There’s a particular kind of magic that happens when Black women create spaces for other Black women to heal, grow and thrive. You feel it in the details, from the curated playlist to the affirming nod from the instructor when your energy starts to fade. You can also feel it in the images on the walls that remind you where you come from and who you are. That’s the magic I felt walking into Spiked Wellness, a Black woman-owned wellness studio nestled in Brooklyn.
The Vibe: Culture in Every Corner
My spin class with Mika, one of Spiked Wellness’ instructors, was my first ever. Truthfully, I don’t think I could’ve asked for a better introduction to indoor cycling. From the moment I walked in, Mika’s kindness grounded me. She wasn’t just welcoming. She was gracious. As someone new to spinning, I felt seen. I didn’t feel sized up or dismissed, but genuinely held in the experience.
The space itself is intimate. It’s small enough to feel personal, but big enough to hold community. The walls don’t whisper motivation. Instead, they shout it through bold images of Black New York icons, like Lil’ Kim, Jay-Z, and Biggie. It’s not just décor. It’s a declaration that this space was made with you in mind.
Then, there’s the music. It wasn’t the generic EDM loops that you may find in mainstream studios. At Spiked, we were spinning to Cardi B, Future, Tinashe, Drake and more. It wasn’t just a playlist. It was a celebration of our sound, our stories and our sweat.
The Visionary: Briana Thompson’s Mission
Spiked Wellness is the vision of Briana Thompson, a powerhouse who founded the studio out of necessity and love. After noticing how inaccessible, unwelcoming and whitewashed many boutique fitness spaces were, Briana set out to create something different. She created a wellness studio that centers Black women’s experiences, bodies and joy.
Her mission is more than fitness, it’s liberation. She’s redefining what wellness can look and feel like for us, reminding Black women that we deserve spaces where we don’t have to shrink, conform or explain ourselves. At Spiked, fitness isn’t about becoming someone else. It’s about returning to yourself.
Not Just a Spin Class: The Power of Culturally Affirming Spaces
In a world where Black women are constantly navigating spaces that weren’t built with them in mind, Spiked Wellness feels radical. It’s not just a cycling class. It’s a safe space. A place where our bodies aren’t exoticized or judged, but celebrated and respected.
The energy in the room was electric, communal, unspoken and deeply affirming. Every beat drop in the music, every call from the instructor, every nod from the woman beside me reminded me that we belong here.
When fitness spaces are culturally affirming, they do more than tone bodies. They tend to the spirit. They remind us we’re not alone in our wellness journeys and make room for us to take up space unapologetically.
Intimacy, Intention, and Impact
Yes, the class was intimate, and that was the point. At Spiked, every small detail is intentional, from the curated playlists to the diversity of instructors and body types. Mika didn’t just lead the class. She held the space with empathy. I didn’t feel like just another student. I felt like a person seen, valued and supported.
That’s the difference. That’s what happens when Black women are in charge of wellness spaces. There’s a cultural shorthand and an emotional fluency that doesn’t need to be explained.
More Than a Studio—A Movement
Spiked Wellness goes beyond spin. With offerings like “Devotion in Motion,” a class set to gospel music, and regular community events, the studio actively nurtures a holistic approach to wellness. It’s not just about burning calories, it’s about building community, reclaiming joy and honoring the full spectrum of Black womanhood.
This is what it means to redefine fitness culture.
I came to Spiked Wellness expecting a workout. However, I got a revelation. I walked out drenched in sweat with a full heart. I felt stronger, not just physically, but emotionally. In that room, surrounded by Black women, moving to the beat of our own stories, I felt free.
This is wellness and healing. This is what it looks like when we create for us.