Fitness group Solidcore is one solid business.
Founded in Washington, D.C. in 2013 by the American marathoner, triathlete, entrepreneur and philanthropist Anne Mahlum, Solidcore (https://solidcore.co) is a high-intensity, low-impact strength training program with a rapidly expanding national footprint.
“(The year) 2024 was a record-setting year,” said President and CEO Bryan Myers. “We’ve grown from approximately $10 million in revenue to more than $200 million in 2025. This is unlike anything the industry has ever seen.”
In 2024, the company opened 25 new studios and launched a new headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, with the brand hosting 500,000-plus classes and welcoming more than 57,000 active members. Online interest has surged as well, with more than 30 million website views.
Now a new facility is set to launch in Scarsdale on the first full day of summer (Saturday, June 21). Recently, we caught up with Myers to talk about health and fitness, performance and profits. Here are some of the highlights:
Bryan, tell us a bit about your background and how you came to Solidcore.
“After years of being a client, I joined the Solidcore team in 2018 and worked my way up to CEO in 2021. Today, I’m responsible for delivering business performance, including Solidcore’s national footprint growth, and building a strong, inclusive community of clients and employees. Before Solidcore, I was at Sweetgreen (salad restaurant group), wearing many hats over four years. I began my career as a consultant for The Boston Consulting Group.”
And why Scarsdale? Can you share how Solidcore seeks out and researches new markets?
“Currently, Solidcore has 17 studios in New York, 15 of them in the city. Our community was vocal about wanting a studio further out into the suburbs, (and) we knew Scarsdale’s reputation as a diverse and active community would allow us to build a thriving location.”
It’s a competitive health and fitness market out there. So what actually is the “unique approach” behind Solidcore’s success as mentioned in the literature?
“Workout classes and studios are extremely popular, and they bring a sense of community and motivation that not everyone feels at their local gym. People always put Solidcore in the same category as Pilates, but other than the low-impact style of exercises, Solidcore is a completely different experience. Unlike traditional Pilates, Solidcore focuses on targeted strength training with an emphasis on intensity, efficiency and results. Our mission is to encourage every client to discover their strongest self.”
And your own leadership style and personality: What can you tell us about that?
“I would describe my leadership style as a combination of data-driven, reality-rooted and aggressively authentic. I believe the best decisions are made with a strong combination of data and intuition. I think intuition comes from being rooted in reality – which is why I spend time with our teams, in our studios, developing an ever-evolving view of our brand and consumer. And, lastly, I think showing up as who you are helps people relate and connect. So I try to show up as myself, flaws and shortcomings included.”
Back to the literature again, where “pushing muscles to the point of failure” sounds — if you will forgive us — like extremely hard work. Is Solidcore for everyone or only those who have a certain level of endurance?
“Solidcore workouts are designed for all levels, from seasoned pros looking to elevate their workouts to beginners ready to kickstart a new fitness journey. With customizable spring loads, our workout enables clients of all fitness levels to modify or amplify their resistance levels, ensuring a tailored experience that meets the unique needs of every individual. This accessibility means you’ll never outgrow the workout or feel left behind. You can continually progress at your own pace while being appropriately challenged, which leads to sustainable fitness results and a much higher likelihood of maintaining your practice long-term.”
Will strength training continue to grow as a fitness discipline?
“Consumers are getting smart about longevity and actively seeking solutions that provide antiaging and metabolism-boosting benefits. Solidcore provides the perfect balance of low-impact strength workouts that push your limits and help you grow core muscles that are critical to longevity. I anticipate more brands will offer low-impact, strength-focused workouts as these trends continue to grow rapidly. (At Solidcore) we’re aiming to reach new audiences and support our current members, with a goal of growing our active memberships to more than 75,000 across our 130-plus studios.”
