Natali Zollinger has been an athlete all her life. Growing up as the youngest of 11 kids, she’s always loved being on a team, with coaches and mentors pushing her to be the best she can be. Whether she was playing water polo, soccer, or rugby, the power of movement was instilled in her from a young age and continues to this day — and now she’s bringing that mindset to the Moab community.
Rize Training Studio opened in March at 350 S 400 E. Rize is part of what Zollinger has dubbed “The Yard,” a collection of four businesses that form a wellness hub on Moab’s “Local’s Main Street.” Zollinger, who had wanted to open a studio for some time, jumped at the chance to lease the two side-by-side buildings, and sublets to businesses that she has handpicked to form a cohesive wellness corridor — Más Cafe, Breathe Skin Care & Esthetics, and Lotus Massage & Astrology.
This unique collective is a perfect encapsulation of Zollinger’s drive to create community wherever she goes. She first came to Moab 20 years ago as a seasonal raft guide. In 2009, she met her husband, Alex Borichevsky, a fellow raft guide who was starting a sushi restaurant in town with his business partner Frankie Winfrey. The two of them moved to Moab full time, and she worked at Sabaku Sushi and then later managed 98 Center, Borichevsky and Winfrey’s second project. At this time, Zollinger herself was discovering new passions, competing for the paddle-sport company Badfish in whitewater paddle boarding and river surfing, a pursuit she continues to this day.
In 2015, when a server at Sabaku Sushi mentioned going to a spin class at the South Town Gym, Zollinger checked it out, and was instantly hooked on the pumping music and energy. She began coaching the class, and eventually purchased the business “Crunch Club” in 2022 from the previous owner who was moving out of town – it was rebranded as Beats Cycle.
After renting a space in the back of South Town Gym for a couple of years, Zollinger knew that she needed her own space to truly succeed. That’s when she set her sights on the location of the current studio, a building that had cycled through many businesses but always felt, to Zollinger, like a perfect local’s spot.
Zollinger has transformed the modest-sized studio into Rize Training Studio, a fitness haven complete with blackout curtains, mood lighting, and a speaker system that could kick anyone into high gear. In 60 seconds, the room can transform from a sun-washed space to a night-club vibe as the bikes take center stage, and then back to warm lighting and calming music to set the mood for a yoga class.
Rize’s bread and butter is functional mobility and strength. Zollinger has pulled in personal trainers and coaches from around town who were teaching one-off classes in various locations, bringing them all together under one roof to offer members a schedule packed with variety.
Classes range from choreographed cardio routines on stationary bikes, to yoga, conditioning, kettlebell workouts, Pilates, and kickboxing. Two unique offerings include Animal Flow (ground-based movement designed to improve strength, mobility, and power) and Yamuna Body Rolling (using textured balls to release tension).
“Wize Warrior” classes cater to attendees 50 and older, offering tailored exercises that focus on longevity, mobility, and strength. Rize also offers one-on-one personal training for those looking to take their fitness goals to the next level.
All of the classes max out at 8-12 people, offering an intimate setting and allowing attendees to receive personalized instruction throughout the class. Rize emphasizes form, mobility, and strength, helping clients build muscle and improve bone density at any stage of life.
“Everyone can train,” Zollinger says. “You don’t have to be an athlete. You’re training for life, you’re training to be a better person, you’re training to be there for your grandkids.”
Zollinger hopes that anyone can find value at Rize, whether they’re someone who’s just starting their fitness journey or an outdoor enthusiast who usually gets their kicks in nature.
“I hope that people feel comfortable. I hope that people see results,” she says. “I hope that people listen to their bodies and focus on being here to really slow things down and focus on form. When you’re in here, it’s a new chapter of your fitness. Maybe you’re going to explore different movements, try new things, meet new people — we hope that, in here, we’re supplementing what you do out there.”
On the wall of the studio is Rize’s logo, a combination of an arrow and a raven feather, the backdrop to all the movement that happens in that space. The name “Rize” is a nod to Zollinger’s older brother, Ryan, who passed away in a car accident when she was 14.
“He was a shining light… when you were around him, you just felt better. You felt like you could do more,” Zollinger says. “That’s what I want to do — I want to be like him, to live the life that he wouldn’t get to live.”
Channeling Ryan’s spirit, she’s spent her life seeking to empower those around her — and this latest endeavor lets her bring that gift to the Moab community.
Those interested can find a full schedule and pricing at rizemoab.com. Locals get a first class free to sample anything on the jam-packed schedule.
