Working it Out with Gianna
- Woman Up Cleveland
- May 31
- 12 min read
Gianna Wilkie - Founder of Cleveland Health & Social Club
By: Woman Up Cleveland
Everywhere you look, especially in Cleveland, there are more and more community clubs and organizations aiming to connect individuals and build communities. For women specifically, now more than ever, so many opportunities exist in our area for professional networking, participating in hobbies and activities, and most of all meeting new people and creating connections. It may seem like they are all one in the same but in reality, each and every one of these groups is curating its own specialty gathering of likeminded women, all looking to participate and connect.
Gianna Wilkie has achieved the perfect mix of fitness and fun with her wellness organization, Cleveland Health & Social Club. Combining her own fitness experiences with her newfound love for Cleveland and its community, Gianna has curated a supportive and uplifting atmosphere that encourages attendees to explore and expand their physical and mental confidence.
After moving to Cleveland 2 years ago, following her partner's career path that led to the Cleveland Clinic, Gianna found herself in a new city with no network, and a desire to connect. She began by stepping out of her comfort zone and finding social gatherings and organizations that hosted events aimed at meeting new people and making friends with similar interests.
After a little while exploring her options and getting to know some of the communities better, Gianna noticed the lack of fitness groups that weren’t specifically niched down to a certain type of workout or sport. The space was clearly missing a more generic, wellness based gathering and she saw within this realization, the perfect opportunity to create something meaningful.
Soon after she started teaching pop up classes in Edgewater Park, Gianna discovered what Cleveland natives know all too well: the summers never last long enough. Starting with approaching some vendors and exploring opportunities for collaboration, she began to grow her network and events. Finding gyms, bars, stores, and other locations to host as well as businesses and organizations to collaborate with ultimately led to the creation of what has now become Cleveland Health & Social Club. “I realized that I can put on events that are more than just a fitness class. People were interested in it and it wasn't just me selfishly wanting something for the weekends. It was actually something other people wanted too,” Gianna said.
Being a fitness instructor since 2018 and growing up as an athlete has made Gianna a natural born leader when it comes to fitness. She understands not only the relationship you have to have with yourself, but with the coaches and instructors you interact with every day. For her, it has always been fitness and wellness and the joy of moving her body so it’s only right that the next step was to share that love for movement with others.
“Fitness has been a non-negotiable in my life, it's all I've ever known. I found most of my friends either through sports or when I was a fitness instructor in college. When I moved to Cleveland all the friends that I made were through fitness studios that I was a client or a coach at. There's something about moving your body with other people that creates a special type of community,” Gianna shared.
This work also serves as a perfect creative outlet for Gianna as she spends most of her days as a full time data analyst. Beyond her major in Supply Chain Management which results in much of her left-brained organizational and logistics skills, Gianna looks to her event planning background and crafting hobbies as a creative outlet.
She shared, “By nature it's not the most creative job in the entire world. I've always been a creative person. During college I volunteered for an organization where one of my roles was on our special events planning committee and got to do more of the creative stuff.” Planning events through college gave her the right-brained satisfaction she sought out and ultimately led Gianna down this path to fitness and wellness community events.
A lover of crafting in her free time, Gianna often finds a way to work a craft or creative aspect into her events. This blending of both sides of her brain is what has set Cleveland Health & Social Club up for success as it continues to attract women looking to relax, unwind, build their strength, and get creative. Gianna said, “I love the logistics of figuring out how something's going to look from A to Z. But I also love the creative part of figuring out what the event is even going to be.”
In addition to her day job and work with the club, Gianna also coaches at a few different gyms, and is a cycling, barre, and Pilates instructor. She takes great pride in all of her work but leading groups in classes or events is what she finds most fulfilling saying that she truly learns so much from clients and friends who she works closely with.
Gianna has learned a lot from witnessing the uplifting power of fitness through her work saying, “I’ve really evolved as a human from interacting with clients and people who have stepped into my room. Even though I'm coaching them I've learned so much about what it means to show up even when it may feel hard to do so.” It’s truly the culmination of all her passions and every step of the journey that has led her to both Cleveland and the creation of her one-of-a-kind organization.
Perhaps most importantly, with her work through Cleveland Health & Social Club, Gianna aims to show each and every guest that these spaces don’t need to be scary or intimidating. She is not ignorant to the fact that health and wellness organizations can often feel that way and sometimes carry an exclusionary or negative connotation, especially toward women. “This community and fitness in general has done so much for me and I want to show other people that it doesn't need to be scary. There's a place for them in fitness and in the fitness community,” Gianna said.
Community of all kinds has become such a central part of her work but the greater community of Cleveland as a whole has had its own unique impact on Gianna’s story. She said it best sharing, “I could not speak more highly of the Cleveland community if I tried. I didn’t know a single person outside of my partner when I moved here and quite literally on day one everyone around me was so kind. Shoutout to our mutual friend Delaney, she was the first person to introduce herself and welcome me into the area with open arms.”
Beyond her clients and guests becoming like family, Gianna has connected in her classes to other local business owners who have shown unwavering support. She specifically calls out Cleveland's nature of encouraging community over competition and supporting all businesses and organizations knowing there is enough clientele and customers to share successes.
Every business owner Gianna can remember coming across throughout her journey has been nothing but kind, flexible, and eager to try new things. Although it surprised her initially that people could be so kind to those who are their ‘competitors’ Gianna quickly understood the importance and power behind networking and willingly connecting others with resources that can help everyone.
“I’ve realized people are incredibly willing to connect you with others. There’s far less of a competitive mindset than you’d expect, even though it can feel scary at first - like you need to hold tightly to your community so you don’t lose it. But honestly, you’d be surprised how willing people are to share anything and everything,” she told us. Gianna has met so many people through her connections, both personal and professional, and has a soft spot for all those who have been cheering her on since the very beginning.
Regular attendees of her events serve as walking billboards for Cleveland Health & Social Club, constantly raving about Gianna and spreading the word about her incredible events. She partially credits this excitement and encouragement surrounding her guests to the inclusive environment that exists within her events. In a space that is often intimidating and standoffish, Gianna has curated a group of women who show up and out for one another and are constantly adding to the welcoming nature of her events.
“Anytime anyone's afraid to come alone I just want to scream from the rooftops to just do it and come alone. Everyone is truly so nice and will pull you into conversation whether you want to or not. You’re going to be included. There’s definitely a bit of imposter syndrome sometimes, because I don’t always know what I did to deserve so much kindness,” Gianna said.
Prior to moving to Cleveland from Pittsburgh, Gianna got into her head that she might be lonely and bored in a place where she had left her community behind. She knows as well as anyone that making friends in adulthood is hard and like many women, she struggled to find the right space to be herself, ultimately creating her own where she saw a deficit.
After telling herself she could always move back after her partner's three year residency is up and fall back on her community back home, Gianna fell victim to what so many people who visit often do, the charm of Cleveland. Now, she proudly considers herself a Clevelander and a fan of the city, saying that despite her surprise, this has truly become home for her.
“When I tell you I don't want to leave Cleveland at all. There's not a thought in my mind about going anywhere else. If that doesn't prove that the community will welcome you with open arms then I don't know what does. I’m sticking around,“ Gianna said.
She shared that even her family has seen the change in her since the move. Proving that everything that makes our city so special really is life changing, Gianna serves as the perfect example of our communities uniqueness and pride. “I was always on the shy side and I was never very confident in meeting or talking to people. So the concept of me having a social life as I do now is a shock to my family. They can’t believe I've grown to love Cleveland as much as I do, especially being from Pittsburgh,” Gianna joked.
A strong community fuels inspiration and unity in ways we don’t often realize. The perfect example of this comes from Gianna’s response to our question about a woman who inspires her. Instead of settling on one individual, she passionately spoke of all the women in her circles, especially family who have shown up and showed out for her throughout her life.
“Many women just in my life that I adore and look up to and respect the hell out of. My friend group, my family, I am surrounded by just the most incredible group of women. I'm so incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by the women in my family alone,” Gianna said.
As the youngest in her family, she always looked up to her mom, older sisters, cousins, aunts and others as a guiding light for what it means to be a woman. Luckily for Gianna, these role models proved to be one in a million and set the bar high for her to achieve her dreams and set lofty goals.
“As a child growing up it never crossed my mind that women couldn’t do certain things. That was never a thought in my mind because why would I believe that when I am witnessing so many incredible women in my life to amazing things. I was honestly sheltered from the fact that that existed in society,“ Gianna told us.
Now, of course and unfortunately, she has experienced her own brushes with misogyny over the years. However, Gianna remains inspired by the wonder of the women in her life who have defied all boundaries and never been held back. With older sisters who each embody hard work, fierceness, and confidence as well as free spirited nature, ambition, and dedication. Seeing first hand for her whole life that she doesn’t have to fit any boxes, Gianna is powered by the women in her life.
She knows well how much of an impact these special people have had on her growth and personality saying, “I love the women in my life and I owe them everything. Every piece of them has shaped every piece of me.” It is clear that she has such an understanding and respect for others and their stories, making her the perfect person to lead such a deeply personal and impactful organization.
As mentioned previously, Gianna is no stranger to the fact that fitness can feel unapproachable and even exclusive for many people, especially women. The stigmas surrounding body image and perfectionism are not only harmful, but enough to deter women from trying something new, in fear of judgement or ridicule.
She takes her role seriously in many ways and inclusivity remains at the forefront of Gianna’s priorities when it comes to Cleveland Health & Social Club and her other coaching and teaching positions. “As someone who is part of the wellness industry I feel a huge weight of responsibility to make sure that everyone who comes across me in this space doesn't leave feeling worse about themselves in any way,“ she said.
Aspects of her teaching style are very reflective of Gianna’s mindfulness when it comes to empowering her clients, guests, and students. Choosing words wisely, and maintaining an inclusive and supportive environment remains most important. Being sure to uplift instead of judge and offer encouragement instead of criticism has made all the difference in not only the enjoyment people find in her events, but the comfort level they have while exploring their bodies' limits and boundaries.
“Language that I use in the spaces that I've created is something I take a huge amount of responsibility for. I don't take it very lightly. I want to make sure that the space feels welcoming and that you can be a beginner and you don't have to do something if it doesn't feel right for your body. I try not to use any language that has any negative connotation and makes you think twice about yourself, your body, your lifestyle, or whatever it may be,” Gianna preached.
Empowering people to feel comfortable in their own skin, physically and mentally is such a big part of her goal as an instructor and leader. Gianna knows herself how much fun fitness can be but also that the journey to that realization can involve some obstacles for some. She told us, “The community aspect really makes everything feel more welcoming and fun. That's really what I'm after is making Fitness Fun. Growing up as an athlete, conditioning was always viewed as punishment for me so I struggled afterward to view fitness as anything other than punishment.”
Describing herself as unserious and constantly cracking jokes and laughing during her sessions, Gianna fosters a lighthearted and casual environment, free from harsh negativity or discouragement. It is so important for her, knowing spaces can look like this, that guests feel the sense of community from the moment they enter their first event. Gianna knows she can't ensure every space in the fitness and wellness world feels this way but finds solace in the fact that she can promise that her gatherings will always serve as a safe space for all.
When it comes to making this dream space a reality, Gianna puts in the work by consciously avoiding any language about shrinking oneself down or becoming smaller as well as any negative talk in general. When it comes to collaborations, this dedication to inclusivity leads her to lots of research. For example, if someone else is teaching, Gianna makes it an essential task to be sure they align on values and that guests receive the same kindness and care she prioritizes when leading.
This has led her to be specific about her consideration of who is involved in these events. From vendors to collaborators and even the event activities, Gianna is always absolutely positive that her choices are uplifting and positive for attendees. Ensuring that the experience is consistently welcoming and encouraging, Gianna creates a reliable and safe place for people to return to and continue their fitness journeys free of ridicule and shame.
Comfortable in this groove, she has built an understanding of others and an organization that truly leads with kindness and thoughtfulness. As for the future, besides absolutely, undeniably, staying in Cleveland, Gianna hopes to find ways to expand that feel fitting to her values and goals. With options like building larger events or moving the club beyond Cleveland’s borders, it is so important to her not to lose the magic and intimacy that makes the group so successful and beneficial to its guests.
Knowing her dream to take this passion full time and truly dedicate herself to these spaces and events, Gianna keeps in mind that all she does is aimed at creating more and more ways to engage attendees and encourage growth in each individual.
Being thrilled with where she has ended up with this journey so far, a lot of the future for Gianna simply includes riding the wave and seeing where the ups and downs can take her. Valuing quality over quantity, keeping things accessible and approachable, and maintaining that ever important sense of community are all driving forces behind the evolution of Cleveland Health & Social Club, now and forever.
Gianna Wilkie is undeniably a force to be reckoned with both when it comes to her unwavering passion for fitness and wellness and her thoughtful dedication to creating safe and welcoming environments for others. She persistently puts the guest experience at the forefront of her classes and events creating an inclusive and encouraging place for all to gather and learn more about themselves. Cleveland Health & Social Club is such a one-of-a-kind organization that combines fitness and fun in the most important ways possible. Gianna has perfected the formula for empowerment, community, sisterhood, education, movement, and health all while leading with kindness. She is passionate, energetic, knowledgeable and experienced in all the ways that make for a perfect coach, leader, teammate and friend. We are so thrilled to be hosting our June event with her this year and can’t wait to see where Cleveland Health & Social Club and Woman Up Cleveland collaborations take us in the future!
Comments