At H2L Studio in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, US, the strong sense of community comes not from shaping a tribe around the identity of the studio, but from being integrated into and reflective of the wider local community – a community that in turn embraces H2L as a place they want to be. 

So says Courtney Farinelli, who manages the family-owned studio alongside her mother-in-law, as she talks with passion about the open-hearted business they’ve built over the last 11 years. 

“It’s hard to quantify something like community,” she explains. “It’s something we can see in the studio every day, but it’s hard to find metrics that do it justice. 

“I could talk about attendance and the fact that our 100+ weekly classes consistently achieve 70 per cent average capacity. I could talk about 756 unique visitors last week. But popularity doesn’t instantly translate into community. Numbers don’t paint the full picture. It’s why I rarely look at the data. I don’t need to. I can see what’s working.” 

Inspiring involvement

She continues: “The fact that some of those 756 individuals came to the studio every day – and that some drive 45 minutes to get here – begins to tell the story. So do all the friendships forged at H2L, with social media full of members away for weekends together having originally met here. We’ve had people get new jobs through our community network, too. We’ve even had a marriage!  

“The popularity of our swag is another clue: I wore my H2L zip-up to the stores the other day and a lady asked me ‘What is this? I’ve seen so many people wearing one today!’ 

Instructor growth reflects the strength of our community. We’re regularly approached by members who want to be more involved.

“But if we really want to find an indicator of the strength of our community, I’d point to our instructor growth.  

“When we opened in April 2015, we had five instructors. We now have 65, of which 20 were added in the past year alone. They aren’t all trying to make a living from it, so we aren’t cutting anyone short: last week we ran 147 classes, with many of our team only leading one or two. But the crucial point is, the growth has all come from our member base. We’re regularly approached by members who tell us they love being at H2L so much that they want to be more involved.  

“We’re incredibly flexible around them, never asking them to commit to more than they’re able to give, which means they’re always excited to be here. And we empower them to bring their ideas. That’s the joy of being family-owned: if someone has an interesting suggestion, we can implement it immediately and see if it works.  

“And it generally does. We’ve created a really friendly place where people want to spend their time. If we put something on the timetable, it tends to fill up. 

“For example, one of our newest instructors – who works with SEN children at a kindergarten down the road – recently organised a sensory-friendly indoor cycling class. It was fantastic, full of children and parents doing the class together.” 

A place to feel good 

And this, for Farinelli, is the point: “We’re for everyone. Our approach to community is to embrace the whole community, sometimes catering for particular audiences with specialist classes, but otherwise welcoming people of all ages and experience levels, teaching to all levels in every class. It means people feel comfortable coming to us whether they’re a teenager or in their 80s.” 

It’s only by diving into the detail of this approach, however, that you fully appreciate the creativity and community understanding behind it. Because while those specialist offerings do include the more predictable line-up of classes for teenagers, beginners and older people – as well as gentler classes for kids aged five to 13, scheduled at the same time as adult classes – they also include free classes for those who can’t afford to pay and dedicated classes for teachers. 

“We want Mechanicsburg’s teachers to have a chance to let off steam and be taught themselves, so they feel re-energised and ready to bring the best out in our children,” says Farinelli.

It’s about connecting with our community and other local businesses in a way that benefits them, us and our members.

With a strapline of Leave feeling better than you come, there’s also a rounded focus not only on physical but also on mental, emotional and spiritual feelgood, she explains. “Fitness is central to what we do, but it doesn’t end there. H2L is about relationships, shared experiences and reinforcing bonds across the community.” 

Local charity fundraisers are a cornerstone of this, with H2L hosting “at least one a month” for a range of different charities. “Right now, we’re organising a fundraiser for one of our instructors, who was recently diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. Our members see our instructors as their friends and the support has been incredible.” 

There’s also a concerted effort to support other small, family-run businesses, from running a class in a newly established local winery to inviting a nearby coffee shop into the studio to sell great coffee to members every Monday. “No money changes hands between H2L and the other businesses. It’s about connecting with the community in a way that benefits them, us and our members.”

The line on this year’s swag sums up how people feel about us. H2L: My happy place.

Friendships beyond fitness 

Creative combinations of activities also play their part, firmly establishing H2L as a go-to destination for Friday night fun. “We have our 6.00am fitness-focused regulars, but it’s on a Friday night that you really see our community vibe in full flow,” says Farinelli.  

“Themed cycle rides are a regular feature, but we also do pop-up bootcamps, Boys at the Barre and Girls’ Nights that combine a workout with another activity: barre + cupcake decorating, pilates + watercolour painting, indoor cycling + making charm bracelets, bootcamp + learning to make beautiful charcuterie boards.  

“We consistently have 40 people in the studio on a Friday night, from those in their 20s to retirees, with typically two to four different activities going on. If that includes a Girls’ Night, we’ll make sure the themed cycle appeals to men so everyone gets involved.” 

Private classes are also increasingly popular. “We’re calling it the 2026 Happy Hour,” says Farinelli, “and there’s been significant uptake from local businesses looking to build bonds among their employees while also contributing to their wellness. We also do lots of birthday parties, bachelorette parties and social get-togethers: a bunch of mums who came to us for ‘gallantines day’ this year, for example. We get a lot of new members by word-of-mouth.” 

And so the H2L community goes from strength to strength, within its walls and by supporting the local community beyond. “I don’t think it’s that complicated,” says Farinelli. “We’ve created a place where people want to be. We listen to what they say and we follow their needs – not just their fitness needs, but the needs of the person as a whole. 

“I think the line on this year’s swag sums up how people feel about us as a result. H2L: My happy place.”  

WATCH: It’s on a Friday night that the community vibe is in full flow at H2L

WATCH: In the H2L community, member milestones are celebrated in style

WATCH: H2L hosts at least one charity fundraiser every month

WATCH: H2L is for everybody, from teenagers to people in their 80s