Today we’d like to introduce you to Megan Cooper.
Hi Megan, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Back in 2014, I launched Studio ME because I lived the struggle.
I was that former college athlete who had poured everything into tennis, academics, and a dental school track… until my body gave out. Overuse injuries, stress fractures, total burnout. My identity had been wrapped up in performance and achievement, and when that was over, I didn’t know who I was without it.
After college, I dove straight into another high-stress world—moving up the corporate ladder working in a non-profit. I was helping others, sure, but I wasn’t helping myself. Late nights, bad food, partying on the weekends, and absolutely no balance. I felt disconnected, tired all the time, and frankly… lost.
Everything shifted when I walked into a small group fitness studio. I had no idea how much I needed that space. The structure, the sweat, the camaraderie—it started putting the pieces back together. I got stronger. Mentally, emotionally, physically. I didn’t just feel better—I started to feel like me again.
And then, life threw another punch: my sister was diagnosed with Stage IV rectal cancer. That moment shook everything. I realized that I couldn’t support the people I loved if I wasn’t taking care of myself. That early morning workout—often the only hour I had to myself—became sacred. It was therapy. It was fuel. It was survival.
That experience didn’t just change me—it saved me. And it lit a fire. I became a certified trainer, group fitness coach, and—eventually—took a leap and opened Studio ME. Not because I had a grand business plan. I wasn’t an entrepreneur. I didn’t go to business school. I didn’t grow up around small business ownership. But I did have a vision. I had grit. And I was willing to outwork anyone to bring it to life.
Over the past 11 years, I’ve learned what it really takes to run and grow a business from scratch. I’ve made mistakes. I’ve changed course when something wasn’t working. I’ve had to reinvent—especially during COVID, when survival meant completely rethinking how we served our members.
But through it all, I stayed grounded in the same truth: Studio ME isn’t just a gym—it’s me.
It’s personal. It’s purposeful. It’s where I get to show up every day as my authentic self. It’s where I get to help people—especially those who’ve spent years struggling with fitness, nutrition, or pain—rewrite their own story and take back control of their health.
Because if I’ve learned anything, it’s that we’re all capable of more than we think—when we’ve got the right support, a strong plan, and a community that believes in us. That’s what we’re here for. That’s what Studio ME is all about.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Here’s the truth: I didn’t know how to run a business. I thought if I was a great coach, people would just show up. They didn’t.
The first year, I had a business partner. It wasn’t the right fit. We parted ways. Suddenly, I was in it alone—trying to figure out marketing, operations, payroll, everything—on top of coaching. I had no systems. No structure. No playbook.
I was still working my full-time job in nonprofit world, running the gym on the side. I’d wake up at 3:30am, coach at 5am work 8 hours at my job, then come back and coach again at night and on the weekends. That grind lasted two years. I burned the candle at both ends—and sometimes the middle.
Eventually, I brought on employees. But managing a team came with its own learning curve. I made mistakes. I underpaid myself. I overextended myself. I learned how lonely small business ownership can be—especially when every dollar counts, and you’re the one making every decision.
And then came COVID.
We were forced to shut down with no end in sight. No playbook. I pivoted hard—took the entire business virtual within 24 hours. I taught classes and worked with private clients from my living room and so did my team. I delivered equipment to doorsteps. I did what I had to do.
But the struggles didn’t stop there. We were in a tiny space with strict capacity limits. Group classes, the heart of our community, couldn’t come back. I had to eliminate programs, terminate a lease early (and pay the penalty), and rework the business model from the ground up. If we hadn’t made that move when we did, Studio ME wouldn’t have survived.
We moved into our current space when things were still shut down. People were hesitant to return to gyms. We had to rebuild trust, rebuild cash flow, rebuild everything. Some days I wasn’t sure how we were going to make it.
But we did.
And we kept evolving. We doubled down on what made us different—pain-free strength training that supports real life. I brought on a physical therapist to deepen that focus. And now, we’re expanding—adding 3,500 square feet to serve more people who are ready to take control of their health.
Studio ME isn’t just a gym. It’s every lesson I’ve learned the hard way. Every 3:30am alarm. Every pivot. Every scary decision. Every breakthrough.
It’s not shiny. It’s not perfect. But it’s real. It’s resilient. And it’s proof that with enough grit, heart, and support—you can rewrite your story.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Studio ME Fitness is a boutique gym and physical therapy clinic in Northeast Minneapolis that helps busy adults—especially those 35 and older—take back control of their health so they’re never held back by injury, aging, or burnout again.
We specialize in pain-free strength training, customized coaching, and supportive community. What we’re really known for is meeting people exactly where they are—whether they’ve been sidelined by injury, overwhelmed by life, or burned out from trying all the “quick fix” programs that don’t stick. Our hybrid model blends fitness, nutrition, and physical therapy to build lifelong strength—not just short-term results.
We’re not trying to be the biggest gym—we’re built to be the most personal. Sessions are appointment-based and capped so coaches can actually coach, not just count reps. Our training is smart, intentional, and centered around helping people move and feel better in real life.
Brand-wise, we’re most proud of the trust our members place in us. Many come in with years of frustration or fear around movement—and within months, they’re lifting, running, hiking, or just living pain-free again. That’s everything!
What sets us apart? We don’t do fitness fads. We don’t let people fall through the cracks. And we’re unapologetically ourselves—approachable, human, and focused on real impact. Studio ME isn’t just a gym. It’s a place to rewrite your story—with support every step of the way.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
That being great at your craft isn’t enough—you have to learn how to run a business if you want to actually keep doing what you love.
When I started Studio ME, I thought coaching skill and passion would carry me. But I quickly learned that if you don’t understand marketing, leadership, systems, and cash flow—you’re going to burn out or bottom out. I’ve had to learn all of that the hard way and with coaching.
You have to be willing to evolve. What worked last year—or even last month—might not work now. COVID forced me to pivot fast, but in hindsight, that ability to adapt has been one of the biggest keys to survival. Stay true to your mission, yes—but don’t cling to the method.
Running a business is humbling. But it’s also empowering. You learn what you’re made of. And you realize that “figuring it out as you go” is a skill in itself.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.studiomefitness.com/
- Instagram: studiome_fitness
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/studioMEfitness/
