At 43, Andrew Woods has transformed not only his body, but his entire outlook on health, fitness, and community. After losing nearly 100 pounds, Andrew now spends much of his free time doing what once felt impossible: teaching hot Pilates classes at Sana Yoga and training regularly at Grind Central Fitness. Despite his easygoing and fun spirit, Andrew’s story is one of resilience, reinvention, and learning to feel safe and confident in fitness spaces.
Andrew was raised primarily by a hardworking single mom who juggled multiple jobs and learned early on that opportunities often depended on what transportation or resources were available. Still, he stayed active through sports, competing in track, football, baseball, and basketball, often relying on coaches to get him to and from practice. Track quickly became his standout sport. Andrew excelled in the 100- and 200-meter dash; “I would get bored in races because nobody could beat me,” he said with a laugh.
As he got older, his interests shifted toward music and community. He joined the school band, playing valve trombone, because it allowed him to stay connected to school activities without some of the social pressures he experienced growing up biracial in the South during the 1980s.
After leaving school at 16 and entering the workforce, fitness became inconsistent. At 17, Andrew joined a gym for the first time, but an uncomfortable encounter in the locker room left him feeling unsafe and pushed him away from gyms for years. “I stayed away from the gym after that because I didn’t feel like it was a safe space for me,” he said. “I’m 6’1”, and I still needed to feel safe.”
Eventually, encouragement from friends helped him return to working out in his mid-20s. He trained intensely alongside a roommate who was a professional wrestler, sometimes doing multiple workouts a day, with running and yoga classes mixed in.
Unfortunately, life brought setbacks. A divorce in 2015 led to significant weight gain, and during the pandemic and after the loss of loved ones, Andrew found himself battling depression and gaining another 85 pounds. However, everything changed unexpectedly during an Instacart delivery to Sana Yoga in East Memphis. While dropping off water at the studio, he struck up a conversation with owner Amy Lenkszus, who encouraged him to try classes.
Andrew started slowly with yoga, Pilates, yoga sculpt, and fusion classes. “Some of it was really hard being out of shape,” he admitted. “But I just kept showing up.” Five months later, he added weightlifting at Grind Central Fitness in Olive Branch, and the momentum continued. Today, he teaches Pilates classes at Sana, inspired in part by his favorite instructor, Rachel Cox, who once joked that if he cared that much about playlists, he should become an instructor.
After starting training at Sana, Andrew learned that his love for classes extends beyond the music. “One big driver is that it’s something I never thought would be possible,” he said. “Amy and Margaret at Sana made me believe it was.” Now, his goal is to create the kind of environment he once needed himself for others — one where people feel supported, respected, and motivated, regardless of where they are in their journey. “Even at my most fit, I never looked like the stereotypical fitness guy,” Andrew said. “I want people to know they belong here, too.”
Find Andrew’s schedule at sanayogastudios.com, or follow his journey on Instagram @andrewdoespilates.
By Zoe Harrison
Photo by Tindall Stephens
