Meet Andrew Worsham & Rachel Martin | Business Owners

We had the good fortune of connecting with Andrew Worsham and Rachel Martin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Andrew and Rachel, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
We have carved out a space of opportunity, inclusion and possibility within a fitness community that can often times feel daunting to many. Our family owned fitness center focuses on supporting members goals and fine tuning traditional CrossFit programs that allow for realistic and sustainable paths to their future wins.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Many of us have been brought up in a world where we are exposed to a template of what “good” or “optimal” fitness looks like and if you don’t look, eat or train a certain way you’re doing it wrong…that couldn’t be further from the truth. Happily married and owners Andrew Worsham and Rachel Martin saw this quite toxic and problematic issue.

Andrew trained and worked at the Burbank gym facility which High Voltage currently resides for almost 10 years. Under its former management, Andrew experienced constant ridicule and judgement first hand from coaches and mentors for not practicing the “militant style” of training that was encouraged even though he saw he was in the best shape of my life at the time. “I would struggle with my abilities and goals because the goal post would always be moved. No matter how hard i tried, i kept getting knocked down.” It wasn’t until Andrew met his wife and now business partner Rachel, that he was able to take a step back and get a different perspective about fitness, his relationship with his body and his goals.

Several years ago, Rachel was involved in an accident that cost her to her ability to speak clearly and gained unpredictable and uncontrollable muscle spasms. “It took losing my voice to find it” Rachel says. “This loss very quickly made me realize that I had to accept that this is the body I have to work with and that acceptance of my body eventually became love for it”. Although Rachel was never deeply passionate about fitness she is an advocate of radical self acceptance and understanding ones self worth. “Your body has a job to keep you going and it doesn’t have to look a certain way to do that”. Through Andrew, she saw that majority of the fitness community was lacking understanding that bodies come in all shapes, sizes, capabilities and there didn’t seem to be an “open door” to those that didn’t fit the mold.

During the Coronavirus pandemic the now former owners asked Andrew to help take on the leadership roles to keep High Voltage[HV] going. It was here that he was able to treat all the members there with the same respect he had always wanted Acknowledging the value of their efforts and meeting them where they were at “This ended up becoming the cornerstone of my approach with my ownership. Making a space where anyone felt welcome supported and valued as they each traverse their personal fitness journey.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Cafe De Olla-Burbank, CA Hugos Tacos-Sherman Oaks, CA
Antonios Pizzeria-Sherman Oaks, CA

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
“Our members; It’ll always be our members”. Many of those who stayed were the same individuals that trained under pop up tents rain or shine during the pandemic and through the change in ownership. They believed in what Rachel and Andrew were wanting to build. “We thank them because without them we wouldn’t be here, they helped establish a community that has made it possible for new members to find their fitness home”.

Website: www.crossfithighvoltage.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/highvoltagela/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/highvoltagela

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/high-voltage-fitness-burbank-3?osq=high+voltage

Image Credits
Kirby Winslow Christopher VanLoon