Before the start of 2026, I was already working on improving my fitness after joining a gym that recently opened just five minutes from my home in South Los Angeles. This jumpstart helped me enter the new year feeling proud and determined to stick to my wellness goals.
What I like about the new Planet Fitness on the corner of Crenshaw Boulevard and Slauson Avenue goes beyond just its brand-new equipment and spacious layout; I appreciate how seamlessly it fits into my already-full life. As a working dad, time is always the biggest barrier. When something is close, welcoming and easy to fold into a routine, consistency stops feeling like a struggle and starts feeling possible.
As an (ahem!) older dad, staying active isn’t about pushing limits; it’s about maintaining mobility, managing my many aches and pains and feeling good enough to show up fully for my family and community. And in a neighborhood where residents and local activists have long pushed for better access to healthy food, safe spaces and wellness resources, having the new Planet Fitness more than convenient — it’s critical.
A well-maintained, modern space dedicated to wellness feels like an investment in the neighborhood. Clean and safe places that support healthy routines aren’t always a given, and when they exist, they make a huge difference. At my new gym, I see parents, older adults and neighbors of all ages taking time for themselves, and that was before the new year and its resolutions hit the stage!
For parents, staying active often means having the energy to keep up with daily life and modeling healthy habits for their kids. Seeing that happen in a shared community space, right in the neighborhood, feels powerful. It reinforces the idea that taking care of yourself is part of taking care of your family.
During my son’s recent winter break from college, we even worked out together, something I found great joy in but didn’t take for granted. Finding time to connect with an 18-year-old isn’t always easy, and sharing our workouts side by side, moving and talking, felt like its own kind of win.
This gym isn’t about trends or transformation photos for the gram. It’s about access, routine and feeling comfortable enough to show up as you are. For me, it’s become part of a healthier routine.
For all of us in the South L.A. community, it’s a reminder that we deserve easy and convenient access to wellness. When clean, safe spaces exist close to home, they change how people see themselves and what feels possible for their families.
Marcus Rich is a real estate agent, luxury transportation company owner and dad to three sons.
