Pride in Wellness: OutWellness

Walking into OutWellness ATX, you get a sense this isn’t a typical gym space. Sure, there’s impeccably clean equipment, that familiar rubber-based flooring that bounces back against you with every step, and brightly painted walls that instantly create a sense of cheer. One wall proudly proclaims “Come as you are” the second you walk inside the door. Further inside the space, a large mural shows bodies of all different sizes and ability levels in motion in the same appealing color scheme of OutWellness’ logo. Everything feels intentional, yet warm and welcoming. This space is the brainchild of Dr. Syd Young, a doctorate plus fellowship trained physical therapist- and to Syd, it’s more than a space with walls and a roof. Movement of bodies under this roof is, in fact, part of a greater movement- one that celebrates the resilience and strength of the LGBTQ+ community.

On paper, OutWellness is a holistic wellness center and gym in South Austin, not far from St. Edward’s University. Clients can benefit greatly from Syd’s years of expertise in multiple physical therapy modalities through one one-on-one sessions tailored to meet the needs of each client based on an extensive intake process. This is in great contrast to most physical therapy practices – patients at most large physical therapy centers can anticipate having their physical therapist working with multiple other clients at once with assistants doing the bulk of direct supervision in many cases. This style of physical therapy has become more commonplace in a world where few medical practices are privately owned small businesses, and large healthcare conglomerates sign the paychecks of PTs who can see 45+ clients in one eight-hour day. This was Syd’s reality when they were fresh out of training, and Syd knew there had to be a better way.

From their home gym years ago, Syd built up a clientele of PT and personal training clients, bypassing the limitations placed on providers by insurance. Dr. Young’s practice is private pay, but a ‘superbill’ can be requested if clients want to process their sessions as an out-of-network claim. This business decision to bypass insurance as a source of incoming revenue is a bold one to anyone practicing in the health and wellness landscape, but is becoming much more visible as many medical practices are converting to a direct payment or concierge business model. And in Dr. Young’s case, it worked. As their clientele grew, Syd looked for a larger space, one that could hold an even much bigger dream- forming a wellness center. Within the last year, OutWellness ATX has opened at their current location on Alpine Road, and business is growing almost as fast as OutWellness’ plans for the future.

Syd has long recognized the lack of welcoming and affirming spaces for the LGBTQ+ community, especially in regards to health and wellness. From intake forms to gendered changing spaces, transgender and nonbinary individuals can be made to feel like an outsider in a workout space before even trying to pick up a dumbbell. But at OutWellness, as the name of the business suggests, being ‘Out’ in this space is a given, if not an outright celebration- not an afterthought. It is the core of the business model, led by a team Syd has brought together that embodies the movement alluded to earlier in ways that reach far beyond the center’s walls. Consider, for instance, one of the most marginalized groups under the LGBTQ+ umbrella- transgender and nonbinary individuals.

People who identify as transgender or nonbinary experience innumerable challenges through the lens of gender dysmorphia- or the feeling that your gender identity and physical body characteristics are not congruent with one another. The fitness industry itself has already been well known to fuel body dysmorphia in cisgendered individuals, so how can a fitness space cater thoughtfully to transgender clientele? OutWellness is celebrating that call to action, recognizing that wellness plays an important role in how people choose to present and what their individualized goals may be during transition. OutWellness’ Instagram page also discusses tailored approaches for physical recovery after gender affirming surgery- something not discussed frequently enough and truly a testament to the wealth of knowledge Dr. Young and the OutWellness ATX team can offer to clients.

Additionally, regularly scheduled group classes including Trans-Masc and Trans-Femme workouts not only create an affirming environment for clients, but Syd’s team tailors exercises to aide in sculpting client’s bodies to achieve more gender affirming results. As their website for the Trans-Femme workout describes, “Here, you’ll find a safe and empowering environment where you can focus on building a feminine physique, increasing confidence, and celebrating your unique journey. Our team is here to support and help you achieve your personal fitness goals and embrace your true self.” And that ‘empowering environment’ comes with one of the most important results- far more important, one would argue, than the increased energy, better sleep, pain relief, and toned muscles that exercise brings- community.