Fit Scene Boston: A Women-Owned Fitness Community

March is Women’s History Month — a time to celebrate the women who lead, build, innovate, and create space for others.

At Fit Scene Boston, that mission hits close to home.

We’re proud to be a women-owned fitness community built on connection, collaboration, and elevating the individuals shaping Boston's wellness scene. And this month, we’re turning the spotlight on women-owned fitness businesses across the city — starting with our own story!

Meet the women behind Fit Scene Boston: Jess Marcarelli and Marsey Pendexter.

Meet the Founders: A Q&A with Jess & Marsey

1. Can you introduce yourselves and share a little about your background in fitness?

Jess: I’m originally from just outside Indianapolis, but I moved to Miami to attend the University of Miami for undergrad (Go Canes!). It was in college that I really started spending more time in the weight room (one of the few women back squatting on the “boys’ side") while also getting hooked on group fitness classes.

After graduation came the big boutique fitness boom, and I fell in love with everything from cycling and Pilates to Bikram and CrossFit. It wasn’t until I was working a job I hated that I finally built up the courage to pursue my RYT 200 Yoga Teacher Certification in 2016 — and that decision completely changed the trajectory of my career!

Teaching on the side eventually led me to earn my Master’s in Exercise Science and eventually step into a Group Fitness Manager role. When my husband got a job offer in Boston in 2021, I took the leap into teaching fitness full-time. Since then, I’ve led everything from barre and yoga to strength training and HIIT — and I try to approach my own fitness with that same balance in mind.

Marsey: Hi, I’m Marsey! I was born and raised in Maine but have called Boston home for years. I fell in love with fitness during a weight loss journey after college when I trained for my first half marathon. What started as a physical goal quickly became so much more.

Since then, I’ve run three half marathons, competed in a fitness competition, and lost over 50 pounds along the way. Fitness used to be about the physical transformation for me, now it’s just as much about the mental strength, confidence, and clarity it brings.

These days, I’m a big lover of strength training and getting in cardio miles with my Frenchie, Stevie. I also love trying new classes and modalities across the city and sharing my journey with others.

2. What inspired you to create Fit Scene Boston?

Jess: When I moved to Boston, I felt completely overwhelmed trying to figure out where to work and where to work out. I found myself stalking studio Instagram pages, following instructors I’d never met, and piecing together bits of information just to understand the local fitness scene.

Google searches led to outdated lists, and media sites were still featuring studios that had closed post-COVID. There was no centralized, reliable place to discover what was actually happening in the fitness community. That frustration quickly turned into a bigger question: Why doesn’t this exist?

3. What gap did you see in Boston’s fitness community that you wanted to fill?

Jess:In so many other industries, there’s a clear hub you can turn to. Looking for a restaurant? You check OpenTable. Booking a hotel? Hotels.com. Even locally, platforms like The Boston Calendar or B-Side share events and things to do. But when it came to fitness, there was nothing comprehensive. You had to dig through Eventbrite, rely on word of mouth, or hope the right Instagram post landed on your feed at the right time.

I kept imagining what it would look like to have one central place for everything fitness-related in the city — a comprehensive studio directory to help people discover new spaces, an ongoing events calendar so you never miss a workout, and real-time updates on studio openings, new class offerings, and local fitness news. That vision became Fit Scene.

4. As women building a business in the fitness space, what has the journey been like?

Marsey: Being women building a business in the fitness space has been equal parts empowering and stretching us in the best way. We didn’t have a traditional roadmap, just a vision and the belief that we could figure it out. We’ve had to trust our instincts, use our voices, and walk into rooms confidently, even when we were still building that confidence behind the scenes. There have definitely been moments of doubt and learning curves, but each one has made us stronger. At the end of the day, it’s been incredibly fulfilling to build something rooted in community, collaboration, and authenticity, and to prove to ourselves that we can create something impactful on our own terms!

5. What does being a women-owned business mean to you?

Jess: Being a women-owned business is something I’m incredibly proud of. It means leading with empathy, collaboration, and community at the forefront of every decision we make. It also means recognizing the responsibility we have to create opportunities and visibility for other women in this space.

I’m deeply grateful for the women — and men — who support what we’re building. That support reinforces why representation and leadership in this industry matter.

6. What kind of community are you intentionally building through Fit Scene Boston?

Marsey:We’re intentionally building a community that feels welcoming, supportive, and approachable for everyone, whether you're new or experienced. We're helping people discover & try new studios, classes, and modalities without fear of judgment. We celebrate collaboration by highlighting local studios, instructors, and wellness brands, showcasing Boston’s diverse fitness scene. Above all, we prioritize both physical and mental strength, fostering confidence, resilience, friendship, and a sense of belonging through events, content, and meaningful connections.

7. What are you most proud of since launching Fit Scene Boston?

Jess: I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built as a team of just two. When we launched the LLC in 2025, we had a vision, a plan, and a lot of determination. We’ve been learning as we go every step of the way. As two textbook Virgo perfectionists, I’m especially proud of our willingness to get messy, to make mistakes, adapt, and try again. It has allowed us to bring so many of our ideas to life in a short amount of time.

What makes me even prouder is how receptive the community has been. The support from studio owners, instructors, brands, and everyday fitness lovers has validated that this platform is needed and that we’re building something meaningful.

8. What can our community expect from us in 2026?

In 2026, we’re building on the momentum. Bigger events. Stronger partnerships. More ways to connect the Boston fitness community in real life.

We’ll continue spotlighting the studios, instructors, and brands shaping this city while making it easier than ever to discover where to move and who to support.

We’re here to make fitness in Boston more connected, more accessible, and more community-driven — and we’re just getting started!

Women Supporting Women — All Month Long

Women’s History Month isn’t just about celebration — it’s about visibility.

Throughout March, we’ll be spotlighting women-owned studios, trainers, and wellness brands across Boston who are building powerful spaces for movement, mental health, strength, and connection.

If you know a woman-owned fitness business we should feature, send them our way.

Celebrate With Us: Spring Break (a Sweat) — March 8

We couldn’t think of a more fitting way to celebrate International Women’s Day than bringing our community together.

Join us for Spring Break (a Sweat) on March 8 — a high-energy workout + social experience designed to bring together Boston’s most empowering fitness community.

This event is about movement, connection, and celebrating strong women — in every sense of the word.

CLICK HERE TO GRAB YOUR TICKET!