City Editor Cambrie here — I was recently invited to swing by Superpower Studios on North Williams Avenue to meet Caitlin Lavelle, the general manager and head coach, ahead of its grand opening on Sat., Oct. 1 in the Boise neighborhood.

Caitlin is on a mission to create a safe space where people can ask questions, find community + receive top-notch personal training in an intimate setting she likens to a sanctuary. “It’s important to me that we meet them where they are at their level and continue to help them build up their confidence and their skills at the same time,” she said.

I got to try a 45-minute session with Caitlin and really enjoyed learning several low-impact exercises that I'd never tried before. Unlike open gyms I've been to in the past, I didn't feel awkward about asking questions and I didn't worry about how I looked while crawling on the floor like Spider-Man (that guy makes it look so easy). Caitlin pointed out little ways to improve my technique but didn't hit me with an overwhelming amount of feedback. She celebrated my progress and helped me feel motivated to continue.

Also, the moves weren't just endless repetitions that left me feeling exhausted — I was challenged but not strained. And I walked away knowing how to lift a kettlebell like someone who knows what she's doing. That's a win if you ask me.