Meet Jonathan Wiens

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jonathan Wiens and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jonathan, how does your business help the community?
Archway Fitness is a gym, but the real purpose behind it is to create a community. It is a place where our members can continue to grow, not only in strength, but also in connections. I want people to come to the gym and discover things that are going on, in the community, that they may not have known about without having a shared space.

We also want to combat some of the toxicity being fed to us on social media. Unfortunately, a large part of what sells, in the fitness world, is the perpetuation of unhealthy body goals and standards. This can often lead to feelings of not fitting in and deter people from wanting to exercise or try to improve their health. We want to create a community that is a safe place for everyone.

What should our readers know about your business?
The first thing that sets us apart is that we are a semi-private gym. This means everyone is given a personalized program, but they could work out at the same time as 3 or 4 other people. This allows us to address everyone’s individual needs while also adding to the community ethos that is built into our mission. Our space is also small, which helps keep our community tight.

I’m most proud of where we are now. For small business owners, every day can feel like a challenge. It can be challenging on your personal life, on your finances, and on your mental health. What I’ve learned is that we can do this, and my wife and I can get through anything together.

We want the world to know we are about building healthy and sustainable strength and that starts with finding a place where you feel safe. We want everyone to find strength in themselves and discover their own fitness journey. My wife is a woman of color, so she and I are especially focused on changing the narrative of what it means to be healthy and beautiful.

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?
There is so much to do on the West Side, so we would probably spend a few days here. One whole day might look like this: start with a pastry and coffee from Petitgrain Boulangerie. Then walk down to the beach to put our feet in the Pacific Ocean, next have lunch at a spot literally on the beach called, Back on the Beach Cafe. For dinner we of course would need to get street tacos from that taco truck at Lincoln and Rose-best tacos on this side of town! Lastly, we would grab a late-night drink on Abbot Kinney and stroll the canals with some Salt & Straw ice cream. On another day we would have to indulge in the magical experience of beach yoga, either in the morning or at sunset, with a company called Beachsocalyoga.

We love hiking in Malibu, but there are also great spots in LA, like Runyon Canyon or Angeles National Forest. My brother-in-law lives in Los Feliz and has some great local spots he loves taking us to. And an LA trip is never complete without a rooftop dining experience, either in Downtown LA or Margot’s in Culver City. We’ve also taken to driving up the coast a bit to Santa Barbara for the day.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are several people who have made this possible for me. First, I would say seeing my dad build a nonprofit from the ground up, gave me the belief that starting my own thing was a real possibility. Second, my wife who is my business partner and constantly supporting me emotionally and mentally. Third, would be my mentors and former bosses at Results Fitness. Owned by renowned fitness instructors and business tycoons, Rachel and Alwyn Cosgrove, Results Fitness is where my true fitness education began. My former Coach and mentor at Results Fitness, Craig Rasmussen really leveled me up, as well. Results Fitness also has a business mentorship umbrella that they have so graciously brought me into. So not only is my fitness knowledge largely based on their expertise, but also my business knowledge.

Website: https://archwayfitness.com/

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

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

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/archway-fitness-los-angeles

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@archwayfitness