A Toronto man is behind a gym that’s far beyond the average fitness centre; one that not only focuses on the benefits of wellness but enforces the value of togetherness.
Ryan Rambarran, or Coach Ryan, the founder of Unity in Scarborough, has always believed that health and wellness is more than just a personal pursuit; it’s a community effort. With intentions of creating a space for Black people, the gym blossomed from the understanding that the barriers to a healthy lifestyle are often not just physical, but deeply intertwined with socioeconomic factors, family dynamics, and a lack of accessible, inclusive spaces.
“It’s just about really trying to make people feel welcome when they come in the door,” Rambarran explained to Now Toronto.
“It’s like, ‘you might be a little bit of better shape than me, but I can relate to you.’ You look like me. I look like you, and I’m going to trust what you have to say.”
Rambarran knew that for fitness to truly thrive in these communities, the gym environment needed to be welcoming, familiar, and supportive – essentially, a space where Black people felt seen and heard. From dancehall to soca to hip-hop, Unity plays music that resonates with the members and instructors who reflect the community.
A FAMILY-ORIENTED APPROACH
One of the cornerstone features of Unity is its commitment to family; particularly its approach to integrating childcare and youth classes into the gym’s offerings. Recognizing that for many parents, especially single parents, finding time to focus on their fitness can be a struggle, the gym was designed with these challenges in mind.
Free child-minding services allow parents to get the workout they need while knowing their children are in a safe and engaging environment. The youth classes also cater to families by encouraging kids to embrace fitness at an early age, creating a foundation for lifelong health habits.
“Parents can take a break and watch their kids work out. It really creates not only an inclusive space, but a family-oriented one because, you know, you see your parents working out and you’re inspired… it really builds a family environment,” he said.
“It also breaks down the stigma of how gyms are supposed to be for anybody over the age of 18 or gyms are a scary place.”
In just a little over one year, Unity has grown from a dream into a thriving hub for over 60 members. Rambarran attributes much of this success to the community-oriented approach the gym takes, focusing not just on the physical but on the emotional and cultural needs of its members.
“The response has been really, really great,” Rambarran said.
“When we first opened the gym, we almost thought about cancelling the youth class because we just weren’t getting the reception that we were looking for… And just two weeks ago, we had our biggest youth class ever, which we had 14 kids come. Parents are liking it, and they’re telling other parents, and it’s now becoming a staple on our Saturday roster!”
UNITY GIVES BACK
But the impact of Unity goes beyond the gym walls. Rambarran and his team are dedicated to contributing to the broader community through initiatives such as fitness classes at local homeless shelters and clothing drives. By meeting people where they are and providing access to fitness resources, Unity works to ensure that no one is left behind when it comes to health and wellness.
“Giving back is really, really important to me… Our members aren’t rich, but anybody that can afford a gym membership is doing better off than people that don’t even know where their next meal is coming from. So, that being said… how can we give back?” Rambarran questioned.
“Down the road, we do want to do things like Big Brother and Big Sister programs. And bring organizations in and give them access to the gym for private classes to teach them the importance of taking care of their body.”
Looking ahead, Rambarran has big plans for Unity. The goal is to expand the gym’s reach, both within Toronto and beyond, bringing the Unity experience to a wider audience. The focus will remain on creating accessible spaces where families can come together, improve their health, and feel empowered.
“It’s hard for you to be able to spread your love and spread what we do in one area of the city when Toronto is so big. So, the next step for us is definitely to grow and to open up more locations and to be able to bring the Unity experience around the city and potentially around the country,” Rambarran said.
“We’re a community here, and we’re trying to bring that experience across the city.”
