Deanna Robinson, a health and wellness advocate and professional based in the Washington, D.C. area, has been helping black and brown women achieve their fitness goals for over a decade. And with her brand of self-love and confidence, she’s redefining exactly what “fit” means when it comes to women of all shapes and sizes.
Women like Robinson are definitely needed, especially since recent research shows that between 47% and 55% of Black consumers’ needs are “not being met” in the wellness space, and the US fitness industry hit $32 billion last year and it is. important for black women to see themselves prominently in space.
As a health and wellness programming expert, licensed nutritionist, mom, wife and former all-women’s gym owner, Robinson has built a wealth of experience that has culminated in doing something she loves with the FabBody Retreat, an experience for women in their 30s. -60 will be enriched by group activities, good food and connection in the background of tropical peace and tranquility.
This year’s retreat took place in Grenada, with special guest and TV host icon Free Marie (BET’s 106 & Park). Next year’s event will be held in St. Maarten with many opportunities to enjoy beach vibes, authentic and healthy dishes, and all the pleasures of being among other fabulous black women seeking holistic wellness in paradise.
“My God-given purpose is to help serve, connect and heal black and brown women,” she said, drawing on her experiences serving corporate and individual clients through projects like the NFL’s “Fuel Up To Play 60” initiative and the Nike Training Club . to live an experience, to do just that.
xoNecole caught up with her to talk about why she chose the fitness industry, her success in launching and running FabBody Factory, and how she pivoted to use her skills to build impact on a larger scale in health and wellness.
xoNecole: What sparked your interest in a career in health and wellness?
Deanna Robinson: I have always been involved in sports, always active in cheerleading, dance, [and] gymnastics In my college career, I was a competitive cheerleader at the University of Maryland, College Park, and I have always been passionate about physical activity, health and fitness. I double majored in kinesiology and public and community health, and have always had a passion for the well-being of others.
Out of college, I wanted to be a personal trainer, and I interviewed at a large chain gym. I was really excited about getting this job, but when I had the interview, they informed me what the split was, what the client paid, what I would get as a personal trainer, and what the gym got. And I just thought it was a ridiculous split. I’ve also always been into entrepreneurship and doing things on my own terms, so I actually opened my own gym in the community I grew up in called FabBody Factory, an all-female gym in Upper Marlboro, Maryland.
I was able to hire multiple trainers, offer group classes and personal training, and one of the things I’ve always been a big proponent of is making sure they got a better cut than they would at bigger chains.
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xoN: Talk a little more about starting a gym, especially one that caters to women. What was the process and motivation?
DR: I’ve worked out in big gyms before and just never felt comfortable. It was always really uncomfortable working out in a huge gym where men would stare at you or try to get your number when you’re trying to focus on yourself in that moment. So I always wanted the FabBody Factory to be a safe haven where we didn’t have to worry about our cites falling when we do jumping jacks, it was just for us by us, and we could just. [be] comfortable making ourselves a priority.
I was almost told not to do something like that because people would say, “You’re cutting off half your potential clientele,” but I never had a problem. Women flocked to the gym, and I would sometimes have to share classes. I may have to do one part of a class one time and two another time. It was mostly successful. Ladies loved it. And besides the fact that this is all women, it was all Black and brown women.
Culturally, we get each other, so it was a big social thing for us as well. We were able to fellowship with each other and become at the same time.
xoN: Your brand includes the concept of ‘Fab Body.’ What does that mean for you—and just well-being—in general, for Black and brown women?
DR: FabBody in itself is not a look at all. It’s more of a mindset and a willingness to invest in your mental, spiritual and physical self. In the promotion of the FabBody Retreat, I actually had someone DM me and ask me, “Do you have to have a ‘Fab Body’ to come on the retreat?” and my answer to her was that you do have a ‘Fab Body.’ Everyone has a Fab Body. It is more of a state of being, healthy, healthy mind, body and spirit. It is not about aesthetics at all but about general improvement.
xoN: You decided to pivot from owning a gym, which you managed successfully for over a decade, to your current role in health and wellness programming and launching the FabBody Retreat. How did this happen?
DR: My gym closed last year, and the reason was because of where I saw myself going and where I wanted to be in the next 10 years. A big part of my time at the gym was selling and getting people to sign up for classes, and it wasn’t as profitable and fulfilling for me as it was in the beginning.
Now I do more consulting with bigger companies. One of my passions is programming, and that’s where I see my future. I’m moving more towards passive income, coming from my power to use the knowledge I have from years in this industry and put together programming that can reach the masses versus individuals.
xoN: What can people expect from the FabBody Retreat next year, and how does this venture continue your love of advocating for health and wellness among black and brown women?
DR: One of the things that really sets this event apart from so many other retreats is that I married everything that is important to me: wellness, my faith, and my community. God is a huge part of all the events we do, and all are intertwined with faith-filled, intentional activities, and I think that makes it different. On Sundays, we have a service on the beach, and we always have a guest speaker that you can relate to, where you don’t feel like you’re being preached to. It is an amazing experience, unlike any retreat I have seen.
It’s definitely rooted in trust, but at the same time there’s a balance. We’ll go up on a boat and have a cocktail with an umbrella in it, and then we’ll go back to wellness. There is a healthy balance.
Find out more about Deanna Robinson via Instagram @deannarobinsonfit and more about the FabBody Retreat via the website.
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