Steve Risner
Ten years ago, Steve Risner joined his friend, Sherri DelBiondo, to get trained and certified to teach “Insanity,” which was a new workout program at the time.
Risner had met DelBiondo at the East Shore YMCA in Harrisburg, and the two became fast friends, working out together regularly. But when Risner took the “Insanity” course, he had never taught fitness classes, like DelBiondo had for years.
“I turned to her and said, ‘I can’t teach this; I can’t even do this,’” he said.
However, it turned out he could do both, as the friends got certified, brought the class to the Y, and witnessed it become a huge success, they said.
Risner now uses his humble start in fitness to relate to beginners. He never considered himself an athlete and didn’t begin taking exercise seriously until his late 20s but now teaches 16 classes a week and can do over 50 pullups a day.
“I started doing a little and then fell in love with it and wanted to share the excitement,” he said.
Risner grew to love group fitness and instructing classes so much so that he opened his own fitness studio in Harrisburg in December.
Midtown Fit occupies newly renovated commercial space on the 1400-block of N. 3rd Street, one of two former bars that were recently revitalized, including the neighboring restaurant/bar High Dive, which also just opened.
As a Harrisburg resident himself, Risner has long weighed the idea of opening a place for neighbors to find connection and fitness. When he saw the available storefront, his vision finally clicked into place. He saw a neighborhood space that community members could walk, bike or jog to.
“It’s filling a void,” he said. “This neighborhood needs it. I just want to give them an option.”
For Everybody
The snug studio space is stocked with dumbbells, kettlebells, gymnastic pull-up rings and resistance bands, among other equipment.
Each week, Risner holds strength and cardio classes, using his “Sweat, Flex, Repeat” routine for programming. Classes rotate through focusing on moves to target upper and lower body.
And while the classes are designed to be accessible to everyone, they’re definitely not designed to be easy.
“I won’t lie, the classes are challenging—no matter what level you are,” he said. “If you’re a beginner and you’re coming in and you’re modifying, it’s a challenge. If you’re an athlete coming in and working out with us, it’s going to be a challenge. I want people to get their money’s worth.”
However, as Risner has learned himself when he started out, anyone can do it. Participants can easily lower or increase their weights depending on their fitness level and implement modifications if needed.
He also wants to make it accessible to Harrisburg residents and tries to keep his membership costs affordable, even offering opportunities to try classes before committing.
“Group fitness is for everybody,” Risner said.
He also recognizes the power of group exercise to build community and has already seen members form bonds. Each class has space for about a dozen participants, keeping groups smaller and more intimate.
“It’s a very big thing to bond over, even if you have nothing else in common,” Risner said. “To have a group fitness class that you take regularly and you see similar people that work out with you and know what you’re going through in that moment, it creates a conversation. It creates a community.”
DelBiondo, who originally encouraged Risner to become a fitness instructor, has seen him through the process of opening his own studio, and she couldn’t be more excited. She was one of the first people who he told about his plan, and she immediately offered her help. The pair still works out together several times a week, and DelBiondo helps Risner develop his classes and test out new moves.
“I was immediately on board. He’s very encouraging, and he’s fit as can be. He can go and go and go,” DelBiondo said. “I knew he would have the ability to bring people in. They just need to take a few classes, and they’ll be hooked.”
She also regularly takes classes at Midtown Fit and loves the atmosphere.
“You can already feel the community building,” she said. “We have fun. You’re working hard, but we have fun.
And while much of the business side of this endeavor is new to Risner, he draws support from his husband Chris, who helps with technical assistance and marketing, among other aspects.
Despite the challenges of opening a small business, Risner doesn’t question his decision, but is excited about the future.
“It’s for the community,” he said. “I want everyone in Harrisburg to enjoy this and work out here and build camaraderie and bodies.”
Midtown Fit is located at 1402 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.midtown.fit.
If you like what we do, please support our work. Become a Friend of TheBurg!
