Owner Justin Keane opened Woodshed Strength & Conditioning 17 years ago because joining a gym changed his life, and he wanted to give someone else the same opportunity he had.
In 2007, Justin joined a local CrossFit gym, and after two years, he developed and transformed his understanding of what fitness could do for a person, not just physically, but also in terms of autonomy, confidence, and community. He’d spent years before that running operations and customer service for small local businesses, and he knew how to take care of people. So opening a gym felt like the right step.
Today, Woodshed Strength & Conditioning is exactly what Justin set out to build: a place where members don’t just train, they can push themselves to become better. Where coaching is not an afterthought, consistency matters more than extremes, and a members’ progress, no matter how big or small, is still priceless.
We sat down with Justin to talk about what keeps him going after nearly two decades, what he’d tell someone just starting out or hitting a wall, and why the most valuable thing in this business might just be finding someone who’s already been through it.
How long have you been a gym owner?
17 years.
Why did you decide to open a gym?
Being a member at CrossFit Boston from 2007 to 2009 changed my life, how I viewed fitness, agency, and helping others. I wanted to do for others what CFB had done for me
What was your job prior to being a gym owner?
I ran operations and customer service for two small local businesses.
How has your life changed since you became a gym owner?
I have come to understand, beyond the shadow of any doubt, that 45+45=135, not 90.
What do you love about being a gym owner?
Being able to play a part in helping folks connect their physical and emotional well-being. When someone tells me they feel like a different person…man, that is the best.
What’s your biggest pet peeve as a gym owner?
Dropped deadlifts. Nothing is a close second.
What’s your most memorable moment as a gym owner/coach?
More than once, I have been brought to tears watching someone do something they didn’t think they could. I’m a Celtics fan, and that always makes me think of Kevin Garnett screaming “Anything is possiblllllle!” after they won in 2008.
What’s something people would be surprised to know about you?
NEVER EVER NOT ONCE IN 17 YEARS HAVE I DONE THIS: criticize what’s in your grocery cart if we run into each other at the supermarket. (Small town life.)
What’s your favorite part of being a Kilo gym?
The customer service.
When you are consistently treated with kindness and good cheer, no matter how many questions you throw the support team’s way (including ones I probably could have solved myself via the knowledge base)…that adds up.
The best people are at Kilo. The best.
What advice would you give someone opening a gym for the first time? Or somebody going through a slump?
Find folks who have walked the walk and talk to them, mentors, other gym owners, and small business friends.
As with most professions, I’d imagine, there are some pretty unique experiences and feelings when it comes to owning a small gym, and sometimes simply hearing “this too shall pass” from someone who’s seen it pass is worth its weight in… barbells.
