Exploring Life & Business with Chris Leon of The Fishery Fitness Studio

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Leon.

Hi Chris, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Ever since I was a child I have been fascinated by the body in motion. I loved playing and watching sports, focusing in on the biomechanics of how athletes move. I chose to study Kinesiology and Wellness in college to further my curiosity and love of biomechanics, while also coaching junior Olympic gymnasts at a local gym. I spent my college years soaking up as much information as I could and after graduating my first job was at a private gym that focused on personal training. This gave me the opportunity to work with a diverse clientele, ranging from professional athletes to weekend warriors of all ages and fitness levels, including those rehabbing injuries and those simply trying to stay active. This is where I realized that most people were doing some version of the “right” things to become healthy – working out, eating clean, etc. – but they just couldn’t maintain the long-term results they strived for. As a firm believer in being a lifelong learner, through continued research and hands-on experience, I started building a program that I knew one day I wanted to practice and share in my own gym.

The opportunity to open a private fitness studio became a reality in 2020 when my wife, Rachel, and I opened the Fishery Fitness Studio in downtown Lawrenceville, Georgia. Over the last six years we have had the privilege of working with clients in the greater Atlanta area; specifically in Gwinnett County and downtown Lawrenceville. What a gift it has been to share our passion of living a holistic, healthy lifestyle with our community!

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Running a small business certainly comes with obstacles and challenges. We opened our doors in March of 2020 and two weeks later were told we needed to close due to the pandemic and being a “non-essential” business. How is a fitness studio non-essential, I wondered? Day by day, week by week, we moved forward not knowing what the next day was going to look like. We leaned into virtual classes and programs, while we waited for the world to begin interacting in person again. As the months went on and we were able to start getting clients in the door, that’s when I knew that Lawrenceville was special. So many local people were doing things in unique ways to help each other stay in business. While many of the gyms nationwide closed their doors during the pandemic, some permanently, this community helped me keep my doors open and for that I’m very grateful.

The fitness and wellness industry is also a challenge in and of itself. Being in the fitness industry for over 20years now, I have seen and experienced a lot. There are so many fads, diets, quick fixes, opinions, conflicting research, etc. It can be overwhelming to weed through it all. Our goal is to be a step ahead in new research, while rooted about the foundations of how our body works so we can guide our clients to living their best well rounded, holistic life.

We’ve been impressed with The Fishery Fitness Studio, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
The Fishery Fitness Studio — one of the questions we hear most often is, “What does Fishery have to do with fitness?”
The name actually comes from the word artificery—the workshop of an artificer, a skilled craftsman or artisan. Just as a craftsman carefully designs and refines their work, I approach movement and fitness with the same creativity and attention to detail.

The Fishery is my workshop: a place where I experiment, adapt, and combine fitness equipment in unique ways to create movements tailored to each client’s individual needs. Rather than following a one-size-fits-all approach, every session is thoughtfully crafted to help you move better, feel stronger, and reach your goals. At The Fishery, fitness is part science, part craftsmanship, and always personalized.

We offer personalized training (private and semi-private), practice holistic wellness, and offer a supportive community. Our goal is to not just help you get healthy, but stay healthy. In addition to our training, we have amenities including a HighTech Heath sauna and a Platinum Near Infrared Light that our clients have access to at each training session. At our studio we focus on, and teach, what we call the “Pillars of Wellness”: Breathing, Hydration, Nutrition, Movement, and Rest. When these five pillars are consistently practiced, lasting progress over your lifetime can be maintained and there are no limits to what your body can achieve!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @FisheryFit
• Facebook: /FisheryFitness