Shahna Smith — Founder, Funk Fitness

Fitness has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. After 12 years in the industry, I knew what a great gym could be. But when I had my first child in 2017, I realised how few of them were actually built for women like me.

So I built my own.

Funk Fitness opened its doors in 2017 with 36 members and one big vision — a place where mums and women could bring their kids, train hard, and finally stop choosing between their health and their family. The crèche wasn't an afterthought. It was the first thing I created. Because I knew that if we got that right, everything else would follow.

Eight years on and now a mum of six, Funk has grown into something I'm incredibly proud of. Today we have over 500 members, a 24-hour facility, and three dedicated training studios offering Reformer Pilates, mat Pilates, HIIT, strength, and Hyrox-inspired workouts — plus a full outdoor recovery studio to help you feel as good as you perform. And with 20 years in the industry behind me, I'm just getting started.

But the heart of it hasn't changed. Funk is still a place built by a mum, for mums. A place where you belong from the moment you walk in. Where your kids are welcome, your goals matter, and your community shows up for you.

This is more than a gym. It's yours.