Moore Than Fitness

With ✨Lisa Frank✨ inspired stickers, love letters, the big orange Christmas tree, and our unnamed giant iron rooster, August Vuono + Kate Moore spent this past Sunday at He She Ze & We’s back to school event at Diversity Richmond

And we hardly took any pictures because being there in person is way better than being there through the screen.

And just like last year, it was magic.

We saw some of the same families that we saw last year. We remembered them, they remembered us. And they were excited to tell us what they love about themselves again.

It’s a tender exercise to do: write down something you love about yourself and publicly post it.

Often parents ask if they can write something they love about their kid. We generally say, “you can. And also it’s ok to take a minute and think about something you love about you.”

When you outwardly love the way that you are, you give people around you permission to love themselves out loud as well.

Then we got to sit on the floor with kids, their grownups, and the incredible Javon Love, Beau Tox, Bend’n Prayzir and talk about bodies. That you’re allowed to say no, and that any movement that you like counts!

Then, we all shared stretches that feel good to us, and warm up moves that we like.

We can’t wait to do it again next year He She Ze & We - congratulations on another wonderful back to school event!

Still celebrating this huge win from Jamal Archer this weekend at USA Powerlifting Virginia ✨

This video of Jamal about to bench is such a perfect representation of who he is in the gym. On the surface: huge strong cis dude.

And also, a gracious lifter who takes precious platform time to thank his spotters and loaders before he PRs. He knows he’s not the only one who put in hard work to get to this day.

Part of what we try to do here at Moore Than Fitness Gym: Personal Training is create a culture that’s welcoming. And we know from the gym side that new people are intimidated by the equipment, the trainers, and the culture.

But it’s also intimidating to meet other members when you’re brand new. There’s that feeling of “oh no everyone is gonna be better at this than me.” Gyms can be cliquey and scary!

But when you meet people like Jamal, so much of that intimidation factor dissipates. He’s the first person, in a big jovial voice, to tell you how glad he is to be here.

You don’t have to come here and immediately get into powerlifting like Jamal did. Most of our members don’t (most of our trainers don’t!) But if seeing stuff like this lights you up, maybe finding a competition like a full powerlifting meet or a Richmond Strong meet is a Richmond Strong you!

You’d be surrounded by people like Jamal and August Vuono who want nothAugust Vuonoan to cheer for you ✨

We made a really exciting announcement at Richmond Strong’s BNB this weekend 🌈✨

We’re Hiring!

We’re hiring for folks who are intentional, and who have the capacity to grow and evolve as a person AND as a trainer.

Your leadership team is Russell Moore, Kate Moore, and August Vuono.

Please share far and wide and help us find the next right fit ✨

We are so f*cki*g proud of all you chickens!!!!!!!

We have gotten to participate in Barbells Not Bans for the past 4 years and it just keeps getting better 🌈

Richmond Strong is a CLASS act. Breanna Diaz, Laura Mae Lucas, BRANDI • WALKER, and Emergence Coaching thank you for making BNB come to life every year - we hope you’re feeling celebrated and appreciated and that you’re getting some rest.

The thing about gyms and fitness (and powerlifting as a sport) is that they can make you feel incredibly intimidated and alone - BUT IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE THAT WAY, and BNB is the proof. It feels like belonging and glitter exploded all over you the second you walk in.

And if you’ve been enough to participate in ANY way with BNB, you know how IMPORTANT it is for your spirit and body to explode with support and community ✨🌈

I hope that every single one of you in this picture, and every single person that helped this picture come to life, can take a moment to truly feel in your bones, Pride.

We love you, we’re grateful, we’re exhausted.

Happy Pride 🌈✨

Bow Bow Bow - Javon Love

The Weight Room thank you for hosting yet again.

Overwhelmed fits for today ✨

Thank you to our members and to our biggest fans for voting us RVA’s best gym for the second year in a row.

Thank you for being here with us and for being what makes us who we are.

We want to be a gym where people of all shapes and sizes and backgrounds can feel brave enough to try fitness.

Fitness isn’t an industry that’s known broadly as being kind or welcoming. We want to do things differently.

Every body deserves to move and feel strong ✨

You’re welcome here, you’re invited here.

Up next: ’s Barbells Not Bans Deadlifting Comp on the 14th! Join as a volunteer or spectator 🌈

Happy Pride! Happy Lifting!

Congratulations to Jonathan Estrada for being the Chicken of the Month ✨

Here’s what his trainer has to say:

Jonathan has made such a great amount of progress in such a short amount of time, and he isn’t slowing down anytime soon.

From the very beginning, he’s been open to challenging himself more and more with the best attitude. In addition to his 1:1 training he’s been making the Saturday mobility classes a regular part of his routine where he shares his sunny personality with the other members of the class.

He is leading by example by making small, consistent changes with big impact, and approaching things thoughtfully and with curiosity.

It makes a lot of sense why we want to celebrate you this month, Jonathan! Congratulations and take time to celebrate you, too.

Congratulations to , our April Chicken of the Month! 🐥🐥🐥

Nyema used to be a personal training client of Russell’s way back in the post-covid shed gym days and has returned to Moore Than Fitness to be a part of the semi-private training program with Kate and August. She has integrated herself beautifully into the semi-private community and always shows up ready to give what she has to her workouts. We couldn’t be more proud of you Nyema, and we’re ecstatic that you’re working with us again. Way to go!

Say welcome to our newest trainer and intern !

We’re thrilled to have them both on the team 🐥🐥🐥

They are quickly blending seamlessly into the MTF culture and we can’t wait for you to meet them!