WILLIAMSBURG — When military wife, mom, and Williamsburg Orangetheory studio manager Sydney Dennis set foot in a gym for the first time, she wasn’t sure how it was going to go.
After attending that first workout with Orangetheory, Dennis was hooked.
“I had never done fitness before, I had never done anything in college. After that first class and seeing how successful it was, I knew that I could see myself there,” Dennis said.
When her husband received military orders to the Fayetteville, North Carolina, area, Dennis packed up their belongings to move to a new place she’d never been to before. However, she saw an Orangetheory location was nearby.
“The one thing that I remember and the one thing that I know is Orangetheory. I went to the location, got my membership back, and I wanted to see where it took me. I remember going to a couple of classes and thought I’d see if they were hiring. I stopped by the front desk and applied and four years later, we were transferred to the Richmond area where I was connected with the Williamsburg location owners,” Dennis recalls.
Now settled in the Hampton Roads area, Dennis has taken over as studio manager at the Williamsburg Orangetheory location. With her degree in Human Services, Dennis has now started helping others find their place in the Orangetheory family.
“The hardest weight to lift is the front door. Once you are here, we take care of the rest,” Dennis said.
At the Williamsburg location, Dennis oversees all aspects of the studio. From helping with membership issues to working alongside some of the instructors, Dennis has a hand in it all.
“From the moment that I’ve started with Orangetheory, I’ve always loved the brand itself and what we’re selling. Since I truly believe in the membership, and the workouts, and the coaches, and the sales associates, and the members themselves, I always wanted to do more. I always wanted to take the next step. I can see the impact I’m making on the coaches, the associates, and our members and this program changed my life in such a positive way that I want to give back,” Dennis said.
After giving birth to her son in 2024, Dennis began approaching fitness in a new way.
“For the longest time, fitness throughout college and when I first started my Orangetheory experience, was always about weight loss and toning up. Now it’s the one hour of the day where I don’t have to worry about work, what my husband is doing at his job, what my son is doing at daycare, I can truly focus on myself and clear my mind and reset and recharge so I can be the best mom to my son. I know on the days that I don’t get my workout in, I feel so different. I don’t look at it as I have to work out, I look at it that I get to work out and that it will make me a better person at the end of the day,” Dennis said.
May is Women’s Health Month. During the month, Dennis is encouraging other women to prioritize their own health journey.
“Whenever you come in, regardless of your fitness experience, even how you are feeling that day, the workout is going to meet you with what you need during that specific time. You could be a triathlete and you could be working out next to someone who is 14 years old who just came in for the first time with their mom. At the end of the day, it’s truly what you get out of it and you take what you need. I’ve rarely ever seen anyone leave here saying that their workout didn’t make them feel better,” Dennis said.
The Williamsburg Orangetheory location is located at 1430 Richmond Road, Suite B07-707. To learn more or to schedule a free class, visit orangetheory.com.