By Maura Lammers
Cover photo courtesy of Farmgirlfit
For the majority of my life, I have openly identified as “not an athlete.” After I started running more seriously and completed a few half and full marathons, I decided to let that moniker go, and replaced it with “not a gym person.” Besides the time I begrudgingly cross-trained at a YMCA 10 years ago to weight-lift with a friend, I never set foot in a gym.
Then I found Farmgirlfit, an all-women’s gym in Spokane. Initially, I tried out Farmgirl because it was around the corner from my workplace at the time, and a coworker recommended it. Even as a true beginner who had never touched a barbell before, after my first class, I was hooked.
“The Grind,” as the Farmgirl workouts are called, are group classes designed with multiple fitness levels, paces, and intensity in mind, allowing every member to work out at the level they choose. The circuit-style workouts typically involve bodyweight and strength movements, including plyometrics, barbells, kettlebells and cardio. Farmgirl prioritizes functional fitness to make daily movements like reaching, squatting, pulling and lifting easier, ensuring healthy bodies for long-term physical activity.
Part of the joy with Farmgirl is showing up and being surprised. The workouts aren’t posted in advance. You will never experience the same workout twice. (A big perk for someone like me, who gets bored easily.) Monday might be a tabata, Tuesday might be an AMRAP, Wednesday might be running the mile for time, and on and on. Each month, members work toward posted benchmarks and PRs. Or, as we like to say, “you can show up and just vibe.” Instead of counting reps or recording max weight at the end of a workout, you can simply put a smiley face.
Besides the weekly Grind schedule, Farmgirl offers Kinstretch, mobility stretches that target range of motion. Free childcare is also offered weekday mornings to coincide with 8:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. Grinds. A weekly yoga class was recently added to Thursday mornings at 10:45 a.m. Every month, they gym hosts a coed Saturday Grind, where male partners, friends and family members can enjoy a free class.
Whether you’re a skier, a hiker or a birdwatcher, regular strength training builds stability and stamina for all your outdoor activities, especially in the winter. Going to Farmgirlfit two or three times per week has given me stronger arms, better functional strength, and improved running endurance. When I broke my fibula earlier this year, once I was cleared to return, coaches modified workouts while I regained full ankle mobility and calf strength. I’m positive that strength-training helped me recover from the injury more efficiently.
The best part about Farmgirl—what keeps me coming back week after week—is the warm and supportive community. It’s a safe space for me to push myself and fail, without judgment. It’s a queer-inclusive space where gender-nonconforming members and trans women are equally welcome. It’s a place where I might work out next to a pregnant woman on her lunch break, a college athlete, a retiree in her sixties, or a mom with kids in tow, and I can connect with all of them. It’s a space where, after a hard workout, I’ll lock eyes with another member and we’ll make a face that says, “that sucked” one day, and “I feel awesome” another day. No matter where the Grind goes, we’re always in it together.
Visit Farmgirlfit at 128 S. Sherman St., Spokane, for your first free class and to learn more about pricing and memberships. Find more info on class schedules at Farmgirlfit.com.
Maura Lammers is a writer and runner who is “not outdoorsy” but is trying to be.
