When Natali Zollinger opened Rize Training Studio in 2023, she wanted a place where people could stay strong, get healthy, and support local entrepreneurs.
“I knew that if I wanted to create more opportunities for movement in the community and grow my business, I needed to find another location,” said Zollinger.
Zollinger recently opened a second location at 160 East 100 South in mid-November, offering mobility- and strength-focused exercise classes in a co-ed space accessible to all fitness levels.
Nearly two years after the flagship studio opened, Rize’s expanded space has provided coaches and members with more room and greater scheduling flexibility, ultimately allowing the studio to offer more classes. The additional space also allows the studio to host Pilates reformer classes, which have seen rapid growth in popularity worldwide in recent years.
Zollinger, a professional whitewater stand-up paddle athlete, knows firsthand the importance of strength, mobility, and injury prevention when it comes to movement. The original Rize Training Studio emphasized strength training and weight lifting, while also offering lower-impact options such as yoga, mat Pilates, and reformer-based classes.
As the business grew, so did demand for additional classes, particularly during prime time slots such as early mornings and evenings.
“I was in a position where I couldn’t offer all of the classes I wanted to, and I also had to choose which coaches would get the most popular time slots,” Zollinger said. “When I looked at the numbers, it became clear that strength training and Pilates were the most popular classes. I was surprised by just how much demand there was for Pilates — especially reformer classes, which were consistently filling up.”
Zollinger said the growing interest in Pilates reflects a broader shift toward low-impact, strength-based movement focused on longevity and injury prevention — an approach that resonates in a community where many residents balance physically demanding work and outdoor recreation.
Many of the coaches at the studio share that balance, including reformer instructor Pamela Shanti Pack, a professional climber.
“Pamela’s climbing and Pilates experience, combined with my background in paddling and strength training, has allowed us to respect and honor each other’s skill sets while partnering to bring reformer Pilates to Moab at scale,” Zollinger said.
No stranger to supporting the community or understanding the nuances of employment in Moab, Zollinger found herself at an intersection — wanting to give her clients more of what they were asking for while also ensuring her coaches had greater opportunities, all within a sustainable business model.
She has long supported operations at 98 Center and Sabaku Sushi, both owned by her husband, Alex Borichevsky, and brings experience managing employee engagement and growth.
“I want my coaches to have career opportunities that can sometimes be hard to come by in rural America,” Zollinger said. “I’m creating a step-by-step process for coaches to become certified in the modalities we offer, along with opportunities for continuing education.”
Knowing she wanted to invest in the professional development of her staff, Zollinger turned to the Utah System of Higher Education, which partners with the Custom Fit program through funding from the Utah State Legislature. Custom Fit provides employee training support to for-profit companies to help develop talent and grow businesses, according to the Utah System of Higher Education’s website.
With upfront funding through the program, Zollinger said she has been able to offer career-development opportunities for her coaches while also expanding her business with assistance from the state of Utah.
Looking ahead, Zollinger said she is excited to continue expanding programming — including more offerings designed for men who may be less drawn to traditional group fitness environments.
“Not everyone connects with group exercise in the same way,” she said. “I want to create more opportunities for men who prefer a different approach to training, while still benefiting from strength, mobility, and injury-prevention work.”
Rize Training Studio Moab’s second location hosts classes seven days a week in the fully renovated former Wabi Sabi building. Outfitted with new equipment, the two connected suites create a modern, big-city atmosphere inspired by Zollinger’s sister, artist Holli Zollinger.
“Texture, color, light, and natural elements like wood all play a role,” Zollinger said. “You can’t always name the feeling, but you feel it right away — a space that feels safe, supportive, and grounding.”
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