Krewe Fitness Covington focuses as much on the "krewe" aspect of its name as on the "fitness." Owner Kyle Roberts stresses that building a supportive community to help people do hard things and gain confidence is at the core of why he started the gym. It's also what continues to motivate him as a trainer. "A gym that thrives is a gym people want," he said. "When you see somebody doing something they were afraid to try, you let your guard down. When you come in here, we all come to the same point of trying to make ourselves better."

Roberts has always been active and knows firsthand the transformative effects moving the body has on the mind. As a small child with a speech impediment, he was shy and often felt he didn't fit in. He first found his place through sports, particularly football, and the drive to become a better athlete propelled him into the gym. "It was my brother and his high school best friend that first brought me to a gym. When I walked in, I still remember the color, that pale teal upholstery on the bench. The sound of the cast iron plates hitting together. I still remember the smell. I remember the sounds, and I fell in love with it. I knew this is what I had to do. I didn't know I was going to have a career in it. [But] I wanted to be part of it."