Our Twisted Studio
“Just know you’re not alone,
‘Cause I’m going to make this place your home.”
~ Phillip Phillips ~
Studio Rio’s Twisted Fitness, a women-only gym, was conceived by Deborah “Rio” Douglas, a former award winning professional Go-Go Dancer who sought to share the incredible workout methods she experienced while dancing on the stages of Hampton Roads. Recognizing the physical, mental, and emotional benefits gained through the sexy, empowering moves in her choreography, Rio took a leap of faith and launched Studio Rio in August 2005.
Offering both pole and dance-based fitness classes, Studio Rio was the first of its kind in the region and quickly gained a following for its unique approach to exercise. It was also unique as it was a gym open only to women (ages 18+), which turned out to be a niche hungry for a home. Studio Rio was designed to be a supportive, non-competitive, and non-judgmental workout environment, allowing women to quickly shed their inhibitions and develop confidence. Women found a place they could sweat without fear while reshaping their bodies and self-esteem, and we are proud to say that still holds true today — they even write about it on our walls!
As the Studio grew in popularity there was a demand for more classes, more services, and more poles, leading to an expansion of the building and the addition of the name Twisted Fitness to the brand. What resulted was a huge, beautiful, well-appointed space that doesn’t look or feel like a typical gym. As the Studio developed, Rio paid special attention to the particular wants and needs of women-working-out, adding details and amenities that most gyms would never even think to offer, including:
♥ Two lit parking lots, in front of and behind the building, in full view of a busy boulevard
♥ Dressing Room and Bathroom with lockers, blow dryers, curling irons, private changing space, and ample mirrors
♥ Pole Room with 14 powder-coated poles and wall-to-wall full-length mirrors. **(Please bring your own bottle of rubbing alcohol and towel to wipe off poles between uses.)**
♥ Fitness Room (newly renovated in 2019) with cushioned dance floor, wall-to-wall full-length mirrors, and ballet barre
♥ Did we mention mirrors, mirrors everywhere?!
♥ Blacklights in the Pole and Fitness Rooms because – wow, they make you look amazing in all those mirrors!
♥ Private Pole Practice Room where Members can practice before and after classes
♥ Cardio Room equipped with a treadmill, bike, elliptical machine, and TV.
♥ Cozy Lounge area where you can chill with your friends.
♥ Gallery Hangout where you can relax and also discreetly observe classes in session
♥ State-of-the-art sound systems in the Pole and Fitness Rooms
♥ Creatively designed exercises and classes, many of which are unique and will not be found anywhere else. They are also specifically aimed at enhancing the female form and strengths, and instilling body confidence.
♥ Classes available 6 days a week at times convenient to most busy women’s schedules
♥ Over 45 different Class and Workshop options so you’ll never get bored
♥ Private Party options for a unique way to celebrate with your besties
♥ Multiple Pricing plans to fit every budget, plus options for our Active Duty Military gals
♥ Over 60 combined years of experience from our awesome Instructors
♥ A gym full of amazing women like yourself, made up of all shapes, sizes, ages, races, backgrounds, and fitness levels
♥ Bottled water, snacks, Dry Hands, and fun stuff available for purchase
♥ And of course, super cute Twisted Fitness branded clothing
Just like the beautiful women who have made this place their home-away-from-home, the future holds endless possibilities for our Studio, and we will never stop growing and trying to make each day better than the last.
We are located in Virginia Beach right off the interstate, and we are close to many major cities in southeastern Virginia such as Chesapeake, Norfolk, Hampton, Suffolk, Portsmouth, and Newport News. We are even less than an hour from Williamsburg, Virginia, and Elizabeth City, North Carolina! Please stop by and visit us – we look forward to dancing with you!
Studio Rio’s Twisted Fitness, a women-only gym, was conceived by Deborah “Rio” Douglas, a former award winning professional Go-Go Dancer who sought to share the incredible workout methods she experienced while dancing on the stages of Hampton Roads. Recognizing the physical, mental, and emotional benefits gained through the sexy, empowering moves in her choreography, Rio took a leap of faith and launched Studio Rio in August 2005.
Offering both pole and dance-based fitness classes, Studio Rio was the first of its kind in the region and quickly gained a following for its unique approach to exercise. It was also unique as it was a gym open only to women (ages 18+), which turned out to be a niche hungry for a home. Studio Rio was designed to be a supportive, non-competitive, and non-judgmental workout environment, allowing women to quickly shed their inhibitions and develop confidence. Women found a place they could sweat without fear while reshaping their bodies and self-esteem, and we are proud to say that still holds true today — they even write about it on our walls!
As the Studio grew in popularity there was a demand for more classes, more services, and more poles, leading to an expansion of the building and the addition of the name Twisted Fitness to the brand. What resulted was a huge, beautiful, well-appointed space that doesn’t look or feel like a typical gym. As the Studio developed, Rio paid special attention to the particular wants and needs of women-working-out, adding details and amenities that most gyms would never even think to offer, including:
♥ Two lit parking lots, in front of and behind the building, in full view of a busy boulevard
♥ Dressing Room and Bathroom with lockers, blow dryers, curling irons, private changing space, and ample mirrors
♥ Pole Room with 14 powder-coated poles and wall-to-wall full-length mirrors. **(Please bring your own bottle of rubbing alcohol and towel to wipe off poles between uses.)**
♥ Fitness Room with cushioned dance floor, wall-to-wall full-length mirrors, and ballet barre
♥ Did we mention mirrors, mirrors everywhere?!
♥ Blacklights in the Pole and Fitness Rooms because – wow, they make you look amazing in all those mirrors!
♥ Private Pole Practice Room where Members can practice before and after classes
♥ Cardio Room with a treadmill, bike, elliptical machine, and TV.
♥ Cozy Lounge area where you can chill with your friends.
♥ Gallery Hangout where you can relax and also discreetly observe classes in session
♥ State-of-the-art sound systems in the Pole and Fitness Rooms
♥ Creatively designed exercises and classes, many of which are unique and will not be found anywhere else. They are also specifically aimed at enhancing the female form and strengths, and instilling body confidence.
♥ Classes available 6 days a week at times convenient to most busy women’s schedules
♥ Over 45 different Class and Workshop options so you’ll never get bored
♥ Private Party options for a unique way to celebrate with your besties
♥ Multiple Pricing plans to fit every budget, plus options for our Active Duty Military gals
♥ Over 60 combined years of experience from our awesome Instructors
♥ A gym full of amazing women like yourself, made up of all shapes, sizes, ages, races, backgrounds, and fitness levels
♥ Bottled water, snacks, Dry Hands, and fun stuff available for purchase
♥ And of course, super cute Twisted Fitness branded clothing
Just like the beautiful women who have made this place their home-away-from-home, the future holds endless possibilities for our Studio, and we will never stop growing and trying to make each day better than the last.
We are located in Virginia Beach right off the interstate, and we are close to many major cities in southeastern Virginia such as Chesapeake, Norfolk, Hampton, Suffolk, Portsmouth, and Newport News. We are even less than an hour from Williamsburg, Virginia, and Elizabeth City, North Carolina! Please stop by and visit us – we look forward to dancing with you!