Courtesy Photo/Rise Up Fitness Center
For many fitness-minded people in Craig, Rise Up Fitness Center is more than a place to work out. It is a gathering space, a support system and a conduit toward both mental and physical well-being. That identity did not happen by accident. Instead, it is the result of years of intentional evolution, stewardship and the lived experience of owner Shasta Hyer, whose personal fitness journey closely mirrors the gym’s growth into a community hub.
Hyer’s path into fitness began long before she ever stepped into a CrossFit-style gym. Her foundation was built in martial arts, a discipline rooted in consistency, structure and respect for the body. For seven years, she trained and helped teach at Paul Cruz’s martial arts school, working side by side with him while developing her physical strength and a deep sense of responsibility toward students and fellow instructors.
As she approached testing for her black belt, Hyer realized something was missing from her training. While martial arts provided skill, agility and focus, she wanted more cardiovascular conditioning and strength work to support her performance and health. That search led her, and her husband Trevor, into the functional fitness world, first at another local gym and eventually to Lins FITT.
By that time, Lins FITT had already established itself as a place that focused on what Hyer described as “quality movement instead of ego-driven workouts.” Hyer said the attention to form and mechanics stood out to her immediately. She also appreciated the fact that the Lins FITT coaches didn’t push people to lift as heavy as possible or as fast as possible, instead prioritizing how bodies function and how to keep members healthy long term.
After a year or two as a member, Hyer was invited to join the coaching staff. Coaching felt like a natural extension of her background in martial arts instruction. Teaching, supporting proper movement and helping people grow were already familiar roles. Over time, she became more deeply invested in the gym and its members, many of whom were showing up for different reasons but finding connection with themselves and others once they walked through the doors.
“People come in for different reasons,” Hyer said. “They want to lose weight or they want to get stronger. They have a goal they’re working toward, but what keeps them is the community.”
That sense of community would become even more important during a pivotal moment in the gym’s history, when former owner Travis Linsacum called a meeting with the coaching staff and announced he was planning to sell. By then, Hyer and another coach had discussed the possibility of ownership if the opportunity arose.
When Linsacum opened that door, Hyer and her husband stepped forward. Following the purchase, they renamed it Rise Up Fitness Center.
The decision was not made lightly, and Hyer said that owning a gym is very different from coaching classes. While she had leadership and coaching experience from her time in martial arts, and as a coach at Lins FITT, the responsibility of running a business was a new challenge. Despite that fact, the transition felt right.
Hyer credits the smooth changeover in ownership to the strength of the existing coaching team and the foundation Linsacum had built. While the gym’s philosophy remained rooted in functional fitness, some other areas shifted slightly under Hyer’s ownership.
The gym began moving away from a heavy emphasis on competition and performance, instead fostering an approach centered on longevity and sustainability. She describes it as training for aging bodies rather than training to win competitions, with the ultimate goal being to help members move well, sleep better, eat better and feel stronger in everyday life.
That philosophy resonated well in a community like Craig where physical labor, economic uncertainty and stress are common realities of life. As the town navigates changes tied to coal mines and power plants, Hyer sees firsthand how fitness can provide stability and relief.
“People are carrying a lot right now,” she said. “Coming into the gym, getting that dopamine boost, moving your body, it all helps with stress and anxiety. It gives people a place to feel supported.”
Support is not just something Rise Up offers its members — it is a key component of the gym’s culture among coaches as well. Hyer speaks often about the team that stands beside her including Nick Craig, Heather Higgins, Lexi Caudell and Melissa Peterson. Each coach brings a different perspective and skill set, creating a balanced environment and offering members a wide range of coaching approaches.
Hyer said that her husband Trevor is her biggest supporter. While he generally prefers to stay behind the scenes rather than coach, Hyer spoke to the vital role he plays in keeping the gym running and providing her, as well as members, with steady encouragement.
For Hyer, the combined strength of community and fitness is deeply personal. When Paul Cruz passed away, the loss was devastating for her and many others. Cruz was not only a mentor but a close friend. As a result, the grief of his passing made even daily routines difficult. It was the gym community that helped her through that period, with coaches bringing her in for one-on-one workouts and members offering warmth and familiarity when she was ready to return to group classes.
“That community wrapped their arms around me,” she said. “If I hadn’t had that, things would have been very different.”
Becky Smith, a Craig resident and Hayden middle school teacher, said Rise Up provides her with a “release” after long days as well as a fitness family.
“I know when I walk in the door I will be greeted with smiles,” she said. “I never feel discouraged when I can’t do a movement that someone else can. We are all at different levels and each of us has to modify in one way or another.”
Smith emphasized that the gym doesn’t have an atmosphere solely focused on gaining muscle mass.
“There are people that jiggle, people that can’t jump or run, people who have never worked out before and people who have been active their whole lives,” Smith said. “It’s a diverse community of people who all want the same thing, healthy bodies. The best part is that Shasta and her team make this gym a home.”
As the calendar turns toward a new year, Rise Up typically sees an influx of people motivated by resolutions. Hyer understands why so many struggle to maintain those goals and believes success comes from keeping things simple.
Group classes, she said, offer structure, accountability and guidance for people who may feel overwhelmed or unsure in a gym setting.
“Getting through the door is the first win,” Hyer said. “Then make small goals and don’t overwhelm yourself.”
That message aligns closely with the gym’s broader philosophy. Progress does not have to be dramatic to be meaningful. Consistency, patience and support matter more than perfection.
Rise Up Fitness Center won the first-place award for best gym in the 2025 Best of Moffat County awards, while Hyer was also voted best trainer. She credited both honors to the continued support of the community. Looking ahead, she hopes to expand the gym’s offerings by creating a space that balances group classes with a more traditional open gym layout. For now, those plans are shaped by the broader economic climate of Craig and the needs of the community.
In the meantime, Rise Up continues to do what it has always done best by bringing people together, helping them move better and reminding them they are not alone. Under Hyer’s leadership, the gym has continued to grow as a place of resilience, connection and belonging — a foundation that may be the most powerful resolution of all.
For more information on Rise Up Fitness Center, visit Facebook.com/p/Rise-Up-Fitness-Center-61557346714329 or call 970-620-3405
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