Latest Guides

Business News

Black Business Month Profile: While Gyms Closed and Industry Suffered, Aion Training Flourished During Pandemic

Published on Monday, August 29, 2022 | 5:00 am
 

Pasadena resident Marcus McDuffie founded Aion Training. [Courtesy photo]
While other gyms and fitness centers were shutting down during the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, Pasadena resident Marcus McDuffie’s Aion Training, a gym which specializes in helping people 40 years old and above get in shape, was buzzing with activity. 

Speaking to Pasadena Now, McDuffie said when he opened Aion Training in 2019, he was just subleasing. In 2020, he opened up a new studio while many businesses were closing down and struggling to recover from the pandemic.

“My business actually grew a bunch during the pandemic, even though I was in the industry that was largely affected.” 

“[I am] absolutely blessed and honored to have a space and a place where people can come and connect and take care of themselves and then just for like a little bit escape some of the other stressors of life.” 

A black man who grew up in Riverside, California, McDuffie played football at Occidental College, where he studied pharmacy. 

Later on, he realized he wasn’t interested in pharmacy but in changing normal people’s lives through fitness.

“It’s a lot more rewarding and fulfilling for us to help that person get off the ground that’s struggling, to help that person feel more confident in their clothes when they have it, to help that person de-stress from their day job.” 

“To help that person be a more playful grandma or grandpa with their grandkids instead of the granny that sits on the couch all day.” 

Aion Training

Aion Training, located on East Colorado Boulevard, offers various programs customized for people 40 and older including semi-private personal training, cardio-based Gauntlet sessions and Strength Camp Program. All these programs ensure that members could reach and maintain their fitness goals “injury-free.” 

McDuffie, who brought his experiences from his previous football training to his new endeavor, said through Aion Training he and his team helps people get out of pain and become more confident. 

“Aion is built on getting people out of pain. Whether that be like physical pain, whether that be emotional pain or not feeling comfortable in their bodies, whatever it may be. It’s all about getting people out of pain.” 

Because the gym specializes in working with people 40 plus, McDuffie said Aion Training’s staff are keeping the place extremely sanitized all the time to prevent COVID transmission and to make sure everyone feels protected.

Aion Training cuts down the session size as well to maintain physical distancing. 

 “As black business owners, it’s always going to be a little bit tougher with access to things.” 

Despite the success he has been achieving since he opened Aion Training three years ago, McDuffie believes more could be done to help black owned businesses emerge stronger from the pandemic.

He claimed that black business owners still face difficulty in getting access to available programs and services.

“How you’re perceived in the city is another thing, there’s extra stressors and extra things you have to think about that maybe other people don’t.” 

McDuffie believes there should be more resources available for black business owners so they could learn more about programs and services that they can access. 

“I would love for there to be more resources for black businesses to go to learn more about the city. I graduated in the class of 2020 of Leadership Pasadena cohort and that was an awesome way to learn more about the city, everything that’s available, and how to make those connections,” McDuffie added. 

McDuffie expressed hopes that black men and women will get inspired with his story and will be able to start their own business in Pasadena and achieve success in the future. 

To know more about Aion Training, visit: https://www.aiontraining.com

Get our daily Pasadena newspaper in your email box. Free.

Get all the latest Pasadena news, more than 10 fresh stories daily, 7 days a week at 7 a.m.

Make a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

 

 

 

buy ivermectin online
buy modafinil online
buy clomid online
buy ivermectin online