Meet Rebekah Murphy | Owner of FIT4MOM North Atlanta

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rebekah Murphy and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rebekah, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
FIT4MOM is the nation’s leading prenatal and postnatal fitness program, providing fitness classes and a community and network for mothers in all stages of motherhood. From pregnancy through postpartum and beyond, our fitness and wellness programs help make moms strong in body, mind, and spirit. In Atlanta, we offer a wide variety of fitness classes specifically designed for moms. Our trainers, who are all moms themselves, are certified in prenatal and postnatal fitness. While we are most known for our stroller fitness classes which allow moms to get an hour workout with their child(ren) in the stroller next to them, we also offer incredible mom-only workouts, prenatal classes, and running programs.

What sets FIT4MOM apart from other fitness programs truly comes down to the community. We say “moms come for the fitness, and stay for the community.” There is nothing like it. FIT4MOM provides a tremendous opportunity for moms in our community to connect with moms in the same stage of life – especially during the most isolating months – and provides them with friendships, activities, a support system, workouts, and purpose.

Early motherhood especially can feel very lonely, isolating, and challenging. Daily workout classes with other moms and the playgroups that follow, provide a routine for both mothers and children, and a great excuse to get out of the house, especially during those earliest postpartum weeks and months. With FIT4MOM, women not only receive tremendous health and fitness benefits, but perhaps, more importantly, a village and a support system. They say it takes a village to raise a child. At FIT4MOM, we believe it takes a village to raise a mother.

What should our readers know about your business?
I never expected myself to be a business owner, however in reflection, I’m not surprised by the path my journey has taken. My professional career was in nonprofit administration. I had a successful early career at several nonprofit organizations, after receiving my Bachelor’s from Georgia Tech and an MBA. With my career I oversaw fundraising, marketing, supervised staff, worked with vendors and contractors, planned and executed special events, and worked to strategically advance the missions of the organizations I worked for. As a Nonprofit Executive, like a small business owner, you have to be a jack-of-all trades. Fortunately, these are all skills that translate well into running FIT4MOM.

FIT4MOM is a national franchise, founded in San Diego in 2001, and I am one “boss mom” of 250 in the country who are bringing community, support and strength in motherhood to moms in their local communities. After having my first child in 2015, I stopped working and transitioned to community volunteer work. It was then that I discovered FIT4MOM and our fitness programs and began attending as a client. I quickly transitioned to becoming an instructor. When the opportunity arose to become the new owner of FIT4MOM, it was a no-brainer for me. I had raised three babies in this community – FIT4MOM had become synonymous with motherhood for me. Our mornings were structured around going to class, staying afterwards for playgrounds, crafts, or field trips, and I met all of my “mom friends” through FIT4MOM. My early motherhood journey would have been tremendously lonely and isolating if it weren’t for FIT4MOM. I knew the next owner had the potential to strategically expand the business and bring our programs to even more moms in Atlanta.

My priorities since owning the business have been focused on growing new locations and our membership, and I am proud that we have had 200% growth in my first year of ownership. We had classes in the Perimeter/Dunwoody area, Roswell, Alpharetta, and South Forsyth County; but in the last six months have expanded to additional locations in Sandy Springs and East Cobb/Marietta, and will launch classes in Buckhead in July 2024.

The first year of ownership was not without its challenges. I think any mom would say motherhood is not easy. It’s not easy for stay at home moms; it’s not easy for working moms. I do feel the daily challenges of owning my own business, while still caring for three young children. Working with a toddler in tow is not easy and the entrepreneur life is fast paced. Trying to raise a family and grow a business simultaneously isn’t easy, and my biggest challenge continues to be balancing the business’s growth with my personal capacity and the team’s capacity. However, the great thing is, when you love your work as I do, it makes the challenges and sacrifices well worth the effort. The purpose I found with this business and fulfillment I find with this “job” is amazing, and I am grateful I have the opportunity to lead our village.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
We would definitely begin with a Friday night dinner at Novo Cucina in Dunwoody for homemade pasta, pizza, wine and gelato. Saturday morning we would grab brunch in Midtown (The Collective Food Hall at CODA or Politan Row at Colony Square), then head over to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens or the High to explore. An ideal Saturday evening would be to get a sitter and just the adults grab dinner at Blue Ridge Grill and see the Atlanta Ballet perform at Cobb Energy Centre or go a bit more casual and head to Truist Park for dinner and a game. We would absolutely have to wrap up our visit Sunday in downtown Roswell – grabbing brunch at The Mill, Canton St. Social or The Roswell Garden. Coffee to go from Summit or Land of a Thousand Hills plus a walk along the Chattahoochee would be the perfect end to the weekend!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
It takes the dedication and commitment of a team of over twenty women (each deep in the throws of raising their own children), for FIT4MOM North Atlanta to thrive. It is through their passion for Our Village, that we are able to provide support to moms and delivery amazing programs each day. I know our successes wouldn’t be possible without my amazing “dream team” and I am so thankful to each of them.

Website: https://www.northatlanta.fit4mom.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fit4momnorthatlanta

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fit4momnorthatlanta