22 Years of Impulse: Why This Gym Was Started in the First Place

March 2026 marks 22 years of Impulse.

Twenty-two years of early mornings.
Twenty-two years of people walking through the doors unsure… and walking out stronger.
Twenty-two years of growth — not just physically, but mentally, emotionally, and socially.

But Impulse didn’t start because someone wanted to “open a gym.”

It started because something felt off.

Before Impulse, Kim worked in big-box gyms.

You know the kind.

Rows of machines.
Mirrors everywhere.
People who look like they know exactly what they’re doing.
And others quietly hoping no one is watching.

And what she noticed was this:

People didn’t feel comfortable.

They felt judged.
They felt like they didn’t fit the mold.
They worried about what they were wearing… how they looked… whether they “belonged.”

And that bothered her.

“I wanted a space where people could just come in and not worry about any of that,” she said.
“A place where they could focus on making themselves better that day.”

That was the essence.

Not six-pack abs.
Not stage-ready physiques.
Not comparison.

​Just growth.

When Kim bought Impulse, she was 22 years old. Still in college.

And yes — she showed up to train clients in oversized 90’s basketball shorts and a cut-off shirt.

The facility?
Under 900 square feet — and that included the bathroom, lobby, office, and gym floor.

It wasn’t glamorous.

It was personal training only.
No group training yet.
No big marketing pushes.
No explosive growth.

Just showing up for one person at a time.

And financially? It was hard.

For the first 10 years, Impulse barely paid for itself.

Kim mulched yards.
Babysat.
House sat.
Dog sat.
Painted.
Took on whatever work she could to keep the doors open.

There were plenty of moments she considered quitting.

But there were also voices saying, “Don’t give up. There’s something here.”

​They were right.

Around 2014, things shifted.

Group training launched.
The community began forming in a deeper way.
Momentum built.

What felt like “sudden growth” was actually years of consistency finally surfacing.

If you’ve ever worked toward a fitness goal, you know this pattern.

You show up.
You lift.
You eat better.
You walk.
You repeat.

Nothing dramatic happens for months.

Then one day, someone says, “You look different.”

Growth rarely feels dramatic while it’s happening.

Research on long-term fitness success supports this, too — consistency over time is what produces lasting transformation. The early reps matter. The small habits matter. The seasons that feel quiet matter.


​Impulse was built the same way.

From the beginning, Impulse wasn’t meant to focus only on physical strength.

It was about five areas of growth:

That hasn’t changed.

It may look different than it did in 2004.
The equipment has changed.
The trainers have changed.
The industry has changed.

But the heart hasn’t.

Impulse is still meant to be a place where:

You can walk in exactly as you are.
You don’t have to perform.
You don’t have to dress a certain way.
You don’t have to be at a certain level.

​You just have to show up.

Gyms come and go.

Trends change.

Workouts evolve.

But places that build community — real community — last.

Impulse is still here because someone decided not to quit in year three.
Not to quit in year seven.
Not to quit in year ten.

And because people kept showing up for each other.


​If you’ve ever:

Then you’re part of this story.

​And that’s worth celebrating.

In March 2026, Impulse officially turns 22.

If you’re a current member, we have a full week of fun things planned at the beginning of March to celebrate — workouts, community moments, and a few surprises. You’ll be hearing more about that very soon.

If you’ve been part of Impulse at any point over the last two decades — whether it was for a season or for years — we’d truly love to hear from you.

What has Impulse meant to you?
What’s one win you’re proud of?

Send us a message. No pressure. No spotlight required. We just want to reconnect and celebrate the journey together.

Here’s to 22 years of showing up.

​And to many more.