Love2Live 4 H.E.R. – Female-only gym opens July 1, led by fitness gurus and co-owners Rico Sorrell and Tra Collins

Published 10:16 pm Friday, June 23, 2017

Love2Live Fitness 4 H.E.R. will focus on health, endurance and resilience.

The female-only gym opens July 1 in the 7,200 square foot space next to Dirt Cheap that was previously leased by Jump-n-Jive, which moved next to Poppa’s Fish House.

Fitness gurus Tra Collins and Rico Sorrell are partnering on the project that will bring cardio, weight training, meal planning and bootcamp classes to their clients.

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A grand opening will be held July 1 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Collins started Love2Live earlier this year, hosting bootcamp classes for a few women at first. Word spread and classes grew while the participants shrank in size. Collins moved to a larger venue several times. He started at the Bi-Centennial Building then moved to the Teen Center by Alexander Jr. High. Then he took took advantage of the opportunity to join with Sorrell to create the Love2Live Fitness Center for H.E.R.

What sets their gym apart from others, they said, is the accountability factor.

“People need to be held accountable,” Collins said.

So if their clients start slacking and missing class, they will find out why. If someone misses a class, they’ll call or email. After several unexcused absences, they’ll meet one-on-one to encourage participation.

“You hire us to do a job, we’re going to do the job,” he said.

The Love2Live gym is an excuse-free zone that’s set up exclusively for women. Collins said so often women take care of their employers, their husbands and their children, but lose themselves in the process. They offer a holistic approach to mind, body and soul through healthy choices.

“You can’t be scattered all over your life and be productive,” Collins said.

He and Sorrell take away the need for excuses.

Some women say they don’t have time, so Love2Live has extended hours. They’re open 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and  noon to 6 p.m.

Some women complain they don’t have time to cook healthy, so Collins and Sorrell can help create meal plans.

Some don’t have the stamina to exercise, so they create a workout program that is doable and give them encouragement to push harder.

Many women said they don’t have anyone to watch their children so can’t join the gym. Collins and Sorrell incorporated a chaperoned kids’ area into the gym so the children can participate in age-appropriate activities and work on homework while their moms exercise.

The program is designed to allow participants to meet success. “You will achieve your goal,” Collins said.

One of his students, Jennifer Howard, got so involved in her exercise classes that she became part of the Love2Live team. She said Collins is s great encourager and accountability coach.

“He sees the best in people, even when you can’t see it in yourself,” she said. “It’s been significant in people’s lives.”

Sorrell, a personal trainers who owns Endurance gym at East Court and North Railroad streets, believed in Collins’ dream of a healthier Brookhaven. He wanted to be part of it.

“We’re trying to provide a healthy community,” Sorrell said.

For more information, call 601-397-7064 or email love2livewhole@gmail.com.

Memberships start at $29.95.