For Chelsea Christmas, founder of At Her Core Fitness in Lancaster, entrepreneurship didn’t come first. So what did?
“I was coming in on pure passion,” she says. At Her Core is young—Christmas launched the pop-up fitness business during the pandemic—and already it has gone through many evolutions to hone its identity as an equitable, affordable, and welcoming fitness solution for women of all shapes, sizes, and stripes.
Christmas grew up in Lancaster, a twin and one of five girls. That’s where her penchant for sisterhood first flourished. Today, At Her Core is a reflection of that which is ingrained in her. “I wanted to center the work that I was doing around women of color and create a space for them to move their bodies without feeling like they need to look or be a certain way,” she says.
Even in the modern era, that standard is not status quo in the fitness industry. Sometimes, the world of health and wellness can place labels on people who didn’t ask for them. Average and plus-sized women are often touted as “body positive” simply by existing as themselves. Traditional gym and fitness environments may not be the most comfortable solution for everyone, and boutique studios tend to be out-of-budget for a lot of people. It’s these gaps that At Her Core seeks to fill.
Formerly called Fit City Women, Christmas rebranded to At Her Core after winning Asset Pennsylvania’s The Great Social Enterprise Pitch. The process helped her find her vector point as a community-focused business.
When it came to changing the name of her brand, Christmas didn’t take the process lightly. Ultimately, At Her Core stuck. “As women, it’s easy for us to identify with our pain or the things that we’ve been through,” Christmas says. “But at her core, she’s resilient. At her core, she’s strong.”
At Her Core specializes in one-on-one training and group pop-up sessions at locations around Lancaster (think spots like Tread House and I am Limitless). She also works with businesses to provide fitness services to employees and youth. With at least eight instructors leading the charge, exercise styles range from full-body workouts to dance fitness. “We try to have a balance of different workouts,” Christmas says. No matter the setting, instructors can modify any exercise for different ability levels.
Throughout the summer, At Her Core has been hosting pop-up events led by women of color. The series finale, Fitness Together, will take place on Aug. 20 at Tellus360. This donation-based event will support a chosen nonprofit organization, and community members will get the chance to join in on one of two 45-minute workout sessions—at 9:00 or 11:00 a.m.—live DJ and all.
The event will be a culmination of a season of health, wellness, and community in Lancaster, but At Her Core won’t end there. Though she remains open to the unexpected, Christmas does have a five-year plan, something she honed working with business experts at Assets. “I would love to own my own fitness studio one day,” Christmas says. She envisions a holistic space offering different kinds of resources, a space where mental and physical health go hand in hand.
All the while, community and equity will remain at the forefront. Anyone can donate to the Help a Sista Out Fund, which covers class registration fees for people who may not be able to afford them. At Her Core wants everyone, especially women of color who have historically been marginalized, to feel not just welcome, but integral.
Anywhere At Her Core goes, growth follows. These fitness classes are a place where people celebrate one another’s authentic selves. They empower each other on the fitness journey, which includes the now as much as the sought-after goal. “I’m going to meet you where you are. I believe in us getting to that overarching goal,” Christmas says, “But counting the small wins along the way.”
Fitness journeys aren’t easy; they’re not supposed to be. Christmas knows this. “I always feel honored when someone trusts me to be a part of that journey with them,” she says.
However, launching a business in your hometown is a vulnerable thing, but Christmas is doing it with gusto. “What I’ve learned mostly is to just be myself,” she says. “No one’s asking for perfection. No one’s asking for me to be anyone else other than myself.”
Clearly, At Her Core’s founder is setting the precedent, and the community is ready and eager to follow suit.
Learn more about Chelsea Christmas and At Her Core Fitness by visiting athercorefitness.com or facebook.com/athercorefitness.
