A new gym is opening in downtown Tucson where nerds work out.
It combines serious fitness with cosplay, crafts and superhero training.
Yes, members can work out dressed up as their favorite superhero or in a T-Rex costume.
The Nerd Gym is owned and run by Eric Frey, 41, and Melanie TschoppFrey, 38. It’s opening in the Warehouse Arts District at 15 E. Toole Ave. on Wednesday, July 5.
“We’re serious fitness and silly people,” TschoppFrey said.
The new location will offer the same annual membership options as the Nerd Gym’s Marana location, which will remain open until Dec. 22. But it will boast more classes like Unleash Your Power Training and Batman workouts.
“We’re trying to take the boredom out of exercise and create a space where people who typically don’t see themselves as enjoying exercise can be themselves and enjoy exercise,” Frey said.
The idea came from their own health journey. They wanted to create a space that combines traditional workouts and the magical things they enjoy.
“Melanie and I didn’t grow up being jocks,” Frey said. “When we work out, our imagination ignites and we don’t just think about trudging along on a treadmill. Our imagination takes us into our favorite movies, our favorite books and things like that.”
You don’t have to be a nerd to work out in this gym, you just have to be open. The Nerd Gym’s owners believe in the power of friendship, like to have fun and help build confidence.
The gym recently hosted a Wonder Woman Cosplay and Craft Night where attendees met to make custom-leather wrist guards like Wonder Woman’s. TschoppFrey even made mimosas.
It was intended to build a supportive community where people can make new friends and keep each other accountable.
“So when you start making friends and start doing things aside from push-ups together, you start caring for each other and supporting each other and then your results become that much better,” TschoppFrey said.
“When someone is missing from a class, it’s noticed,” TschoppFrey added.
The next event craft and cosplay night is July 22, at the downtown location. There’s also a “Star Wars”-themed exercise workshop at the end of the month where participants will engage the Force.
