The Mass. woman-owned gym that’s breaking fitness center stereotypes
Downtown Springfield has a fitness hub that's breaking barriers and building community.
Build Em Up Fitness, led by owner Emily Banerjee, has established itself as an inclusive space where functional fitness meets community building, welcoming people of all ages and abilities.
"We really cater to functional fitness," Banerjee explained during a recent interview at her downtown facility located in the MassLive building on Main Street on the ninth floor. "We have clients from 14 [years old] to 70, 80 [and] actually 3 years old. We're trying to teach clients skills [and] how to be comfortable in an environment that the prior generation had no comfort in."
Hyrox has multiple cardio and calisthenics based activities, some of which involve carrying weights above your head while running a short course multiple times throughout Downtown Springfield.
The next two Saturdays in downtown Springfield, people can be found doing calisthenics and other cardio based activities as led by Emily Banerjee, owner of Build Em Up gym of 1350 Main Street, Springfield, Mass.
Hyrox is one of the latest fitness trends that has come to Springfield, Mass. by way of Build Em Up a gym located at 1350 Main Street, Springfield, Mass.
Hyrox participants in Springfield are subject to a course that makes its way around Springfield City Hall and throughout Downtown Springfield on Saturday, August 8, 2025.
Hyrox is one of the latest fitness trends that has come to Springfield, Mass. by way of Build Em Up, a gym led by Emily Banerjee located at 1350 Main Street, 9th Floor, Springfield, Mass.
Emily Banerjee, owner of Build Em Up Fitness found at 1350 Main Street, 9th Floor, Springfield, Mass.
In addition to traditional gym activities, Build Em Up also encourages participants to take advantage of their recovery offerings which include insurance-covered physical therapy and an exclusive cold plunge and sauna therapy room at 1350 Main Street, 9th floor, Springfield, Mass.
In addition to traditional gym activities, Build Em Up also encourages participants to take advantage of their recovery offerings which include insurance-covered physical therapy and an exclusive cold plunge and sauna therapy room at 1350 Main Street, 9th floor, Springfield, Mass.
Hyrox has multiple cardio and calisthenics based activities, some of which involve carrying weights above your head while running a short course multiple times throughout Downtown Springfield.
On Satuurday, August 8, 2025, Hyrox participants of all physical abilities were found at various cardio based stations throughout the morning in great spirits and enjoying the sunlight in Springfield, Mass.
In addition to traditional gym activities, Build Em Up also encourages participants to take advantage of their recovery offerings which include insurance-covered physical therapy and an exclusive cold plunge and sauna therapy room at 1350 Main Street, 9th floor, Springfield, Mass.
On Satuurday, August 8, 2025, Hyrox participants of all physical abilities were found at various cardio based stations throughout the morning in great spirits and enjoying the sunlight in Springfield, Mass.
In addition to traditional gym activities, Build Em Up also encourages participants to take advantage of their recovery offerings which include insurance-covered physical therapy and an exclusive cold plunge and sauna therapy room at 1350 Main Street, 9th floor, Springfield, Mass.
The hand painted murals throughout Build Em Up Fitness at 1350 Main Street, 9th Floor, Springfield, Mass. were painted by a local artist, who also attends the gym.
Hyrox is one of the latest fitness trends that has come to Springfield, Mass. by way of Build Em Up Fitness a gym located at 1350 Main Street, Springfield, Mass.
Build Em Up Fitness hosts Hyrox events on Saturday mornings that encircle City Hall in Downtown Springfield.
Hyrox is one of the latest fitness trends that has come to Springfield, Mass. by way of Build Em Up a gym located at 1350 Main Street, Springfield, Mass.
Build Em Up Fitness at 1350 Main Street, 9th Floor, Springfield, Mass. has expansive views of Springfield, West Springfield and the Connecticut River to enjoy as people work through their fitness routines.
Hyrox is a has multiple events and stations where participants complete a series of exercises and then run or walk a specific distance. This course as designed by Emily Banerjee, owner of Build Em Up Fitness has participants running all around Downtown Springfield, Mass.
Hyrox Fitness as taught by Build Em Up Fitness in Springfield, Mass. accommodates physical abilities of all types in a positive, rewarding and upbeat environment on Saturday mornings.
Banerjee officially branded Build Em Up during the pandemic, and now the gym offers a comprehensive approach to fitness that goes beyond typical gym offerings. What started as a personal training practice has evolved into a full-service fitness center with a focus on accessibility.
"We have personal training, group fitness. You can do a full gym membership where we're hands free and you have a comfortable, safe and clean space," said Banerjee. "We offer an array of classes to be able to be inclusive and appeal to all types of athletes and different communities."
One of the gym's most popular offerings is its Hyrox training program. Hyrox, a relatively new fitness competition that combines running with functional exercises, has become a significant draw for Build Em Up Fitness.
Hyrox is a has multiple events and stations where participants complete a series of exercises and then run or walk a specific distance. This course as designed by Emily Banerjee, owner of Build Em Up Fitness has participants running all around Downtown Springfield, Mass.Sebastian Restrepo
"Over the last few months, Hyrox has become a very popular sport. It has been a huge draw for us," Banerjee noted. "It's an inclusive sport, it's safe, it's fun, it's fast. It's not really a technical sport. Most body types can do it and do it well and do it for a long time."
The Hyrox program at Build Em Up has attracted hundreds to Build Em Up's weekly "Cardio Party" on Saturday mornings in the summer . It involves running and weight training, including a 1,200-meter outdoor loop combined with various exercise stations between runs. The gym recently had more than 45 athletes sign up to compete in an upcoming Hyrox event in Boston, showing the growing popularity of this fitness approach.
The downtown location presents both challenges and opportunities.
"So of course we're smack dab in downtown. So yes, we are dealing with being a busy city and parking and paying to park," Banerjee acknowledged. "So we really thrive before 8 a.m. and after about 5 p.m."
What truly sets Build Em Up apart is its commitment to diversity and inclusion.
"Everybody young, old, black, white, brown. English is their second or third language," Banerjee said of her clientele. "We have a lot of high school athletes. We've got a lot of mother-daughter or mother-son duos. Which is what's the most cool to me."
Beyond traditional fitness offerings, Build Em Up has expanded into recovery services.
Build Em Up Fitness hosts Hyrox events on Saturday mornings that encircle City Hall in Downtown Springfield.Sebastian Restrepo
"In addition to being a functional fitness gym, we are our recovery spa," Banerjee explained. "We have an in-house massage therapist, physical therapy, infrared sauna and cold plunge. We are the only gym from here to almost New York City and almost to Boston with a commercial plunge."
For Banerjee, what began as a desire to "work out for a living," has evolved into something much more meaningful.
"I had no idea that we would become this community that a lot of people want to be a part of. From dad, mom, kids, the dogs come," she reflected.
The gym offers a structured weekly program, with designated focus areas for different days of the week.
"Monday is always legs, Tuesdays is always upper body. Wednesdays has always been some type of recovery aerobic endurance," Banerjee explained.
This programming is posted publicly , allowing even non-members to coordinate their fitness routines.
As for what makes Build Em Up Fitness special, Banerjee summed it up simply: "Whatever you thought you knew about the gym — it's different here."
The hand painted murals throughout Build Em Up Fitness at 1350 Main Street, 9th Floor, Springfield, Mass. were painted by a local artist, who also attends the gym.Sebastian Restrepo
Note: Artificial intelligence was used to help generate this story from original content created by masslive.com .
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