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Black Fitness Professionals You Need to Know

Whether yoga, HIIT, or twerking is your thing, these ladies will inspire you to get moving.

For years, the fitness industry has capitalized on our cultureโ€™s obsession with being thin. But there are some amazing black fitness trainers out there who are looking to change the game and make fitness fun and inclusive. Weโ€™ve rounded up some of our favorite black fitness professionals that you should be following for diet plans, workout videos and all around inspiration.

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Trump’s Tariffs Might Stick Around. What Should We Buy Now?
Trump’s Tariffs Might Stick Around. What Should We Buy Now?

Abiola Akanni - @yogabybiola

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhUZXWD5ihM

Yoga can be intimidating for newcomers who think they can barely reach their toes. But for Abiola Akanni, yoga is less about being the most flexible person in the room and more about creating a safe space for all of her students. With Yoga By Biola, Akanni creates an inclusive environment that honors different fitness levels and body types. Her online courses are specifically designed to engage marginalized communities.

Brittne Babe - @brittnebabe

Photo: Brittne Babe

One look at LA-based fitness trainer Brittne Babeโ€™s Instagram page, and you will immediately know that she does not play around in the gym. The self-described โ€œQueen of Home Workoutsโ€ has a YouTube channel with quick-hit videos that target every part of the body. And if youโ€™re looking for more, her app, BrittCamp, is loaded with easy-to-follow workouts and Spotify playlists that will make you want to get up and move. The appโ€™s community feature allows you to share your progress and ask questions.

Trudie German - @bodyenvy1

Photo: Trudie German

Trudie German says it was Angela Bassettโ€™s arms in Whatโ€™s Love Got to Do With It that inspired her to start working out. But her initial desire for gorgeous guns developed into a love of fitness and a mission to help other women achieve their fitness goals. Her approach is less about depriving yourself and more about developing an overall healthy lifestyle that you can maintain over the long haul. Her website, Body Envy by Trudie has great diet and exercise tips. And she shows extra love to women over 40 with tips on losing weight as your metabolism slows down.

Simone Sobers - @simonesobers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJDc9e5mUbo

If youโ€™d rather twerk than do a bunch of pushups and mountain climbers, check out Simone Sobers, a Miami-based professional dancer. She started her Boss Chick Dance Workout, a hip-hop, dancehall, and afrobeat-infused workout for women in 2013. Her classes are available in several gyms around the country, or they can be live-streamed from her website. With classes that range from Twerk 101 to more complicated Twerkography, beginners and advanced twerkers alike are sure to find a workout that is perfect for them.

Roz The Diva - @rozthediva

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5iZbH-OAv8

Brooklyn-based personal trainer and all-around fitness badass Roz The Diva wants to make pole dancing more accessible to all body types. After taking pole dancing classes as a hobby, she has made a career out of helping others and established herself as one of the best. She produced Dangerous Curves, the first pole dancing competition for plus-sized dancers. Check out her website for videos of her past pole performances or to book a personal training session. Her pole performance to And I Am Telling You Iโ€™m Not Going is nothing less than amazing.

Selena Watkins - @selenawatkins

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ExQZ49g1oE

Nothing makes a workout feel less like work than good music, and Selena Watkins knows that better than anyone else. As a professional dancer, she has performed with Pharell, Busta Rhymes and Janelle Monae. Watkins is the founder of Socanomics, her brand of cardio, strength and yoga classes fueled by a high-energy soca soundtrack. With live virtual and on-demand classes available, you can feel like youโ€™re at Carnival any time of the day.

Chrissy King - @iamchrissyking

Photo: Chrissy King

Chrissy King is a writer, speaker, fitness and strength coach. She started working out with the hope of rocking a two-piece bathing suit. But even after losing the weight, she still wasnโ€™t satisfied and fell into a vicious cycle of yo-yo dieting. Today, King speaks out on body positivity and conducts workshops on diversity and inclusion in the fitness industry. Her Body Liberation Project on Instagram is designed to help people stop obsessing about the scale and love the skin theyโ€™re in.ย 

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