Today we’d like to introduce you to Helen Newell.
Hi Helen, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My fitness journey began in high school. I struggled with my body image as a teenager and started working out in high school because I couldn’t balance sports and music practice after school. I began taking classes at the local YMCA and discovered an instructor who was SO strong and led the most empowering classes. As I was clearly going through a difficult time emotionally, she was a lifeline for me and showed me what true strength looked like. What started as a means to make me shrink + be smaller quickly became something that empowered me to grow stronger.
Fast forward to college in 2019 and I got my personal training certification as a way to help me get through music school. I knew I loved teaching, but I had no idea how much I would love being a trainer. Once COVID-19 hit in 2020, I took my clients online and started my own business. Soon after, I joined a gym in Boston that helped me start powerlifting. This is when I truly fell in love with lifting and my career as a trainer really began.
In the past 7 years as a trainer I was always searching for the perfect gym where I felt at home, but I realized that it didn’t exist. I wanted a gym with pink walls that welcomed everyone who never felt at home in a commercial gym setting. I loved showing women how strong they were and this never changed no matter where I was coaching. In 2024, I moved to East Nashville and instantly fell in love with the community here–I knew this was the place I wanted to go for my dreams of opening The Venus Club. 6 months later and it has grown past what I could have dreamed and we are already searching for a bigger space! Every single person who stepped through these doors has gotten stronger and more confident since we’ve opened and I am so excited to watch our community grow.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Once I started building the plans for The Venus Club in 2025, we started looking for a space and it took over a year or looking to find our home on Douglas Ave–starting a brick and mortar business is NOT for the weak! There were a lot of moments when I wanted to give up or when my dreams were doubted, but I knew that this was going to all be worth it. 6 months later and I am beyond happy with our community here in this little pocket of East Nashville. I feel so lucky to have found a home where I can pursue music and fitness hand in hand, and where community is one of the most
We’ve been impressed with The Venus Club, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
The Venus Club is a fitness studio in East Nashville that focuses on holistic strength training for all. We offer personal training, small group personal training, and strength classes. We are centered around creating a safe space for women and the queer community to feel at home and a place where people can learn how to strength train. Many people can feel intimidated by commercial gym environments–it is scary to not know what you’re doing, feel lost, be worried about getting injured, etc. The Venus Club is designed to be a space where people can come in and feel instantly welcomed. We are excited to grow to eventually offer even more classes and an open gym, but for now we center our work around helping people one on one and in groups. Our strength classes are the best way to try us out because we have a free week trial to try the classes. The classes are 9 people maximum per class so it is very beginner friendly and.a perfect way to try out strength training movements in a class environment! We are so excited to be part of the community in East Nashville and are working on doing lots of collaborations and events as well!
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
My COO and life partner, Pranav, has been by my side through my entire career and has helped me every step of the way to follow my dreams. He deserves the most credit and recognition! From helping with every single task, to building the gym with me, to being a shoulder to cry on and a sounding board for 7 years, I would probably have given up years ago. Outside of Pranav, my mom Kaity has been an essential lifeline for me through my career by supporting my decisions to follow my dream throughout the country and always encouraging me to go for it. I wouldn’t be anywhere without these two! And lastly, the founding members and clients who I have been training since 2019, these are people who have stuck with me through so many life changes and I would never be the coach I am without them. Everyone who worked with me through my career before opening The Venus Club helped me shape and build my vision. I am so inspired by my clients every day and they help me always dream bigger.
Pricing:
- Strength Classes: free 7 week trial and class packs range from $15-20 per class afterwards!
- Personal Training: prices depend on frequency but we can book a free consultation to figure out what works best for you!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thevenusclub.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.venus.club/
