MEET THE WINNER | Grit Group Fitness, Female Owned Business (1), New Concept (1), Boot Camp (2), Fitness Community (2), Boutique Studio (3)
Melissa Bamford never expected that her career in higher education would eventually lead her to open one of the most energetic fitness studios in Memphis. While pursuing her Ph.D. in Sociology at Florida State University, she discovered group fitness and quickly fell in love with the sense of community it created. After moving to Memphis in 2013 to teach Sociology and Women’s and Gender Studies at the University of Memphis, she began teaching BodyAttack classes on the side, all while dreaming of opening her own studio someday.
Following several major life changes, including a move, a career transition, and a divorce, Melissa decided it was time to stop waiting. She returned to Memphis in late 2024 and opened Grit Group Fitness on her 41st birthday in April 2025. Many instructors who now teach at Grit were longtime friends of Melissa from Memphis’s fitness community, creating a studio built on genuine relationships from the start.
THEIR MISSION
At Grit Group Fitness, the goal extends beyond burning calories. Melissa believes that group fitness can improve physical, mental, and emotional well-being by bringing people together around a common purpose.
Drawing on her background in sociology, she points to the concept of “collective effervescence,” which suggests that people experience greater energy and emotional connection when participating in a shared activity. That’s exactly what she hopes members experience every time they walk into class. The studio offers a variety of group fitness formats designed to keep workouts fresh, challenging, and fun. More importantly, Melissa wants members to build healthy habits that last a lifetime.
“We focus on helping people love the body they’re in today so they can train for the body they’ll have for the rest of their
lives,” she says. “Food is energy. Rest is essential. Movement should be enjoyable and not something driven by shame or guilt.”
WHAT SETS THEM APART
Although Grit Group Fitness may be small in size, its community is one of its greatest strengths. Members and instructors encourage one another, celebrate progress together, and create an environment where everyone feels welcome regardless of their fitness level.
Melissa hopes that every member builds a positive relationship with movement that carries into later life. Whether someone is in their twenties or sixties, she wants them to look back decades from now, grateful they invested in their health and independence.
EXPERT ADVICE
If you’re struggling to stay consistent with your exercise routine, Melissa recommends finding a fitness community rather than trying to do it alone. “Group fitness gives you more than a workout,” she says. “You’re scheduling an appointment for your physical and mental well-being.”
She also encourages people to let go of harmful fitness messages centered on guilt or punishment. Lasting health comes from consistency, enjoyment, and finding movement you genuinely look forward to doing.
LOOKING FORWARD
As Grit Group Fitness enters its second year, the studio continues to grow. New 6 a.m. classes have recently been added on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, giving members even more opportunities to fit movement into their schedules. More than anything, Melissa is excited to continue building a welcoming fitness community while helping more Memphians discover that exercise can be one of the most enjoyable parts of their day.
Gritgroupfit.com / IG: @gritgroupfit
NEW MEMBER OFFER: Try unlimited classes for two weeks for just $36.
By Zoe Harrison / Photo by Tindall Stephens
