Spotlight On: Emma Romo and Paradox Fitness

Spotlight On:
Paradox Fitness

As part of our new series, we are interviewing people of interest in the community who are having a positive impact on the lives around them.

This time we are interviewing Emma Romo, owner and operator of Paradox Fitness!

Can you tell me a little bit about your history in the area?

I was born and raised in Mammoth Lakes/Crowley Lake. I graduated high school from Mammoth High School in 2008 and stayed in the area for several years to pursue a career in snowboarding. I decided to return to school in 2013 to get my bachelors in interdisciplinary studies from Sierra Nevada College (now University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe). I coached snowboard racing for Mammoth High School for 10 years (with a 2 1/2 year break when I went back to college) and continued to pursue my own career in snowboarding.

My husband and I moved to Big Pine in May of 2020 and I gave birth to our son, Indy, in August 2020. We didn’t do a whole lot during that time, since the world was shut down. I began studying to become a personal trainer after my son was born- something I’d always been interested in doing- since I finally had the time to do so and other options were minimal due to the closures. I returned to coach snowboarding the next two winter seasons and picked up part-time work as a substitute teacher and a staff member at a local gym.

What inspired you to open this gym?

Oh gosh. This answer could really be so long. But I will keep it as concise as possible. There is so much that has gone into my inspiration to bring this gym to life here in Bishop.  Ultimately, what pushed me to make this gym a reality here was the fact that I saw a need for a quality facility here in Bishop.

I’m the kind of person who finds the gym that offers day passes and walk-ins while I am on vacation. And the facilities I found always had me dreaming of being able to have a space like that to workout in at home. The options we had available just never compared. So, I began dreaming up ideas of what I could do to help make that a reality, from buying an existing gym or partnering with one, to starting my own facility if I could make that happen. I built up my own remote coaching platform and trained several clients as a side gig for a while, all with the goal of somehow making it a bigger, more sustainable income for myself someday. I knew there was potential down the road to own my own gym someday, and that was ultimately the goal.

I began looking for locations casually and kept the idea on the backburner, while adding to the drawing board and creating a rough business plan to at least start working out some of the logistics and have some sort of plan in the works. When I was contacted by our landlord about a space that was going to become available (probably not for another year or so), I was intrigued, but still continued to consider other options in case the space didn’t work out. A year later, when the space did become available, I took all the scattered napkin planning I had been doing over the last few years, and stitched it all together to see if this dream could become a reality. And here we are. It is coming together!

How do you plan to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for all fitness levels?

We are creating a space that provides a variety of options for both new and seasoned gym goers. We will have selectorized machines, plate loaded machines, and free weight options for our members with different goals and fitness experience. In addition to a selection of cardio equipment, we will have a room specific to bodyweight training, stretching, and floor workouts so people have the space to do activities that fit their personal preference. We also plan to add an outdoor space in the near future which will include a space for tire flipping, battle ropes, and a turf sled, in addition to climbing grips.

We are also going to offer connections with various trainers who specialize in working with different groups, from beginners to experienced athletes, so our members will have access to someone ready to help them reach their goals.

I also want the space to have a more welcoming feeling, so people who come in can feel that the space is inviting. With a classy, but edgy design, we will have a gym that feels clean and modern, as well as trendy.

Will you offer any programs or classes? If so, why types?

We won’t have anything right off the bat when we open, but we are looking to add in various classes that we can offer our members as we grow. We are currently looking to connect with teachers and coaches who are interested in the space to hold their classes, so please send them our way! Yoga, HIIT, Pilates, etc.

Can you tell me about the equipment you’ve invested in to ensure a well-rounded fitness experience?

We have a large selection of equipment. With strength being a major focus right now, we have brought in a large selection of free weight and plate loaded machines, as well as 5 squatting/deadlifting areas and 4 olympic benches for those who have this focus. We are also bringing in 3 cable stations, where people can perform various cable exercises, such as rows, pull downs, cable flys, and kickbacks, just to name a few. In addition, we have a selection of selectorized equipment as well. We are looking to add more machines as funding allows, as this is just phase 1 of our equipment purchase.

Lastly, is there anything else you would like the Bishop area to know about the gym?

The gym will be 24/7 access to any member 18+. We will allow memberships for children ages 12-17. Anyone ages 12-15 must be accompanied by an adult and will be allowed access between the hours of 5am-9pm. Anyone ages 16-17 may utilize the gym after a liability waiver has been signed by a parent or guardian. They will be allowed access to the gym between hours 5am-9pm.

This first phase of our opening is just the beginning. We hope to bring in more equipment, offer a variety of classes and access to personal trainers/nutrition coaches, as well as provide options for cryotherapy and sports massage down the road. I can’t wait to bring this space to Bishop!!

The gym will be in the old Rite Aid parking lot, and has an estimated opening date of February 1st.  And don’t forget to check out Emma on the first podcast of “Get Real with Jesse Steele”!  Coming soon…