What started as a vision has, in under a year, grown into a thriving community of more than 100 members. Founded by Turlock resident Hannah Grace alongside her boyfriend and co-owner Doug Mutoza, Lifted Fitness welcomes female fitness enthusiasts of all ages and sizes. The inspiration came from Grace's own experience. "When I was just starting out, I sometimes felt uncomfortable going to my gym," she said. "Some exercises were awkward to do in front of guys, and a lot of the time there were no other girls in the weight room. It was always a dream of mine to open a place where girls can lift heavy like the guys and feel comfortable."

Grace first turned to fitness after a struggle with unhealthy eating and dieting habits led her to the gym. Mutoza, an experienced trainer, showed her how to fuel her body with proper nutrition and shape it with weights, and she was soon hooked. Today, she's a certified personal trainer who, along with the other female trainers on staff, aims to inspire women to love and care for their bodies.

"I don't want men to think I'm discriminating or am a 'man-hater,' because the truth is there are a lot of nice guys out there, but some women feel more comfortable working out with just other women," Grace said, noting that as a woman herself, she better understands her clients' bodies and what works for them. "Here, they can get good training from other girls who know what they're doing, and there are no distractions."

Lifted Fitness offers weekly group classes ranging from High Intensity Interval Training circuits to heavy lifting, plus personal training for those who want a one-on-one experience. The HIIT classes deliver a full-body, fat-burning workout on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays (morning and evening) and in the late afternoon on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The gym's signature "booty camp," known as Rock Bottoms, meets twice a week on Monday and Thursday evenings with a focus on lower body.

One especially unique offering rounds out the week: MMA Fit, held Saturday mornings and taught by Mixed Martial Arts fighter Grace Buchan. The class includes fighting drills, punching bag work, and even self-defense lessons — a fun, empowering way to build strength and confidence.

To learn more or get started, reach Lifted Fitness at 209-427-5555.