A New Gym in Waverly Dispels Everything You Think is True About CrossFit

There may be a certain body type that comes to mind when you think of CrossFit: big muscles, zero-percent body fat, and, of course, rock hard abs. But Dr. Jeanelle Spencer of ZEHBRAS wants to change that perception.

Spencer, who has her Ph.D. in molecular biology from Johns Hopkins University, is working to make health and wellness more inclusive and accessible to all.

After years of working in the medical field, she saw firsthand how many chronic diseases could be avoided by incorporating functional fitness into a person’s life, but she also noticed how many people didn’t have access to it.

So in April of 2024, she opened ZEHBRAS—the name comes from a Trevor Noah stand-up special—on Greenmount Avenue in the Waverly neighborhood where she has lived in for 20 years.

“It was important for me to reduce the barriers and give people not living in the ‘White L’ access to CrossFit,” says Spencer.

Another barrier Spencer wanted to remove? The financial one. Gym memberships cost a lot, which is why ZEHBRAS offers a free class every Saturday morning.

“Even if you can’t afford a monthly membership, you can come in, work out, be coached, and engage with the community,” says Spencer. “And hopefully one good habit leads to another and that person is encouraged to walk somewhere throughout the week, do some other physical activity, or practice something at home that they learned at the gym.”

While the stereotype of CrossFit can be intimidating, just one look at ZEHBRAS’ social media account should put you at ease. Featured are real people of all ages, shapes, and sizes exercising together and sharing their goals and achievements.

“I want to tell those stories of real people using CrossFit to build their fitness and improve their health and longevity,” says Spencer. The gym also offers monthly QueerFit classes—also free—to give members of the LGBTQ+ community a safe space and entry point into CrossFit.

“Our classes are meant for beginners and people who don’t think they belong in a gym,” says Spencer. “I sort of feel like I’m fighting against societal culture because it’s so easy to be sedentary and binge Netflix shows. I’m guilty of it too, but I want people to know they have support in improving their health outcome no matter where they are in life and that they belong here.”