We wanted something fresh, something powerful. Enter: Benchmark Fitness.

It wasn’t just a gym name. It was a mindset. A benchmark isn’t just a goal—it’s a standard. And we wanted to set the standard for what a gym community should be.

CREATING A MOVEMENT

With the branding in the hands of our friend and design genius, Rochelle Saville, the vision came to life. And soon, Benchmark wasn’t just a gym—it was a movement. Members weren’t just working out; they were repping Benchmark outside the gym. Hoodies, hats, and gear weren’t just merch—they were a badge of belonging.

People started driving from out of town just to get their hands on Benchmark apparel. Even non-members were rocking the logo. It became more than just a place to train—it became part of people’s identity.

A LABOUR OF LOVE

We often joke that Benchmark is our baby. It’s turning six soon, and like any child, it has given us immense joy and its fair share of sleepless nights. We purchased the gym in 2019, reinvested everything into renovations, and officially launched in November of that year. Three months later, the world changed.

The pandemic hit us hard. As a brick-and-mortar fitness facility, we faced an uncertain future. The rent and bills didn’t stop, even though our doors had to close. There was no roadmap for navigating this crisis, and for three years, we weren’t even open on our anniversary. But through sheer resilience, we adapted. We learned valuable lessons, grew stronger, and emerged with a clearer vision.

INVESTING IN GROWTH & TRANSFORMATION

During the downtime, we leaned into personal development. With time to reflect, we focused on growth—both for ourselves and for Benchmark. That led us to invest in larger opportunities, including a mastermind with Chris Harder in 2023. It was a turning point.

That experience gave us the clarity to evolve Benchmark from a traditional gym into a wellness club. We expanded beyond fitness, incorporating elements of recovery like cold plunges, red light therapy, and yoga. It wasn’t just about lifting weights anymore—it was about holistic well-being, balancing performance with recovery, and optimizing health in every way.

THE FUTURE OF BENCHMARK

What makes us most proud isn’t just the gym itself, but the people who make it come alive—our incredible team and the community they help foster. Our trainers go beyond just coaching workouts; they genuinely care about every member’s progress and well-being. That’s what makes Benchmark more than a gym—it’s a movement.

And we’re not stopping here. We’re expanding again, bringing Benchmark to new heights, and continuing to redefine what it means to be a wellness-focused fitness community.

It’s a million miles an hour—but in the best way possible. And we wouldn’t have it any other way.