As fitness culture slips back toward the restrictive, bodyfocused messaging of the 90s and 00s, Body Image Fitness (BIF) is breaking the mould with the opening of its new bright and unapologetically colourful studio gym in Heaton, Newcastle Upon Tyne.
Founded by Kim Stacey, described by The Telegraph as a “fitness guru reshaping how we see our bodies”, Body Image Fitness offers a weight-neutral, non-diet approach to movement that prioritises strength, confidence, and community over aesthetics or numbers on a scale.
“It feels like diet culture is trying to make a comeback, more so than ever,” says Kim Stacey, Founder of Body Image Fitness. “You can see it in the language, the ‘body transformation’ trends, even the gym aesthetics. But we’re not here to shrink ourselves or dim our light, we’re here to move, feel powerful, and take up space.”
The new studio is a rebellious response to the intimidating black, industrial-style gyms that dominate the industry. Instead, the space bursts with colour, warmth, and joy, featuring pink and blue dumbbells, pastel weights, pink-speckled flooring, and a proudly displayed Pride flag as a statement of inclusion and celebration.
“Our space is designed to feel safe, joyful, and vibrant,” Stacey adds. “We want people to walk in and think, this feels different. Because it is.”
Every class at Body Image Fitness is built around inclusivity and empowerment. With small-group personal training, boxing, yoga, and beginners’ weightlifting courses, instructors are trained in trauma-informed, neurodiverse-friendly, and body-positive coaching, ensuring everyone feels welcome, no matter their background, size, or ability.
As the fitness world once again flirts with diet culture nostalgia, Body Image Fitness stands out as a joyful rebellion, a space where movement is about empowerment, community, and colour.
For further information visit the website:
www.bodyimagefitness.com
Body Image Fitness Studio Gym opened in October 2025 in Heaton, Newcastle Upon Tyne.